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Sabala project :
The project is funded by World Bank. The project duration is July 2011 to June 2012. Adolescent girls in northern Karnataka face a variety of challenges. Evidence shows that 34% of the girls drop out from school by age 10. In a recent survey, it was found that among families, although there are a large number of adolescent girls aged 12 years, the number drops considerably between 13 – 17 years. It is presumed that many of these missing girls have been initiated into sex work. Another survey in the region revealed that 12% of unmarried girls reported having an abortion in the past year. Girls engage in sexual activity early on, but due to social and moral sanctions, do not access services in the formal sector.
Project objectives
- To improve access to education and health for adolescent girls in selected villages.
- To improve knowledge and skills to reduce risk and vulnerability of adolescent girls in selected villages.
- To facilitate an enabling environment that supports the rights of the girl children in selected villages.
Strategies of the project
- Increase retention of girls in school.
- Improve access to health services.
- Improve economic opportunities for girls and their families.
- Improve community support and create enabling environment.
- Improve knowledge and skills.
Areas of implementation
The program is being implemented in selected 72 villages of the district across all the five talukas. The intervention villages are selected based on the need and vulnerability factors which included villages with 10+ sex workers and/ or villages which have more SC/ST population.
Outputs so far
- An enumeration of 72 villages has been completed and preliminary analysis of the data has been done to understand the risk and vulnerability in these villages. A qualitative assessment has also been done to understand the risks and vulnerabilities of the adolescent girls, their aspirations and dreams. The reports are being compiled.
- 34% of the eligible girls have been enrolled in Life Skill sessions in the intervention villages. 80% of the girls in LSE are school going girls while 20% are drop outs.
- 60 groups have been formed in the selected villages. These groups are currently involved in life skill education and are being groomed to develop into Red Ribbon Clubs.
- 50% of the girls have accessed one or more social entitlements related to school, education or nutrition.
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