Changing Social Norms Through Education

Changing Social Norms Through Education

Komal, 12-years-old is from Sikhrodi village, Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh. Her village is in the middle of a scrub forest with bad roads and school is situated far away. Due to which parents would drop their children from schools and would take them farming to support livelihood.

When Oxfam India with its partner organization started their education program in the village, the main aim was to enrol children in school and Komal was one of them. 

The education program also formed a School Management Committee (SMC) where parents and teachers would learn about the importance of education and raise voice for school and student development. Initially, women hardly attended the SMC meetings but with regular sessions and interactive activities, women and students actively participate in discussions and raised their voice for school development.

Sports were soon introduced to attract children to school and it worked. They were given training in Kabaddi and Kho-Kho. Parents initially did not send their girls to the district sports meet. But through Oxfam’s constant counselling and encouragement, parents accompanied their daughters to the meeting and training sessions. Once the parents witnessed their daughters compete and win, they were filled with a sense of pride and encouraged the girls to go for bigger sports meets. 

Most of the children are first generation learner like Komal in the district. Such sports meet opened up greater possibilities. They participated in wrestling and even won accolades for it. Komal amongst others now wants to become professional wrestlers. 

The village has also progressed. Parents now encourage others to send their children to school and participate in different sports and activities. Hamirpur district is now breaking social norms. Girls are encouraged to study further and also participate in physical sports like wrestling and Kabaddi. Komal is also helping other girls to attend school.

She says ‘I want every girl and woman to have equal opportunity without any discrimination, with equal space and equal rights in the society.’ The government of Uttar Pradesh and Hindustan newspaper also felicitated Komal for her leadership skills and for the promotion for girl-child-education in her village.

In case you wish to make a monthly contribution to help children like Komal attend school and become future leaders, please click here

 

Essential Services

We focus on ensuring access to quality and affordable health and education for all

Read More

Related Blogs

Blogs

Stories that inspire us

Essential Services

25 Jan, 2022

New Delhi

Dominance by Billionaires Leads India’s Highway to Record Levels of Inequality

While a drift towards increasing inequality is by itself very harmful for a country which already has high levels of poverty and deprivation, this situation has been worsened further in s...

Essential Services

01 Sep, 2021

Delhi

Questions On Healthcare, Education And Inequality Raised In Parliament

Parliament of India comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is the highest law-making body in the country where elected representatives convene to discuss issues of national importance. Amid...

Essential Services

19 Sep, 2019

Delhi

Code on Wages lacks clear policy outcome

India is recognised to be one of the first developing countries to have introduced minimum wage policies through the Minimum Wages Act in 1948. Several more Bills and Acts contributed to ...

Essential Services

19 Sep, 2019

Delhi

Caste, Class and Education

Today, in 2019, India stands to be the seventh largest economy in the world, while also witnessing a steady increase in the gross enrolment ratio in both men and women portraying strength...