Empowering Dream

Empowering Dream Program focuses on underprivileged young women from age of about 16 to 24 and offers them financial assistance to complete their education and enhance their livelihood skills.

They are from different slums of Mumbai like Dharavi, Govandi, G south and G north areas which are populated by families of mill workers who attend low resource colleges which and around these areas and struggle to finish their higher education.

They Belonging to both local and migrant families,  diverse caste (Dalits, OBCs and SCs) and religious groups (Hindu, Muslims, Christians). Most of them live in slums or one room tenements. An average household size is 4.5 members who live in 10’X10’ rooms with or without attached toilets or water connections. 50% do not have access to hygienic sanitation.

 Most of these families have one or at most two earning members who are either self-employed or work in the informal Sector. About 13% of their families are women headed. Almost all the girls have studied in local municipal schools upto class 12. Inequality, poverty, discrimination, slum violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, societal norms and patriarchy have been a constant feature in their lives 

Akshara believes that formal needs to be combined with technical skills and non-formal education [gender and citizenship] so they are not caught in early marriage, unwanted pregnancy, low wages and violence and can make a better life for themselves.

We encourage young women [16-24 years] to take up higher education [college] as this has become the accepted criteria in the labour market for a decent job. We would like to put forward that both secondary and tertiary education are important for the present requirements of the job market post globalization, especially in the urban areas.

By giving various trainings and building and strengthening their leadership capabilities and skills to not only tackle sexual harassment and violence but also to claim their right to access education, health, sanitation and other public services and improve their well-being and quality of life

We use a multi strategy approach:

•       Learning: supporting girls to complete their school and higher education by providing financial assistance

•       Livelihood: teaching them skills for employment like computers, English, CV writing, interviewing, accountancy

•       Life skills: information on health, reproduction and contraception, health relationships, gender, resistance to violence

All the girls who come to us for financial assistance desire to complete their education and get employment in the formal sector. Even though unstable financial conditions, few girls still aspire to continue their education and complete their Masters or hope to enrol in Management programmes while some also study for CA, CS and Computer science. These girls challenge social norms in their community by completing their graduation, surpass their family tradition to move on to different educational field and vocation. Girls have negotiated with their families to pursue post graduation higher Professional education. 

They gained knowledge of their body, reproductive health and understanding sexuality etc. They learnt the concept of ‘Gender’ and the issues that they are facing like gender discrimination, violence and the laws. Their confidence and self-esteem gets increased and started to build better relationship within and outside the family.

The individual and group inputs for technical and employbility skills have made girls more confident in the current competative job market. MSCIT and Tally courses completion have helped them during their job applications. They have applied for jobs online and some are building their experiences through internships.