The fundamental right to safety for every girl is at the heart of the ‘Safer Cities for Girls’ project in Delhi, India. In a nation that continues to struggle with gender inequality issues such as gender-based violence, unequal access to education and healthcare, the gender wage gap, and underrepresentation in political spaces, this project’s multi-pronged approach has been effectively shifting outdated social norms and patriarchal structures from the grassroots level, in a bid to close the gender gap and ensure safety for women, girls, and boys alike.
What began as a focused initiative to enhance the safety of public spaces for girls has blossomed into a powerful movement aimed at transforming societal attitudes and ensuring future generations can flourish free from fear.
In a recent visit, Santhi Periasamy, Head of RYTHM Foundation, celebrated the significant strides made by the ‘Safer Cities’ project alongside RYTHM’s esteemed project partner, Plan International, as well as the project’s beneficiaries and their families.
And this is just the beginning. Using the learnings and successes from the ‘Safer Cities for Girls’ project in Delhi, RYTHM intends to work on eradicating gender-based violence and ensure child safety in even more communities.
Ending violence against girls
Addressing pervasive gender-based violence requires a holistic approach that reshapes societal norms by collaborating on multiple levels with community leaders, parents, as well as the children themselves. Engaging communities as a partner in change lays the groundwork for sustainable transformation that lasts.
By equipping girls and boys with the fundamental skills to support and advocate for each other, nurturing their problem-solving capabilities, and providing them with opportunities to address identified issues within their community, the ‘Safer Cities for Girls’ project is creating a generation that understands and upholds the principles of safety and respect.
To date, this project has successfully educated and empowered 194 children as well as their parents, cultivating a safer and more inclusive environment!
This partnership between RYTHM Foundation, Plan International, and the community in Gautampuri is a testament to the power of collaborative empowerment and community-led change. By working hand-in-hand to address gender violence issues, we can ensure that the next generation can thrive in safety and harmony regardless of gender and age!
