“I’ve gone from being a quiet girl to a confident leader,” says Muskan, a 17-year-old girl studying in 11th grade at SKV Vivek Vihar, about herself. Originally from Saharsa district in Bihar, she has lived in Sonia Camp for 12 years. Muskan has been a part of Martha Farrell Foundation’s (MFF) Kadam Badhate Chalo (KBC) programme since August 2023. The programme has given her the tools to challenge gender norms and advocate for social change, says Muskan.
Muskan’s favourite part of the programme has been the leadership training she received through MFF and the Youth Mela (youth fair) which was organised by Muskan and her group. At the Youth Mela, Muskan shared, “we discussed the problems faced by the community and met with the SHO [Station House Officer] of the area, who listened to all their concerns and understood them.” Muskan and her group also shared their participatory safety map with the secretary of the ward counsellor and the SHO of the area. She learned how to lead and support others, and she also attended gender and sex training sessions by TeamUp for Transformation, one of MFF’s organisational partners, which helped her understand the important issues in society.
Anjali from TeamUp for Transformation introduced her to the KBC programme. Muskan recalls that when Anjali came to the community to conduct training sessions, she felt inspired to join the KBC group. She found the programme very helpful and has stayed engaged ever since. She felt comfortable sharing her problems with the other children and mentors in the group.
The programme motivated Muskan to discuss critical issues such as gender, sex, and violence with her family and friends. At first, when Muskan began talking to her family and friends about gender-based violence, her mother scolded her, saying she should not discuss these topics. But over time, her family started understanding and became more aware of these issues. She began to notice a positive change in her family - for example, while she earlier had to ask for permission repeatedly to go out of the house, now she can do so without having to ask. Muskan’s involvement in the programme also inspired her friend, Khushnaaz, to join in.
Muskan’s journey with KBC has allowed her to recognise and bring up all forms of violence that she faces. She believes that violence in society appears in different ways and forms, such as domestic violence, discrimination based on gender or religion, and other inequalities. One significant moment for Muskan was when she realised that the restrictions she faced, such as not being allowed to stay out late while her brother could, were a form of gender-based violence. This awareness drove her to take a stand not only for herself, but for other girls in her community. Muskan now actively leads football sessions, mobilising children from their homes to participate, and working towards creating a safer and more equitable environment for girls.
She also realised that she faces other forms of violence due to her other identities. She recounted an incident where some girls at her school told her to eat her lunch separately because she is Muslim. Identifying this discrimination and exclusion as a form of violence, Muskan explained to her classmates that everyone shares the same worth, regardless of religious identity. Now, as a community leader, she actively advocates against discrimination, striving to ensure that others in her group do not face similar treatment. When anyone makes a religious comment, she addresses it thoughtfully, helping them understand that such remarks can be harmful and divisive. She emphasises that everyone is equal and deserving of respect.
Further, the KBC sessions have made Muskan more careful about how she communicates with others, and she has become more aware of her rights and is able to speak out against discrimination and violence. For example, understanding how abusive language can be a form of violence, she avoids using such language and chooses her words thoughtfully.
To solve the problem of violence against women, Muskan thinks that more awareness sessions like KBC should be available to young people and even their mothers. She also believes that laws against gender-based violence should be stricter and more support should be given to survivors.
Muskan says, “I feel proud to be part of the KBC programme.” She feels independent and is dedicated to using what she has learned to continue making others aware. She wants to advocate for gender equality and help create a safer and more inclusive society.
Muskan wants to reach areas of the community that have not yet been involved in the KBC programme, so that others can be empowered like her. In the near future, she plans to visit these parts of the community to raise awareness among adolescents about their rights and to conduct sensitisation sessions with them.
