CINI's adolescent programming employs a multi-faceted approach, involving community engagement with diverse stakeholders, school-based strategies including peer groups and dropout reintegration, family-oriented activities such as parent meetings, peer leadership initiatives, system strengthening through departmental convergence, and robust evidence-based documentation. This holistic approach aligns with the CINI Method, empowering adolescents for a brighter future.
CINI’s adolescent empowerment programme embraces ‘The CINI Method’ as guidelines to create safety net for the adolescents at the community. Simultaneously the systems are strengthened – so that adequate platforms at different levels are made functional and/or strengthened which provide a ground for the adolescents to participate, highlight their issues for further addressal.
The adolescent empowerment programme emphasises on the core rights-based principle of the CINI Method – participation, accountability of the duty-bearers, multi-sectoral convergence and prevention. The programme emphasizes on its preventive approach over curative ones in the arenas of health, nutrition, education and child protection and in the process strengthen the system to make the decision-making platforms functional where the adolescents can participate, highlight and advocate their issues. Accountability of the duty-bearers forms a key element of adolescent programming – whereby the duty-bearers starting from parents/family members, service providers and members of local self-government are brought into the context so that the rights of the adolescents are fulfilled.
51,49,274 adolescents were reached through different adolescent programmesfor/on/with?
10,674 adolescents were reached through TEENLINE
Jhunu’s story is a remarkable testament to the resilience of adolescent girls and the transformative impact of community support. Hailing from the humble village of Takaria, within Bhagabandh Gram Panchayat of Barabazar Block, Purulia District, Jhunu is the daughter of Shristidhar Mahato, a struggling farmer.
Jhunu’s education expenses were taking a toll on her father’s mental health, as they could barely make ends meet. Her determination to continue her education and alleviate her family’s financial burdens led her to try to find ways to manage her educational expenses independently. She discussed some options with the local Anganwadi worker, who shared this with the visiting CINI team. CINI visited Jhunu’s home and talked to her parents to understand their situation better. After consulting with an Agriculture Officer, CINI staff encouraged the family to explore marigold flower cultivation as a viable solution.
The decision to venture into marigold cultivation was challenging. They encountered initial difficulties deciding between marigold and paddy cultivation and faced hurdles in cultivation methods and land preparation. However, CINI’s staff provided continuous guidance and support, fostering a resilient spirit within the family. Despite obstacles such as limited space, financial constraints, societal pressures, and the inherent challenges of starting something new, Jhunu’s family took the risk and persevered. With determination and support from SAG-KP staff, they overcame these challenges, achieving a high-quality production of marigold flowers.
Their entrepreneurial journey began with selling flowers in the nearest market. It soon expanded to Purulia town, where the demand for flowers far exceeded the local supply. This expansion improved the family’s economic condition and brought happiness to every member of Jhunu’s household.
Jhunu’s story exemplifies the transformative power of education and community engagement in the lives of adolescents. Her determination to pursue her education and her family’s resilience in taking on new challenges have improved their economic circumstances and ignited hope and aspiration within their community.
Alam Ara Bibi, a 31-year-old resident of Rasulpur village in South 24 Parganas, shares a remarkable story of transformation and empowerment. She resides with her husband, Firoj Sheikh, a ‘Zari’ worker, and their two daughters, aged 12 and 8. Alam Ara’s journey is a testament to resilience. At 17, she married due to her family’s financial struggles, which compelled her to halt her education at class III. Despite these early obstacles, Alam Ara ensured that her daughters embarked on a different journey and were assured of schooling. She enrolled them in the Rasulpur Learning Center (LC) with the support of CINI. She resolved to help them break free from the cycle of limited opportunities.
Meanwhile, CINI’s Mother Literacy Program launched with 20 mothers in Rasulpur, played a pivotal role in Alam Ara’s life. This 90-day orientation programme aimed to equip predominantly illiterate mothers, like Alam Ara, with basic educational skills to support their daughters’ learning at home. Alam Ara embraced the programme positively despite her 20-year academic hiatus. Initially, she grappled with concentration issues and irregular attendance. However, her commitment to the Mother Literacy Program deepened through consistent interactions and family engagement. She candidly shared her challenges, revealing how her limited education had affected her ability to calculate loan amounts in her self-help group and manage essential finances during shopping.
On completing the 90-day programme, Alam Ara’s transformation was profound. She acquired essential skills, such as constructing words using the initial letters of two pictures, performing addition and subtraction with matchsticks, clapping-based addition, and word creation from different letters. Equipped with this newfound knowledge, she became an inspiring pillar supporting her daughter’s education, offering unwavering assistance at home. Alam Ara’s journey signifies her personal growth and a significant shift in mindset. She has gained the confidence to empower her daughters and positively contribute to her family and community through education.
Nestled in the hills of Maligaon in the Kamrup Metropolitan district of Assam, 15-year-old Mary once had a deep passion for school, reading, and drawing. However, her life took an unexpected turn when her mother left, leaving Mary in the care of her father. Although her father and grandmother did their best to provide for her basic needs, Mary shouldered household responsibilities alongside her studies.
From a young age, Mary became the primary caregiver for her father and other family members. This added responsibility began to take a toll on her academic pursuits. Balancing household chores and schoolwork became a daunting challenge, resulting in declining grades and growing self-doubt. Faced with the financial struggles of her father, Mary’s education became an unsustainable burden in his eyes, a sentiment shared by many fathers in similar circumstances who believed that education held no value for their daughters, destined for marriage. Tragically, Mary had to bid farewell to her school life in the 8th grade.
During this time, the CINI Kamrup Metropolitan team initiated their work in the area, forming an adolescent group where Mary found a place as a member. Through the efforts of MCGL’s India-Yash programme and the engagement of the teenage group, the team and her peers learned about Mary’s aspirations and her dream to continue her education, complete her studies, and provide for her family.
With unwavering counselling and continued support, the Kamrup Metropolitan team rekindled Mary’s hope and motivation to pursue her education. They helped her rediscover her inner strength and her belief in herself. With newfound courage, Mary approached her father, pleading for a chance to return to school, promising to excel and make her family proud as a responsible young woman. Mary’s tenacity prevailed, and she embarked on her educational journey again. Today, she proudly attends the 9th grade at Adinggiri High School, a testament to her resilience and the transformative power of determination and support of our work in the hills of Maligaon, Assam.
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Daulatpur, P.O : Pailan, Via Joka, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700104. India
Tel: +91 84204 58926
Email: cini@cinindia.org
Website: cini-india.org
