Abhayanavita-Sarika

As a child, her parents moved closer to one of the district’s best schools. Despite her excitement, she soon discovered only her brother would attend there, while she would be enrolled elsewhere. Her mother tried to be encouraging but it was clear the best opportunities wouldn’t be shared equally. “My mother wanted us both to have a better life,” she explains, “but I could sense they were creating a different environment for me.” The restrictions grew with age. When she got her period at twelve, she was no longer allowed to go outside or play with others. “I was told to talk less and not visit my friends’ homes anymore. I was told what kind of clothes I should wear. I was even told not to jump while playing.” Abhaynavita-Sarika’s father began working in a factory, with the family living on-site. Things only got worse. “The workers would look at me in a weird way or touch me in the wrong way.” When she told her mother, she was blamed. “I was told I should be more careful and stay away from them. We can’t say anything to the workers, as we need the business running.” The harassment continued outside the factory too. She saw this treatment was the norm for teenage girls like herself. She wanted to change it. “At that age, I understood that society had created different norms for girls and women. Our life is not easy in this society. This is not right, and it needs to be changed.” Though she understood the problems, the solutions were missing. Local community projects were all run by men, leaving no space for women’s voices

“With new confidence, she took the courageous step to create her own CSO, run and led by women, to tackle sexual violence in the community. “

Then, one day, she found an exception – one of GRI’s community-led projects. “I started participating in various social events, joined a youth group, did street plays. I learned how to talk about these issues, how to raise my voice against them and I got involved in social causes.” With new confidence, she took the courageous step to create her own CSO, run and led by women, to tackle sexual violence in the community. Through the networks, relationships and skills she had developed with GRI, she had the support she needed to succeed. Today, specialists from the Sukhaya Foundation raise awareness about sexual violence in villages and workplaces – how to identify it, report it and prevent it – as well as promoting bodily autonomy and consent. They have already reached 10,000 children and 2,500 women in areas most affected but with the least preexisting support, maximising their impact. Abhaynavita-Sarika’s story shows the importance of investing in people to create lasting change. Even if it’s hard to measure, it matters – thank you for supporting GRI and incredible people like her.