On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, SARVAM, Puducherry, organised a special one-day training programme on 2 October 2025 across eight village centres, reaching nearly 150 adolescent girls. The programme, titled “Empowering Adolescent Girls Through Education: A Path to Confidence and Change”, aimed to help participants understand the value of holistic education and inspire them to overcome barriers in their learning journey.
The training began with an engaging ice-breaking activity, where each girl introduced herself by comparing her personality to an animal, tree, or bird. This activity helped participants feel comfortable, encouraged openness, and created an atmosphere of trust and enthusiasm.
In the next session, the facilitator highlighted the value of education, emphasising its many benefits including knowledge and skill development, cultural understanding, personality growth, social progress, and overall improvement in quality of life. The importance of values-based learning, confidence building, and mother-tongue education was also stressed. To make the discussion relatable, the facilitator shared an inspiring story of a village girl who overcame challenges, continued her studies, and eventually became a teacher or doctor.
The girls were then divided into groups to discuss the barriers to education in their communities. They identified challenges such as poverty, family responsibilities, early marriage, lack of transportation, and the absence of nearby schools. Together, the groups suggested possible solutions including leveraging government welfare schemes, engaging in dialogue with parents, and seeking peer support through women’s groups. The facilitator also created awareness about important educational schemes such as free uniforms, bicycles, scholarships, laptops, and the mid-day meal scheme, all of which significantly support girls’ education.
The final session involved a goal-setting activity, where each participant wrote down her aspirations and where she envisioned herself in the next five years. This reflective exercise encouraged the girls to think ambitiously about their future. The programme concluded with a collective pledge, in which all participants committed to continuing their education and not dropping out under any circumstances.
The day ended with a short energiser game, leaving the girls inspired, motivated, and determined to pursue their dreams with confidence and resilience. The training successfully instilled in them a deeper understanding of the power of education and its role in shaping a brighter future.
