Sukarya’s Gender Equality Programme
Gender equality means equal rights, opportunities, and protections for women, men, girls, and boys. Investing in gender equality yields long-lasting, intergenerational benefits, uplifting women and enhancing the well-being and rights of children and communities.
India continues to face deep-rooted gender disparities, particularly in health, education, the economy, and socio-political participation. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, India ranks 129 out of 146 countries, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.
In urban slums and rural areas, access to knowledge about reproductive health, gender rights, and digital skills is often non-existent. Sukarya addresses this gap through its Gender Equality Programme, empowering adolescent girls with education, life skills, and confidence to challenge gender norms and build equitable communities.
Currently active in Delhi, Gurugram, and the underserved regions of Rajasthan, the program focuses on adolescent girls in slums and government schools.
Program Goal
Create a world where every girl can reach her full potential in a safe, respectful, and equitable community with:
- Equal access to education and healthcare
- Freedom from fear and discrimination
- Digital literacy and employability skills
- Dignity, respect, and leadership opportunities
Core Objectives
- Educate girls (ages 10–19) on reproductive and sexual health, family life, and gender issues
- Build awareness around gender discrimination, social stigma, and life challenges
- Provide digital literacy and employability training to enhance future opportunities
- Promote WASH practices (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) for better health and community engagement
Key Initiatives
Digital Literacy & Employability
- Training in essential digital skills to improve career readiness
- Empowerment through increased confidence and tech-enabled opportunities
- Integrated Curriculum covering menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, family life, gender rights, and digital learning
Lead Girls Initiative
- Identification of future community leaders among adolescent girls
- Monthly sessions on leadership, gender rights, and social issues
- Community engagement through awareness drives and peer mentorship
- Sustainability built through ongoing mentoring and role modelling
Inclusive Approach: Involving Boys (Initiated in 2024)
To build a truly equitable society, the program now includes adolescent boys.
- Purpose: Equip both genders with socio-interpersonal skills promoting mutual respect
- Joint engagement: Encourage boys and girls to break gender stereotypes together
- Vision: A united generation working toward an inclusive and respectful society
Program Reach and Impact
- Over 15,000 girls empowered since 2017
- 5,000 girls trained in 2022–23 alone
- Partnerships: Girls Opportunity Alliance, ERAN Fund, Hughes Systique, Sukarya USA, Microsoft Giving
Key Outcomes
- Increased confidence, self-worth, and leadership among participants
- Delayed early marriages and improved educational outcomes
- Stronger community support for girls’ rights and healthier family dynamics
Long-Term Vision
The long-term vision is to cultivate a generation of women leaders who drive meaningful community transformation and promote gender equity.
Empowered girls become empowered women—leading change in their families and communities, breaking cycles of poverty and discrimination, and building a healthier, more just society.
Recognition & Community Support
Since 2017, Sukarya’s Gender Equality Programme has gained recognition and support from local and national stakeholders, with visible community impact:
- Enhanced leadership among girls
- Improved school attendance and delayed early marriages
- Shifts in family and community attitudes toward gender rights
