Project SHAKTI Collage. Lipi Gupta

8/14/2019 Project SHAKTI Collage. Lipi Gupta

1/13

I (center) am getting to know the participants with name games as other onlookers listen from near

the school rooms.

Dr. Abha Gupta (far left) spoke on the importance of personal care and self-discipline.

Leading a discussion on their interests and helping them represent/write them on paper.


2/13

Helping girls who can read become more comfortable with reading the newspaper, (for example, what

headlines mean, where to look for the date and different sections, identification of frequently printedterms and people, such as the Prime Minister).

ginning a discussion about how they define themselves and their values: who their support systems are, achievem

d qualities they are proud of, activities they enjoy, how they see their life paths. I quickly had to come up with wa

ake these abstract concepts very tangible and important for the young women. At the same time, I had to establis

rong sense of trust in our group so that they could openly talk about themselves and allow these inherently perso

ics become ersonal and meanin ful to them.


3/13

As part of a lesson to bust the myth that

they and other girls in lower castes are

unintelligent, we spent a whole day talki

about the brain and the amazing things i

can do.

Here, a group works together to put

together a puzzle of the brain that I mad

illustrate senses and other aspects I tried

tie to their daily activities and interests.

I ended the lesson reinforcing the theme

that whatever they reallyput their mind

they can achieve. I dismissed them on th

condition that they each promise me nev

again to use the excuse that they dont h

the brains for something. They must hav

taken me seriously because, sure enough

never heard it out loud again.

Some girls volunteered to read headlines

the group. Many were quick to jump in w

a girl stumbled. Reading and correctly

understanding headlines and demonstra

knowledge about their country became a

lighthearted competition. My mother he

me moderate since I couldnt be prepare

understand all the Hindi in the newspape

myself. Together, we had fun with the gi

and for the first time got a complete pictof the literacy levels in the room and the

degree of exposure to domestic affairs. S

girls who told me they had been to schoo

tried to read the paper upside down. Mo

girls didnt know about their prime minis

or parliament and had never seen or hea

the news before. So, after some girls got

practice their oral reading and

comprehension skills, the lesson quickly

evolved into a basic civics and governmelesson. This is a small example of how I h

to be prepared every day to tackle any g

subject and on the spot identify what are

important things for them to understand

how to effectively and interactively conv

them so that the girls not only remembe

them, but begin to look at the world

differently: with more interest, curiosity,

the feeling that they are a part of it and c

make it better.

Some girls at the programs end said their most favorite new word they learned was neuron because it is fun to

ay and pretend play with, with pipe cleaners.


4/13

Talking individually to Pinky, as I test all the girls by asking them to tell me things theyve learned and how they

are integrating that knowledge into their lives. This involved asking leading questions to push them to think and

ease out answers when they would give up saying that they cannot remember anymore. The most exhausting

part of interacting with the girls was actually doing exactly this: refusing to let them give up thinking or give up

rying new things (like reading out loud, speaking in front of others, etc) by being as creative and supportive as

possible.

Pinky was one of the firs

girls to open up to me in

front of the group. Whe

asked the girls what the

hopes are for their futur

she said she wants to b

good wife and mother, t

take really good care of

others.

Her good nature butfantastically unladylike

manners also struck me

Often when other girls

talked while I or others w

talking, Pinky would jum

my aid by slapping the

talking girls upside their

head, if they were close

or by swearing at them

across the room, just to

their attention and the

tell them to listen up.

So, just as I made it my g

to find a way to make ev

girl feel more accomplis

or closer to her goals by

end of the program, I

decided I would help he

use less violent and vulg

ways to encourage good

behavior a skill veryimportant for rearing a

family, I think. However

am not sure how much

able to help. Unfortunat

couldnt help but smile b

at her every time she

slapped or cursed some

and once satisfied with t

silence. looked up at me

with a sweet smile


5/13

Going over self defense basics as a few volunteers act out a multiple attacker scenario with me.


6/13

25 of my 36 participating girls

Renu shows where she learned she should wash her hands better, after the GlowGerm activity. (they are

amused by my enthusiasm to photograph her hand.)


7/13

Above, Khusbu, Sumun, and Sapna show some of the clay items they made in an activity with the theme:

when we think we are in difficulty or in deprivation, if we use our creativity and work with what we do

have, we can find still build a rewarding life.

Below, interactive modeling of a solar eclipse (as was occurring in Agra that weekend).


8/13

Above, Pinky shows a frock she stitched after Sumun taught her how.

Below, Beenesh (left) with pupil Yogaish (right) showing what they sewed together. These two became much

closer after they forged their sewing teacher-student bond in the SHAKTI program.


9/13

Making photo frames

and then showing the

off (before pasting in

their photos). These

activities not only

boosted their self

esteem but also

remarkably improved

their cooperation ski

[Above] Krishna (cent

looking to the right sa

Ive never used thes

pretty things before.

favorites were the

[googly] eyes. After

unsuccessfully trying

wheedle extra googly

eyes from me, she be

to cleverly trade her

craft supplies to fill hframe with the quive

eyes she earned; it w

very cute.

The group that cleaned up the fastest (including the mischievous Krishna) celebrates their triumph (Pinky,Beenesh, Sumun, Khushbu, Krishna, Preeti (left to right)).


10/13

Teaching girls w

can write how t

write and send

letters.

They write prac

letters to family

members.

We exchangeaddresses.

We talk about h

we will miss ea

other after the

month is over ajoke about the

problem of tim

zone difference

when calling.


11/13

Participants with 1 of the favorite books I gave them and had them read to each other. Special thanks the G

Stars publication series for inspiring my young women.

Presenting a certificate of completion for the SHAKTI program to Urmilla, one of the first girls to independently

enroll herself in school after watching and discussing success stories of young Indian village women in the true

series Girl Stars.

Also presenting each girl with gifts and rewards, with the help of Mrs. Kanak Gupta (my mother, far left). Urmillis also more comfortable and confident in front of people.


12/13

I spent much of my ti

with the girls listenin

them tell me about

themselves and

encouraging them to

introspective. Here,

Archana is telling me

what she has enjoyedlearning most from

Project SHAKTI: How

sew and how we buil

neural connections (w

pipe cleaners)!

Khushbu, one of the youngest and

most inspiring girls I had the privileg

of working with.

Early on, she told me her dream is t

go to school.

After meeting with and urging her

caretakers and brothers to enroll he

she is now happily in school.


13/13

Kusma, one of the girls no

in school and loving it,

stands with her Project

SHAKTI folder at the

beginning of the project,

and at the end when I am

presenting her with:

-a certificate for enrolling

school

-parting gifts: art supplies

for her interest in art, a

dictionary and other scho

supplies

- a certificate of completi

that I wrote and added

additional seals for:

participation and curiosit

Sumun and me.

She was one of the most

mature and helpful,

especially in keeping th

younger girls attentive

during craft sessions.

Project SHAKTI Collage. Lipi Gupta

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