Background
Jnana Prabodhini (ज्ञान प्रबोधिनी) is a well-reputed organisation working in the field of
education and rural development. Headquartered in Pune, the organisation has a presence in
many districts in Maharashtra and outside. The organisation has a registered trust called
Jnana Prabodhini, Solapur (JPS) to carry out educational and social activities in and around
Solapur. Jnana Prabodhini, Harali centre (JPH) (District—Osmanabad), a centre under JPS, was
established in the wake of the devastating Killari earthquake of 1993.
Today, JPH operates a residential secondary school with about 250 students and an
agri-technical diploma school, affiliated to State Agricultural University at Parbhani. JPH also
conducts educational and developmental activities in about 50 villages. These include
educational outreach programmes, health clinics / camps, training programmes for local
farmers and women’s SHGs and watershed development projects. The organisation has
earned a reputation for its dedication, quality of work and transparency.
Adolescent And Young Women’s Program
JPH has identified education and empowerment of adolescent girls and young women
as a priority area to bring about the desired social change. Towards this end, we have been
running two programs namely, the Kishori Vikas Program (Adolescent Girls Development
Program) and the Jaswand Skill Development Program for the past few years. Details of the
programs are as follows:
- a) Kishori Vikas Program – The program is being conducted in two separate parts for
age groups 10-12 and 13-15 respectively. Along with health and hygiene, the focus of
the program is on increasing their self-awareness, teaching life-skills and dealing with
the socio-emotional issues affecting their lives. Around 400 girls from 20 villages are
part of the program. The unique feature of the program is that older girls (age 16 and
above) act as mentors for the younger girls which results in better connect. - b) Jaswand Skill Development Program – Under this program, young women (age 16
to 25) are being provided free vocational training in certain skills such as tailoring,
dress-designing, computers, beauty care etc. The aim is to set them on a path to
financial independence. In addition, regular sessions are conducted during the course
for confidence-building and personality development. We conduct three courses in a
year benefitting 50 to 60 young women annually.
