What is
IMAGE
Ensuring socio-economic development of married adolescent girls
The Initiatives for Married Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment (IMAGE), a project led by Terre Des Hommes Netherlands, empowers married adolescent girls in areas of health care, sexual and reproductive health and rights, education, vocational training, social protection and protects them from gender based violence. Through access to these services girls are able to come out of their exploitation and move ahead on the path towards development.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Providing early married girls access to reproductive health care
Girls are provided with sanitary napkins, counselled on menstrual health issues and encouraged to speak about them without hesitation.
Girls who have undergone teenage pregnancies are advised to give a long gap before their second pregnancy to avoid health related complications.
Early married girls who have not yet conceived are encouraged to postpone their pregnancies till the age of 18.
Early married girls and their spouses are counselled on their early union.
Education
Providing early married girls access to education
Girls are enrolled in schools, supported with tuition fee, provided study material support such as books, bags, school uniform, shoes, stationary as well as bicycles
Girls who are unable to enroll in formal education are registered to write public exams as private candidates. Study material support and exam fee support is provided to them.
Health and Nutrition
Providing early married girls access to health care and nourishment
Girls are made aware of nutritious diets and are provided nutrition supplements for stronger health, in specific cases to also aid anaemia which is common among child marriage victims.
Girls are taken to hospitals/clinics for regular health check ups and are also admitted in hospitals in case needed.
Girls are regularly counselled on their hygiene and health care. The project takes support of ASHA workers to provide health services.
Many health awareness programmes are organised for the early married girls which gives them a platform to open up about their health issues and get them addressed.
Vocational Training
Providing early married with job skills for employment
Girls are enrolled in tailoring training and provided support in getting jobs/starting their businesses. In 2020, 584 girls were enrolled for tailoring.
Many girls are trained in beautician skills post which they either work in salons or start their own businesses with the support of IMAGE. In 2020, 6 girls were trained in beautician skills.
Girls are trained in computers, mainly on typing, working with Microsoft office and data entry. Post the training, the girls are supported to get jobs in offices. In 2020, 183 girls were trained in computer skills.
Girls are also trained in other forms of art and craft such as jewellery making, bag making, basket weaving, etc. These materials are later sold in the village. In 2020, 180 girls were trained in the above art and craft methods.
Social Protection
Providing early married girls access to government schemes and other social security welfare
Girls are made aware of the various government schemes, social security schemes and Civic IDs that they are entitled to such as Aadhar card, Ration Card and al
Girls are linked to social security and government welfare schemes which provide them a safety net and help them access their entitlements.
Protection from Gender Based Violence
Ensuring girls are protected from domestic violence and other forms of abuse
Early married girls and their families are provided with a plethora of IEC material which educates them about the various forms of gender based violence and ways to report it.
When cases are reported to the team, the project first tries to counsel the girl and her family/perpetrators of abuse on the ill effects of their harmful acts and warns them of legal implications.
Girls are guided on the legal process of filing a case/FIR against their perpetrator. Legal referrals and support for legal fee is also provided.
Where We Work
3,077 Early Married Girls in 5 districts of Karnataka, India
We work in 204 villages across 5 vulnerable districts of Karnataka where child marriage is prevalent. As per the NCPCR report of 2018, Karnataka accounts for 23% of India’s child marriages.
Story
17 year old Kamala was married at the age of 13 and believed that her dreams of becoming a fashion designer had come to an end.
After IMAGE, she was enrolled in a tailoring course post which she started her own practice.
During COVID, when the demand for clothes was less, Kamala got innovative and made bedsheets out of old sarees. She earned Rs.200 from each bedsheet and was able to provide for her family during the pandemic,
2020
Key Achievements
Our Results