PACE Adolescent Girls Life Skill Training Programme launched in Odisha’s Sambalpur

Sambalpur: The Sambalpur district administration launched GAP INC’s P.A.C.E Adolescent Girls Life Skill Training Programme, a globally acclaimed scientifically developed certified life skill training program for adolescent girls aged 11 to 17 years to address the age and gender specific challenges that girls face during adolescence period on the eve of ‘International Day of Girl Child-2020’. District Magistrate and Collector Shubham Saxena launched the programme in presence of district officials and others.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed worldwide to recognise girls’ rights and take in hand the unique challenges that girls face. On the eve of 25th years of adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the global agenda for advancing the rights of women and girls, the district administration has partnered with Humara Bachpan Trust for this initiative.

‘Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement’ (P.A.C.E) is an exclusive soft skill building training program of GAP Inc. designed to enhance skills of girls during the formative years to achieve their goals and make informed decision for improved health and wellbeing.

The training will be delivered in community settings as well as educational and training institutes of Sambalpur town, Sadar, Maneswar and Hirakud blocks and will impact 3,000 girls. FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar is the knowledge partner of this programme. FICCI FLO’s women entrepreneurs and members will mentor the adolescent girls.

While launching the program, DM & Collector, Sambalpur said, “Nearly 25% of district population are of adolescence groups among which nearly 50% are girls. Girls face multiple challenges by virtue of their age and gender. To build the capacities of the girls to handle their problems and to act as ‘change agents’, this life skill training will be an effective tool. He also added that concerned departments will provide necessary support and review the process of implementation periodically to make the program effective.”

PD DRDA (Sambalpur), Sukant Tripathy in his address mentioned that adolescence is a period when the intellectual, physical and all the capabilities are very high, but without proper nurturing adolescents do not use their abilities. Girls are future mothers, hence investing on them is a smarter way to the overall development of society.

District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Gitarani Mohapatra and District Education Officer (DEO) Minarani Mandal shared district rational and presented the necessity of life skill education of girls.
Founder Chairman (HBT), Dharitri Patnaik presented the program scope, objectives and implementation strategy.

Among others, District Child Development Project Officers, Block Education Officers, PRO and the principals of government girls’ schools were present. Dharitri Patnaik, Chairperson of FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar Chapter and Founder of Humara Bachpan Trust was present along with Arpita Patnaik- Executive Director, Sushree Sangeeta Bal, Purabi Patnaik and Jyoti Das of Humara Bachpan Trust.