PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG ADOLESCENT

The adolescence is an important life stage for human being. A large portion of population in Bangladesh constitutes adolescent boys and girls and half of them are girls. The girls in Bangladesh society are growing up by facing a number of challenges because of their gender identity. It is noted that the disabled young adolescent girls are more vulnerable because of their gender identity as well as disabilities. The socialization of the girls in Bangladesh seems to have followed a set of pattern where they have been trapped and molded by deep-rooted cultures of patriarchy. In a male dominated society, due to gendered social norms, they are also systematically excluded from variety of access and facilities that mostly related to their lives as well as rights. In social settings, the process of exclusion tends to exist at every part of the social spheres. The girls in Bangladesh society are more likely to be denied access to health care, victimized by the dowry practice, married at a very young age and often become pregnant before their bodies are fully developed. They are also forced into slave like conditions as a domestic servant, exploited as a factory worker, abused sexually, physically and emotionally, malnourished throughout childhood, educated inadequately and forced into prostitution. A Disabled adolescent girl is abused in two folds-one as a girl and another one as a disabled person. The girls in Rajshahi, especially the girls who are living in poor familial conditions are very much vulnerable of the abovementioned issues. In such circumstances, with a view to promote aggregate social development through optimistically altering the situation of young adolescent girls, FWCA has been working with these girls in Rajshahi city since 2005. It acts through the helping and enabling process in order to organize young adolescent girls in their self-help organization. Along with this, the adolescent girls are assisted in arranging weekly study circles, theme based meetings and assemblage. FWCA is conducting training on life skill-based education, training on social and family life education, reproductive health and rights, gender and development. Apart from these, FWCA is providing skill development training on various trades and businesses for their economic empowerment. It is also using creative and performing arts for psychosocial and cultural supports to the adolescent girls. Awareness generation and local level advocacy are also going on under this program offered by FWCA.