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Adolescent Empowerment Project in Bihar

During the reporting period, Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) made significant strides in enhancing programmatic effectiveness through its Adolescent Empowerment Project in Bihar. This initiative focused on transforming harmful social and gender norms, ending child marriage, and promoting gender equality. In collaboration with the Women and Child Development Corporation and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), BRB launched a mid-media campaign across seven districts in Bihar: Nalanda, East Champaran, Khagaria, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, and Araria. This campaign marked a major step forward in empowering adolescent girls and boys by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for their rights and challenge gender stereotypes.

Strategy into Action: Empowering Adolescents and Shifting Gender Norms

The core strategy of the Adolescent Empowerment Project was to strengthen adolescent platforms and build their capacity to exercise life choices while challenging entrenched gender norms. By working with adolescents directly, the project aimed to instill a sense of agency and autonomy, empowering them to advocate for themselves and their peers.

The initiative began by creating and fortifying 420 adolescent girls’ groups and 140 boys’ groups, consisting of 5,040 girls and 1,400 boys respectively. These groups were provided with comprehensive training on social and gender norms, rights, and life skills. The focus was not only on increasing access to sexual and reproductive health rights information but also on ensuring that adolescents could actively engage in civic issues affecting their lives. Through regular sessions, discussions, and capacity-building exercises, the project enabled these young individuals to become change agents within their communities.

The collaboration with local government bodies and ICDS added depth to the initiative, ensuring that it reached a wide audience while creating pathways for sustainable change. By positioning adolescents at the forefront of advocacy, the project sought to dismantle harmful gender norms and empower both girls and boys to challenge societal expectations that hinder their growth and opportunities.

What Success Looked Like: Building a Cadre of Change Agents

Success for the Adolescent Empowerment Project meant creating an environment where young people could lead the way in transforming gender norms and advocating for their rights. A key outcome of this initiative was the development of a cadre of 280 adolescents who emerged as change agents within their communities. These adolescents played a crucial role in mentoring their peers, fostering confidence, and promoting a sense of agency among group members.

Through their leadership, the adolescent change agents helped amplify the voices of their fellow group members, particularly girls, allowing them to assert their autonomy and make informed life decisions. This approach not only empowered the individuals directly involved but also had a ripple effect on their communities, where discussions around gender equality and the rights of adolescents became more prominent.

The success of the project was also evident in the increased civic engagement of the adolescent groups. These groups, strengthened by ongoing capacity-building efforts, were able to actively participate in campaigns advocating for the end of child marriage and promoting gender equality. By voicing their concerns and sharing their experiences, the adolescents took ownership of the issues affecting their lives and contributed to the broader goal of societal change.

Innovative Approaches to Adolescent Empowerment

One of the most innovative aspects of the Adolescent Empowerment Project was the use of mid-media campaigns, which allowed the voices of adolescents to reach a wider audience. These campaigns were designed to highlight the harmful effects of child marriage and gender inequality, while simultaneously promoting the rights of adolescent girls and boys. The involvement of adolescent groups in the planning and execution of these campaigns gave them a platform to advocate for their rights, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

In addition to media campaigns, the project introduced a series of workshops and training sessions that provided adolescents with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights information. Adolescents aged 10-19 were empowered with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. This information helped them better understand their rights, allowing them to voice their needs and advocate for better access to services.

Another key innovation was the creation of a strong network of adolescent leaders, who acted as mentors and role models for their peers. This cadre of 280 adolescents not only supported their group members but also worked to boost the confidence of others, demonstrating that young people have the ability to lead change within their communities. These adolescents played an instrumental role in shifting harmful norms and fostering a sense of autonomy among their peers.

Quantitative and Qualitative Measures of Success

The impact of the Adolescent Empowerment Project is supported by both quantitative and qualitative evidence. Over the course of the reporting period, 5,040 girls and 1,400 boys were provided with sexual and reproductive health rights information, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for themselves. The initiative also created a strong cadre of 280 adolescent change agents, who played a critical role in promoting gender equality and challenging harmful societal norms.

Qualitatively, the success of the project can be seen in the increased confidence and autonomy of the adolescents involved. The capacity-building efforts led to greater civic engagement, with adolescents participating in campaigns that addressed critical issues such as child marriage and gender discrimination. The ripple effect of this empowerment extended beyond the individual adolescents to their families and communities, where conversations about gender equality became more widespread and impactful.

Impact on Brand Objectives and the Renewed Vision of BRB

The Adolescent Empowerment Project was not only aligned with Bal Raksha Bharat’s broader mission of child welfare but also reinforced the organisation’s renewed brand objectives. By focusing on gender equality and empowering adolescents, BRB demonstrated its commitment to fostering a society where young people can thrive. The project’s innovative approaches and strategic partnerships helped BRB strengthen its presence in Bihar and contributed to the organisation’s credibility and trust within local communities.

Through this initiative, BRB has showcased its ability to lead the way in addressing critical social issues affecting children and adolescents. By empowering young people to take control of their lives and advocate for their rights, the Adolescent Empowerment Project has made significant strides towards achieving lasting change in gender norms and societal attitudes.

Conclusion: Empowering Adolescents, Shifting Norms, and Creating Change

The Adolescent Empowerment Project in Bihar has proven to be a transformative initiative, bringing about meaningful change in the lives of adolescents and their communities. By strengthening adolescent platforms, providing access to vital health and rights information, and fostering leadership, the project has created a ripple effect that is shifting harmful norms and promoting gender equality. With both quantitative and qualitative successes, this initiative stands as a testament to Bal Raksha Bharat’s commitment to empowering young people and creating a more just and equitable society. Through innovation, strategic partnerships, and a focus on building agency, the project continues to make a lasting impact in Bihar and beyond.

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Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) – ‘Ek Mauka’ Campaign

During the reporting period, Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) implemented the Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) campaign titled ‘Ek Mauka’ (One Opportunity) to address deep-rooted gender inequalities and social norms affecting adolescents and youth, particularly in relation to education, health, and livelihood opportunities. This youth-led initiative was designed to create awareness and stimulate community-wide dialogue on ten identified gender barriers that limit adolescent participation in decision-making, investment in their futures, and their ability to break free from restrictive social practices.

Strategy into Action: Empowering Youth to Lead Social Change

The ‘Ek Mauka’ campaign was developed as an innovative SBCC intervention, engaging youth and community stakeholders through multiple channels. Communication materials, including posters, scripts for street plays (Nukkad Natak), flip books, videos, theme songs, and wall writing, were developed using local dialects and culturally relevant images. These materials were created to resonate with the community and address issues such as gender discrimination, restricted access to education for girls, and limitations on vocational opportunities due to social norms.

A community-led campaign plan was designed, wherein youth leaders took the helm in executing awareness initiatives. Rallies, street plays, poster campaigns, and video-based discussions were organised by the youth groups, bringing gender issues to the forefront of community discourse. These activities not only disseminated key messages but also prompted parents and community leaders to rethink their attitudes toward gender equality, adolescent empowerment, and education for girls.

The SBCC interventions directly involved 630 youth, who led the campaign and reached 2,692 females and 1,059 males from the community, including frontline workers and elected representatives. The campaign sparked a community-level shift in attitudes, particularly around girls’ education, health, and livelihood opportunities, with several girls successfully negotiating with their parents to pursue higher education and vocational training, despite previous restrictions.

What Success Looked Like: Shifting Attitudes and Empowering Youth

The success of the ‘Ek Mauka’ campaign is evident in the changing attitudes of parents and community members. Many girls were able to convince their families to support their education and vocational aspirations, resulting in increased enrolment in schools and vocational courses. Additionally, several girls began working in other cities, challenging long-standing norms that previously restricted them from travelling for work or education.

A key success indicator of the campaign was the active participation of 630 youths, who not only led the campaign but also became role models within their communities. Parents, particularly from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, began saving money to invest in their daughters’ education and vocational training, demonstrating a tangible shift in family priorities and societal attitudes toward gender roles.

In practical terms, the campaign saw improved enrolment for adolescent girls in schools and vocational training institutes, and a growing acceptance among parents to allow their daughters to travel for education or work. Youth groups engaged in social work at the community level, taking ownership of gender equality issues and contributing to a collective effort to transform harmful norms.

Innovative Approaches to Empowerment and Livelihood Creation

Beyond awareness, the SBCC campaign also focused on linking youth, especially girls, with vocational training institutes. Youth were supported in developing their own livelihood plans, with mentoring provided to guide them through the process. Collaborations with vocational training institutes enabled joint counselling sessions, smooth enrolments, and job placement support.

A total of 69 youths, including 57 females, completed vocational training in fields such as hospitality management, beauty and wellness, and general duty assistance. Of these, 32 youths (24 females) secured job placements, earning an average monthly income of INR 12,000. This financial independence empowered them to contribute to their family income, save for further education, and manage emergency expenses, providing them with economic security and increased agency in decision-making.

In addition, the campaign promoted the formation of Youth Trade Groups (YTG) for collective enterprises, enabling youth to develop their own businesses. Using human-centred design tools, youth were guided to identify trades matching their interests and market demands. Group enterprises such as tailoring, beauty parlours, vegetable farming, mushroom cultivation, and food carts were established in different villages and wards across Gaya, Sitamarhi, and Patna.

Through these initiatives, 14 tailoring YTGs, two beauty parlour YTGs, five mushroom cultivation YTGs, and one food cart YTG began generating income. Youth involved in these enterprises are now investing their profits to further enhance their businesses and contributing to their family’s income.

Quantitative and Qualitative Measures of Success

The ‘Ek Mauka’ campaign led to significant successes both quantitatively and qualitatively:
Community Reach: 630 youth leaders engaged in the campaign, reaching 2,692 females and 1,059 males.
Vocational Training: 69 youths (57 females) completed vocational training, with 32 (24 females) securing jobs.
Income Generation: Youths involved in YTGs began earning a steady income, contributing to their families and investing in further education.

Social Change: Girls successfully negotiated with their parents for higher education and vocational training, with families saving money to support their daughters’ futures.
Youth Empowerment: 14 tailoring YTGs, two beauty parlour YTGs, five mushroom cultivation YTGs, and one food cart YTG were established, all of which are now profitable.

In addition to these tangible results, the campaign fostered a broader societal shift towards accepting girls’ education, vocational training, and employment in cities. Parents from financially poor families began to prioritise their daughters’ aspirations, while youth leaders took on greater roles in community decision-making.

Impact on Renewed Brand Objectives

The ‘Ek Mauka’ campaign aligned seamlessly with Bal Raksha Bharat’s renewed brand objectives of empowering youth, fostering gender equality, and creating sustainable livelihoods. By equipping young people with the tools to lead change in their communities, BRB reinforced its commitment to promoting adolescent rights and dismantling gender barriers.

The campaign’s success in transforming attitudes and behaviours regarding girls’ education, vocational training, and participation in the workforce also bolstered BRB’s mission of driving long-term, community-led change. Through youth-led initiatives, BRB strengthened its brand presence at the grassroots level, fostering trust and credibility in the communities it serves.

Conclusion: A Catalyst for Social Change

The Social Behaviour Change Communication campaign ‘Ek Mauka’ has proven to be a catalyst for social transformation. Through youth-led efforts, the campaign challenged gender norms, empowered young people to pursue education and employment opportunities, and fostered a shift in societal attitudes toward girls’ potential. By combining awareness campaigns with practical vocational training and economic empowerment, BRB created a sustainable model for change, reinforcing its role as a leader in adolescent empowerment and gender equality. The campaign’s success is not only measured in numbers but in the stories of youth who now have the opportunity to shape their own futures and contribute to their communities.