MUHEEM PROJECTS

Period Mantra is a cornerstone of Muheem's mission, addressing menstrual health and hygiene through a lens of sustainability, education, and empowerment. With 70% of mothers considering menstruation “dirty” (NFHS-5), this program confronts entrenched taboos while tackling behavioral, health, and environmental challenges.

Through Apna Pad, reusable cotton sanitary pads, and comprehensive awareness campaigns, Period Mantra fosters transformative change by focusing on:

• Women's health and menstruation.
• Hygiene and menstruation.
• Gender, sexuality, and menstruation.
• Cultural perspectives on menstruation.

This initiative seamlessly integrates into every Muheem program, promoting dignity, sustainability, and empowerment for women and girls.

The Pathshala Program is a transformative education initiative aimed at empowering Musahar children by bridging the gap to education and fostering leadership skills. In a community where literacy rates hover at 3%, and women’s literacy is just 1%, education remains a distant dream for many, like Shivani, a determined nine-year-old girl.

Pathshala centers operate in 34 bastis across Varanasi, Bhadohi, and Mirzapur districts, directly working with 1,020 children. The program has impacted lives by:

• Offering informal education classes.
• Facilitating integration into mainstream schools.
• Promoting enrollment in government schools.
• Cultivating leadership skills.

Positive Shape is a core program of Muheem that addresses significant gaps in sexual health knowledge and attitudes among India’s youth, which often leads to preventable health and social issues. Through capacity-building sessions, the program equips children with essential life skills in:

• Self-esteem and respect.
• Personality development.
• Comprehensive sexuality education.

This initiative fosters behavioral change, promoting informed decision-making and holistic development. By empowering young people with knowledge and skills, Positive Shape helps them navigate life with confidence, contributing to their overall well-being and creating a foundation for a healthier, more informed future.

Training and Workshops are a cornerstone of Muheem's educational mission, aimed at empowering communities and stakeholders with knowledge and skills to foster social change. These capacity-building initiatives focus on critical topics such as:

• Gender, sexuality, and rights.
• Feminist leadership and mentoring.
• Menstrual health and hygiene.
• Legal rights for women in India

By equipping teachers, professionals, and community members with the tools to address these issues, Muheem is not only bridging the educational divide but also challenging social inequities. These efforts are central to creating an inclusive, equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Muheem Leader Fellowship addresses the significant educational disparities in the Musahar community, where the literacy rate is just 3%, and a concerning 1% among women (Census 2011). This reality calls for the urgent development of educational leadership.

In partnership with Teach For India – Entrepreneur (TFIx), the Fellowship offers young leaders a transformative two-year journey. Fellows immerse themselves in local villages, teaching and mentoring over 1020 children across 34 communities, including Musahar and Dalit populations, and directly impacting the education of 25 children per Fellow. By fostering holistic learning and community engagement, the Fellowship turns teaching into a powerful leadership opportunity.

Objectives:

• Integrate Musahar and Dalit children into mainstream education.
• Develop educational leadership within the community.
• Equip marginalized youth with leadership skills for sustainable development.
• Build a movement for systemic change in education and social equity.

In Uttar Pradesh, 36 million child brides (UNICEF 2023) endure early marriage, school dropout, and gender-based violence, particularly in marginalized communities. Adolescent girls are often deprived of opportunities for education, leadership, and self-empowerment, hindering their ability to shape their futures.

Muheem’s Leading Girls program focuses on developing transformative leadership skills among young women in the Varanasi district, helping them advocate for gender justice and empowering them to become confident leaders within their communities.

Theory of Change:
Empowered young women, with equal rights and opportunities, can lead their families and communities toward prosperity.

Objectives:

• Promote leadership skills among adolescent girls.
• Facilitate livelihood and skill development to create economic independence.
• Organize girls' unions to foster solidarity and peer support.
• Empower girls to challenge patriarchal norms and societal inequalities.

This initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of women leaders who will drive social change in their communities.

Muheem’s Theatre Group is a transformative program aimed at raising awareness among rural young women in Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Bhadohi districts about critical issues such as gender, sexuality, rights, health, education, and employment. Studies show that in Uttar Pradesh, women face significant barriers to equality, with gender-based violence affecting 1 in 3 women (UNICEF 2023) and limited access to education and employment opportunities.

By harnessing the power of theatre and storytelling, the Muheem Theatre Group sparks dynamic dialogues, empowering young women to become vocal advocates for gender justice. This initiative not only educates but inspires action, helping women take charge of their own lives and create positive change in their communities.

Objectives:

• Raise awareness on gender equality, sexual health, and women’s rights.
• Provide a platform for young women to express themselves and challenge societal norms.
• Foster leadership skills and confidence through creative expression.

In India, despite the fact that all women work, only 25.4% of women aged 15-49 receive paid work (NFHS-5 report). In communities where traditional roles restrict women's mobility, such as Seema’s case—where women are discouraged from stepping outside the home—learning life skills can seem like an unreachable goal.

Muheem’s Sui Dhaga Program is breaking this barrier by creating skill-based education opportunities for rural women and girls in under-resourced communities, empowering them to become economically independent. With centers in Tendui, Muslimpur, Badaura, and Kacchwan, the program promotes:

• Handmade crafts & skill development
• Women entrepreneurship
• Professional stitching training
• Eco-friendly pad making

These initiatives aim to uplift marginalized women, giving them the tools and confidence to contribute to their community's economic growth.

In Uttar Pradesh, where 36 million child brides exist (UNICEF 2023), adolescent girls face overwhelming challenges of early marriage, school dropouts, and gender-based violence. The root cause lies in the lack of young women leaders who can challenge the patriarchal norms that hinder progress.

Muheem’s Gatisheel Pathshala program works to directly address these issues by empowering young women in Varanasi, helping them develop leadership skills, and providing opportunities for personal development. Through this initiative, Muheem aims to:

• Develop literacy skills among Musahar women to build a support network for adolescent girls
• Foster inclusion of women from different castes in village organizations
• Enhance community capacity
• Build leadership among women and adolescent girls

Through Gatisheel Pathshala, Muheem is creating future leaders capable of sparking positive change in their communities, ensuring that women have equal rights and opportunities for growth.

Muheem’s Young Women Collective is dedicated to empowering 600 young women across rural communities in Varanasi and Bhadohi. This initiative focuses on building self-reliance, leadership, and confidence by promoting sports such as Kabaddi, Kite Flying, and Cricket. These activities not only strengthen physical skills but also encourage teamwork, resilience, and a sense of community.

The collective goes beyond sports by fostering self-help groups, where young women learn essential skills such as financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and economic independence. This approach ensures that the participants are empowered to create change in their communities and become role models for future generations. Through this initiative, Muheem is shaping a generation of empowered young women ready to lead and challenge societal norms.

Objectives:

• Promote leadership skills through sports and self-help groups.
• Enhance economic independence and financial literacy for young women.
• Encourage physical empowerment through active participation in Kabaddi, Kite Flying, and Cricket.
• Build solidarity and community support, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual growth.