ENLIGHT PUNE
In 2017, Anu Waghri, 8th class student of a well-known school in Pune, stopped going to school and no amount of persuasion was successful in making her change her decision. In 2019, she expressed her desire to complete basic education without going to formal school. AIC admitted her into NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). Anu was employed in a beauty parlour to support her mother the only earning member in the family. She left her job after joining NIOS and began interning with AIC as a remedial educator. She was patient, dedicated and soon turned to be an assertive and confident speaker. Her writing skills improved and she was meticulous with updating her books and timely completed the tasks given by her teachers. She also participated actively in the classroom sessions, practiced handwriting, watched self-development videos, and read books. This enhanced her handwriting, vocabulary, and fluency in English speaking. She was also creative, artistic and explored new ways of doing things, especially in developing TLMs. While the NIOS teachers encouraged her, helped her develop her newfound skills, the Enlight project activities helped her to explore newer avenues of learning and self-development.
Archana Kaur belongs to Sikhligar community and like most Sikhligar women she was married off early and became a young mother. When domestic violence became unbearable, she returned to her parents, and with support from AFC- staff Archana filed for divorce. The case prolonged for two years and later the court advised her to return to her husband where she was once again subjected to domestic violence.
They tried to fatally injure her following the birth of the second girl child and it was then she decided to return to her parents once for all. Archana had studied till 9th class and wanted to complete 10th class which she did in flying colours! She enrolled both her children in the education programme and joined as a Community Volunteer in AFC. As a volunteer, she engaged with women and girls of her community and motivated them to become empowered through education. The Sikhligar community is very patriarchal and still restrict women and girl children from education or venturing out from the house for any purpose.
Archana soon became a model for others, her story of grit was inspirational. She began her crusade to change the mindset of her community towards girls education. She encouraged parents to enroll their daughters in school, educate and empower them. This was not an easy task but Archana was not the one to submit meekly to any challenge. Despite the challenges she faced from her community, she never hesitated in helping them especially in accessing entitlements and resolving disputes with government departments. She developed a good relationship with government officials in various departments and this helped in resolving disputes and issues amicably. She was invited by the All India Radio (AIR) to share about her struggle as a single mother to procure statutory documents (birth certificate, ration card, community certificate) for her children. All these struggles have turned the young Archana truly empowered and she is now determined to empower other women and girls.
Other Stories
- ENLIGHT BENGALURU
- ENLIGHT CHENNAI
- ENLIGHT DELHI
- ENLIGHT HYDERABAD
- ENLIGHT KOLKATA
- ENLIGHT MUMBAI
- ENLIGHT PUNE
- ENLIGHT SALEM
- ENLIGHT TRICHY
- A TALE OF BEING GIRL CHILD
- Capgemini employees spread smiles
- MY SAVING IS MY EDUCATION
- Building back lost lives
- Kindling a dream
- Samridhi now likes solving maths problems
- No looking back for Manisha
- Education changes Life
- Kutty teachers
- Tyrst with education
- Rubini likes to speak in English
- Enlight brings light in the life of Afshan
- A tripartite effort for inclusion
- Children start fund for education to help the needy
- Big wonder from simple idea
- I want to teach all subjects
- The Mothers Committee
Awards
- Capgemini bags CSR Excellence Award 2017 by Indywood and the Government of Telangana
- Enlight bags CSR Journal Excellence Awards 2017
- Enlight among UN GCNI top 10 best practices in India
- Bureaucracy Today National Award for Excellence in CSR and Sustainability
- Enlight bags Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Award
Events and News
- Summer Camp for Enlight girl children in Chennai
- ‘ART’ therapy session conducted at Chennai
- ENLIGHT 2.0 Project launched in Bhubaneswar
- ENLIGHT 2.0 project launched in Coimbatore
- Enlight perspective building workshop held in Chennai
- Perspective building workshop for Enlight project teams of Noida, Gurugram and Delhi
- International Women's Day celebrated in Chennai
- AEA International Director General inaugurates STEM laboratory in Chennai
- ENLIGHT 2.0 LAUNCHED
- Perspective Building Workshop 2022
- Enlight conducts COVID Vaccination Camp in Trichy
- Entrepreneur development training for mothers of girl children in Salem
- Career guidance program to help girl children of minority community chalk out career paths
- Enlight girls receive cash award for academic excellence
- Connect & Drive on 13th & 20th May 2019
- Teacher Training on “Simplifying Hot Spots in Mathematics at Upper Primary Stage”
- Exposure visit for children to Capgemini office in Bengaluru
- Girl Children in Mumbai participate in “storytelling” workshop by Decolonizing Futures
- Capgemini team visits ENLIGHT Child Support Centre in Trichy
- Legal Awareness program for Enlight project women in Bengaluru
- SIRAGUGAL 2018 - Flying High this summer
- Enlight Trichy organized Eye Camp for children and elders
- INDIA TODAY TV documents ENLIGHT project
- Capgemini CSR Manager - Poland visits Enlight project in Hyderabad
- Review, Reflection and Planning Exercise
Covid-19 Activities!
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