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Changing Our World: International Youth Day   
August 12, 2011 — “When I reached class 9, my parents fixed my marriage and pressured me to leave studies,” said Vimla*, an UDAAN participant and a student in the Ranchi district of India. Early marriage is unfortunately quite common throughout India. Though it has been illegal in the country since 1929 for girls under 18 to marry, the practice still persists. According to a national survey, in close to 43 percent of weddings the bride was under 18. There has been progress. The number of girls married before they were 18 in the three years before the survey dropped six percent from the 2004 survey. Though small, this is the type of progress the United Nations hopes to inspire with International Youth Day. This year’s theme is: Change Our World. CEDPA India is changing the world for youth in India with the UDAAN- Towards a Better Future program. In partnership with the Jharkhand State Education Department and the Jharkhand AIDS Control Society, CEDPA India implements the program dedicated to promoting adolescent development and establishing a cadre of healthy and empowered youth. Sponsored by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Government of Jharkhand, UDAAN is delivered in 1485 government secondary schools in Jharkhand, providing more than 300,000 students with life skills, sexual and reproductive health information. The issue of child marriage is prevalent in Jharkhand, so the program covers the topic, along with communication and negotiation skills. Youth like Vimla not only must recognize early marriage is detrimental, but they must be able to relay that information to their parents and other elders as well.
Vimla was lucky. When her parents pressured her to get married, she was already participating in the UDAAN program. “It was at this time that I also got a lot of information from the UDAAN classes, such as the adverse consequences of early marriage,” said Vimla. “I discussed this with my parents and relatives, and my teachers helped in explaining to my parents that mine was not the correct age for marriage. And, that underage marriage is punishable by law.” The program helps establishes an enabling environment in which youth can achieve their full potential by enlisting the collaboration of students, their families and teachers. “Finally my parents allowed me to continue my studies and postponed my marriage till age of 18 years,” Vimla said triumphantly. The success of UDAAN in the Jharkhand State has led to efforts at replicating the program in other states, and is influencing national guidelines on adolescent education in India. As youth gain confidence and receive education about life skills, their world is changing. They are quickly paving the path to a better future in India. Read more about CEDPA India and our youth programs. *pseudonym |
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