MUHEEM PROJECTS

According to National Health Family Survey -5, 70% of mothers consider menstruation ‘dirty’ perpetuating a culture of shame and ignorance. And another hand, there was 70% increase in the incident of reproductive tract infections owing to poor menstrual hygiene. According to the study, 12.3 billion sanitary pads are disposed of every year in India. This is equivalent to 113,000 tonnes of waste. 

All these facts shows the condition of menstrual health, hygiene, culture & its impact on menstruator development and also environment. To challenge these issue at grassroots Period Mantra Program has designed, which focus to promote & strengthen the behavioural change towards sustainable menstruation. And also promotes Muheem’s special reusable cotton sanitary pad ‘Apna Pad.’Under this program, four major programs have been compiled, which are as follows:

1. Women health and menstruation 
2. Hygiene and Menstruation 
3. Gender, Sexuality and Menstruation 
4. Indian Culture on Menstruation 

 Nine year old Shivani tries to get ready for her school in the morning. She was busy to prepare her school bag but suddenly her mother ask her to wash the dishes and prepare the food. After that her father asked her to go filed with their pigs and also said that, ‘You need to learn all these household work very fast within two-three year we will arrange your marriage.’ Now going to school and get a good education become a dream for Shivani. 

Shivani belongs from Mushar community (Varanasi district). The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Mushar population as around 250,000. The Mushar literacy rate is 3% overall, and falls to 1% among women. By some estimates, as many as 85% of some villages of Mushars suffer from malnutrition and with limited access to health centres, diseases such as malaria are prevalent.

Making the dream come true of girls like Shivani Pathshala program has been design. Pathshala is an Informal Education Program for the Mushar children in rural areas. This program has been going on in Basuhan, Khargupur & Tendui (Sevapuri Block, Varanasi), Badapur (Mirzapur) & Girdhbadgawn (Bhadohi) Village's (Sevapuri Block) Mushar community. 150 children has been participated in this program. This program include  : 

1. Informal education class
2. Mainstreaming through education 
3. Promotion to go government school
4. Promoting & Strengthening leadership skill among children 

In the intricate tapestry of Uttar Pradesh, the Musahar community emerges as a significant thread, with their population reaching approximately 250,000 according to the 2011 census. Yet, these numbers belie the stark challenges that define their existence. In the corridors of knowledge, the Musahar community grapples with an alarming reality. The overall literacy rate stands at a mere 3 percent, encapsulating the struggle of 7,500 individuals to access the gateway to education. Shockingly, this struggle is even more pronounced among women, with a disheartening 1 percent literacy rate, epitomizing the uphill battle for empowerment and enlightenment.

UNICEF's 2023 report casts a haunting shadow, revealing that every third child bride in the world finds herself in India. Uttar Pradesh bears the weight of this staggering statistic, with a heart-wrenching 34 percent, painting a distressing picture of lost childhoods and shattered dreams within the Musahar community. In the symphony of Uttar Pradesh's demographics, the Musahar community's narrative is one of resilience amid adversity, demanding urgent attention, empathy, and concerted efforts to rewrite the script of their future.

Muheem Leader Fellowship is a collaborative effort between Muheem and Teach For India – Entrepreneur (TFIx), dedicated to shaping the educational leadership of Musahar community children. Over two years, our Fellows will immerse themselves as teachers in local village communities, impacting the lives of over 25 children. Beyond academics, they'll foster holistic learning through engaging techniques and nurture a strong community investment in education. We believe teaching is a pathway to leadership, and this experience will challenge our Fellows, fostering their growth as leaders. Its objective are: 

• Integrate children from Musahar and Dalit communities into mainstream education.
• Develop educational leadership among children and the community.
• Prepare educational leaders from marginalized communities.
• Build a movement for sustainable development towards positive change.

4o

All women work but few are salaried. This quote seems particularly true in the case of India (2019-21): Only 25.4 per cent of women aged 15-49 years who worked in the last 12 months were paid in cash – says NFHS-5 report.  

Seema always dream to learn stitching work and become a professional tailor. She belongs from Muslim community where women are not allow to go out from home that’s why she didn’t went to school after fifth standard. And there was no stitching or any other skill development centre for women nearby. 

There are many women from different community who wants to learn not only stitching but also some other livelihood based skill through which they can become economically independent. 

Sui Dhaga program is step towards to develop a learning space for under resourced women from excluded community. It's a skill based education programme for rural women and girls to fight back the economic crisis. There are four Sui Dhaga center in Tendui (Sewapuri Block, Varanasi), Muslimpur (Arajiline Block, Varanasi), Badaura (Sewapuri Block, Varanasi) & Kacchwan (Mirzapuri) keeps going on which include : 

1- Handmade craft & skill development 

2- Promotes women entrepreneurship

3- Professional stitching program 

4- Eco-friendly pad making 

According to UNPF, children between 0 and 14 years constitute 25%, adolescents and young adults between 10 and 24 years constitute 24% and those between 10 and 19 years constitute 16% of the world population, as of 2022. 

However, our youths face many health and social issues that are easily preventable, and their attitude and knowledge regarding sexuality and sexual health are limited. A few studies have examined the sexual knowledge and attitude of the Indian youth and found that sexual knowledge is limited and that most hold a conservative attitude toward sexuality. This poor knowledge and attitude reflect among youth as high-risk sexual behaviors and practices.And Comprehensive Sexuality Education can helps our children to overcome this challenge.  

In this direction Positive Shape Program has been designed to promote the awareness level and behavioural change among children through their capacity building on Comprehensive Sexuality Education. In this program these following topics are included: 

1. Self-Esteem 
2. Respect 
3. Personality Development
4. Comprehensive Sexuality Education

As per 2011 census, there are 80 million teenage girls in India. Due to which even today they are victims of early marriage, school dropout and gender-based violence and discrimination. According to UNICEF (2023) report, ‘Uttar Pradesh is home to the largest population of child brides, with 36 million.

 Gender based inequality is a complex problem in a patriarchal social system, which is deeply rooted in marginalized and excluded communities. Away from opportunities for education, rights and personal development and in the absence of leadership, adolescent girls are unable to decide any vision of their life.    

The root cause of this problem is lack of young women leadership who are challenging the patriarchal system at community level.

Leading Girls program has been started by Muheem organisation to challenge this problem at community level in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh.  Leading Girl’s theory of change - On building transformative leadership for girls to be gender justice advocates worldwide, who will be self-confident, empowered individuals with a long-term aspiration. Empowering young women to transform communities. We believe that when women have equal rights and opportunities, their families and communities prosper.Its objective are:   

1. Promoting leadership skill 
2. Livelihood and skill development  
3. Organising girl's union 
4. Girls empowerment 

According to the 2011 census, there are 80 million teenage girls in India, many of whom are still victims of early marriage, school dropout, gender-based violence, and discrimination. The 2023 UNICEF report states that Uttar Pradesh is home to the largest population of child brides, with 36 million.

Gender-based inequality is a complex problem in a patriarchal social system, deeply rooted in marginalized and excluded communities. Deprived of opportunities for education, rights, personal development, and leadership, adolescent girls struggle to envision and pursue their future goals. The root cause of this problem is the lack of young women leaders who challenge the patriarchal system at the community level.

Muheem organization has initiated the Gatisheel Pathshala program to address this issue in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. The program's vision is that "one day, all women in society will develop their feminist leadership and lead positive change in the community." Gatisheel Pathshala aims to empower young women to transform their communities, believing that when women have equal rights and opportunities, their families and communities prosper. Its objective are :

1.  Develop literacy skills among Musahar women to create a support system for adolescent girls at the community level.
2. Foster inclusion of women from different castes in the village organization.
3. Enhance community capacity.
4. Build leadership among women and adolescent girls.

Muheem is also works as a resource and capacity building partner, where we provide training and workshops to community, teachers, professional and different stakeholders in different topics like :  

1. Gender, Sexuality & Rights 
2. Feminist leadership & mentoring
3. Menstrual health & hygiene
4. Women legal rights in India & many more...