1. Next Step 2014
Using Sport for Good
Breakaway Session
Developing and Implementing
Grassroots Programmes
Presented By:
Sanjana Gaind

2. It's My Body
Advancing Sexual and
Reproductive Health and
Rights of Adolescent Girls
through Sports

3. Initiated in 2009 as a grassroots
campaign against son preference
to address gender equality.
Collaborated with 5 feminist
women led community based
organisations in U.P and
Jharkhand.
Worked with over 1000
adolescent and young girls
directly through different
creative mediums.

5. Challenged norms and stereotypes around Gender

6. Use of sports to mobilise, collectivise and empower young girls

7. It’s My Body
Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights of Young Girls through Sports
Increase bodily autonomy among adolescent girls enabling
them to be more assertive in decisions realted to their bodies,
health and lives.
Led by CREA and co-implemented with 15 community based
organisations in Bihar, U.P and Jharkhand.
Reaches out to over 6000 adolescent girls
Engages with other stakeholders in the community -parents,
teachers, health service providers, EWRs and other
community leaders.

8. What motivates a young person to get involved in
a particular sport or activity?
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Created a space for girls that did not exist in
communities where we work.
This space prirotises the girls, their needs, their rights,
their learning and their play
Provides information and resources on topics that is
essential for every young person and it is not available
and/or accessible easily.
Sports like kabaddi, kho-kho can be played by girls but
Football which have been always associated and reserved
for boys and men.
Strength of kishori manch is the power of collective

9. What keeps her involved over a longer period of
time?
“I take the session on menstruation for other girls in the kishori manch.
Every time I explain to a new group, I also learn something new”
-- Reena, Khushboo Kishori Manch
“I have been with this programme since 2009, when we all campaigned
against son preference. Since then, I feel I have changed a lot. Now, if
a collective member tells me, she can't come for the meeting, I go and
talk to her parents and convince them to send her. This collective
gives us all a lot of strength and the confidence to demand for our
rights. No one expects us to talk about our rights. Now I feel like a
free bird”- Neelam, Block Itkhori, District Chatra, Jharkhand

10. What keeps her involved over a longer period of
time?
“When we come for our sessions, or go to school or go anywhere, boys
always stare at us, sing songs and pass various comments. Earlier
we would just quietly pass by or avoid taking that route. But now, we
reply back and stare back at them. Whenever we are in our group,
then we don’t let the boys just do what they do. We scream and shout
at them.” - Roshni Kishori Manch, Mahboa, U.P
“I really enjoy coming for these meetings, as I get to meet my friends,
play football and also learn about new things”
--- Neha, Block Simariya, District Chatra, Jharkhand

11. What keeps her involved over a longer period of
time?
“We really believe that girls and boys are equal now. Even though my
parents think that I should be at home, be quiet, and not speak up, I
feel that if I believe I am right, I should voice my opinion. Now, my
parents let me participate in all the activities of the kishori manch of
our village. I go out, play, go to school, and do what I want to”. Alka, Member of Kishori Manch, Itkhori, Jharkhand

12. What keeps her involved over a longer period of
time?
“ The combination of sports and health is a unique one. Both
are areas which are never priortised for girls and women.
We are very happy to see that girls in our village find it
useful to participate in your program activities. I will do
everything I can to ensure this program continues and
more resources are provided for this program” . - Sunita
Devi, Elected Woman Representative from Itkhori,
Jharkhand

13. Challenges
• Resistance from the family and community
• Sustaining older girls in the program
• Breaking the silence on issues of Sexuality and Rights for girls
• Changing mindsets in the community about girls playing football in
public spaces and demanding their rights.