Asmita Project Launch in Asmita Symposium Rotary Club of Bibwewadi RY 2023-24 Report for Service Project Asmita CSR Partner: GTPL Hathway Limited Launch Date: 24-Sep Venue: O Hotel, Koregaon Park, Pune History.................................................................................................................... 1 Quick Glance of Asmita...................................................................................... 1 Journey of Asmita so far..............................................................................................................1 Launch of New Phase of Asmita.............................................................................. 3 Asmita Symposium.................................................................................................................. 3 Photos...........................................................................................................................................5 History Quick Glance of Asmita Project Asmita, supported by GTPL Hathway Ltd, was started in 2019 and has spread across 200 different locations in more than five states so far. It has benefitted more than 80,000 girls from various backgrounds until now. They are given education about Menstruation, Sexual Abuse, Social Media Bullying, Mental Health, etc. which empowers the young girls. The project is executed in synergy with many Rotary Clubs within District 3131, District 3170, District 3060. Journey of Asmita so far Asmita Daughter Empowerment Project: A Beacon of Hope In a world where challenges and obstacles often stand in the way of daughters and their dreams, a remarkable initiative has been quietly changing lives, one daughter at a time. The "Asmita Daughter Empowerment Project," initiated by the Rotary Club of Bibwewadi and RID 3131 in collaboration with CSR partner GTPL Hathway Ltd, is nothing short of a beacon of hope. A Modest Beginning The journey of Asmita began in 2019 with a simple yet impactful goal: to provide sanitary pads and educate young daughters about menstrual hygiene. Rotary Club of Bibwewadi embarked on this mission, not realizing the profound impact it would have on the lives of countless girls. Unveiling the Hidden Struggles As the project expanded its reach to schools and local communities, an unexpected development occurred. Daughters began to open up to the Lady Rotarians and Anns of the Rotary Club of Bibwewadi. They shared stories that shook the collective conscience – stories of domestic sexual abuse, social media bullying, and blackmail. A Call for Change The heart-wrenching tales of daughters being sexually abused by fathers, uncles, and close relatives, often without support from their own mothers, demanded action. The issue cut across social and economic classes, revealing the universality of this challenge. Additionally, the early exposure to social media had exposed even economically disadvantaged daughters to blackmail and abuse through manipulated images and videos. Empowering Through Knowledge Recognizing the need for change, Asmita underwent a transformation. Thanks to the continued support of CSR partner GTPL Hathway Ltd, significant changes were introduced in 2021. The project expanded to include video training on self-defense, combating social media abuse, nutrition, and dispelling menstrual myths. Now Project Asmita also covers mental health and financial literacy for college-going daughters. Support Beyond Training Beyond video training, Asmita undertook various support activities to empower daughters. This include distributing multi-vitamin tablets for improved health, pepper sprays for personal safety, hemoglobin tests to monitor well-being, and Samsung Tabs to facilitate learning and connectivity. Additionally, creatively designed booklets served as valuable resources to educate and inspire. Expanding Horizons Furthermore, Asmita Project expanded its scope by collaborating with Rotary Clubs across districts and states. The increased CSR funding from GTPL Hathway Ltd allowed Asmita to reach even more daughters and communities. Astonishing Results The impact has been nothing short of astonishing. Asmita has touched the lives of more than 80,000 daughters, and that number is expected to cross 100,000 this year. Thousands of cases of abuse have been prevented or addressed legally. Many daughters have found the strength to fight back, and numerous predators have been put behind the bars. A Cross-Cultural Endeavor What makes Asmita truly exceptional is its ability to transcend barriers of class, language, religion, and geography. The project's reach extends far and wide, uniting daughters from diverse backgrounds. Awards and Recognition Asmita has gained recognition not only within the Rotary community but also in the wider media landscape. It is one of the most widely covered projects in the media and has received numerous awards across platforms. A Unified Effort Every year, respective District Governors of RID 3131, along with fellow Rotarians from various Rotary Districts, have rallied behind Asmita. Their combined efforts are making a significant impact on the project's success. An Empowering Future In the end, what matters most is the empowerment of daughters. Some may never know the names of the Rotarians behind Asmita, but they should know this – they are not alone. They are our daughters, our pride, our commitment, and most importantly, our future. Asmita Daughter Empowerment Project – Breaking Chains, Empowering Dreams. Project Asmita has empowered 80,000 daughters by the end of 2022-23. Launch of New Phase of Asmita This year, Asmita's training program places an exclusive emphasis on empowering college going daughters. The project was launched on International Daughter’s Day which happened to be on 24th September 2023. By the end of the year, 1 Lakh plus daughters would have been empowered since inception. Our comprehensive curriculum covers vital topics like Financial Literacy, Mental Health, Technological Proficiency, and Self-Empowerment through Self-Defense. Participants will not only gain valuable knowledge but also receive practical resources, including informative booklets and essential safety tools such as pepper spray, multivitamin supplements, and whistles. A noteworthy feature of this phase is the integration of technology to enhance the learning experience. Specially curated videos presented on tablets will add an engaging dimension to the training. Projects Asmita transform daughters from being vulnerable to confident and from proactive to empowered and is also equipping daughters with knowledge, skills, and tools to defend themselves Asmita Symposium Actress Meenakshi Seshadri inaugurates New Phase of Project “Asmita” at Asmita Symposium On Sept 24th, International Daughter's Day, renowned actress Meenakshi Seshadri unveiled the much-anticipated new phase of Rotary India’s Biggest Daughter Empowerment Project, "Project Asmita", with support from CSR partner GTPL Hathway Ltd. The project was launched at Asmita Symposium at Hotel O at Koregaon Park, Pune. This event signifies another significant step in Rotary India’s ongoing commitment to empower and educate the daughters in our community. Jinal Shah, a TEDx Speaker, a member of Team Rujuta Divekar was the Keynote Speaker for the event and threw light upon the subject of "Taking care of your health while taking care of your community." The Event was graced by Divya Momaya - Independent Director and CSR Head, GTPL Ltd, Hardik Sanghvi – CS, GTPL Ltd. From RID 3131, DG Manjoo Phadke, DGE Shital Shah, IPDG Dr. Anil Parmar, PDG Deepak Shikarpur, PDG Pramod Jejurikar, PDG Ravee Dhotre, PDG Rashmi Kulkarni, attented the event. From RID 3170, DG Nasir H. Borsadwala – District Governer, RID 3170 and Sharad Pai – DGE RID 3170 attended the event. From RID 3060, Tushar Shah - DGE RID 3060 attended the event. From RID 3142, Dr. Pallavi Sule and Piyali Alegaukar attended the event. "When triggering cases like Nirbhaya happen, the immediacy to take long-term measures for women empowerment becomes of utmost importance," opined Meenakshi Seshadri, a well-known actress. Project Asmita was started in 2019 and has spread across 200 different locations in more than five states so far. It has benefitted more than 80,000 girls from various backgrounds until now. They are given education about Menstruation, Sexual Abuse, Social Media Bullying, Mental Health, etc. which empowers the young girls. "This year, our training program places an exclusive emphasis on empowering college going daughters. Our comprehensive curriculum covers vital topics like Financial Literacy, Mental Health, Technological Proficiency, and Self-Empowerment through Self-Defense. Participants will not only gain valuable knowledge but also receive practical resources, including informative booklets and essential safety tools such as pepper spray, multivitamin supplements, and whistles. A noteworthy feature of this phase is the integration of technology to enhance the learning experience. Specially curated videos presented on tablets will add an engaging dimension to the training." shared President of Host Club - Rotary Club of Bibwewadi Pune. DG Manjoo Phadke, RID3131 highlighted the importance of women empowerment by sharing some of her personal life experiences. "I have personally encountered a few incidents of physical molestation at different stages in my life. These experiences have not only shaped me and have become a testament to the strength and resilience within but have also ignited the fire of determination within me. I have assertively stood up for myself and have turned my vulnerability into self-empowerment. Over the years, I have also realized that I am my hero when it comes to self-protection," shared Meenakshi Seshadri. "In my school days, I used to be scared of coming in front of people and was petrified of public speaking. That is when I found my refuge in the Leadership Training Service (LTS), an organization based in Delhi, to bring a positive transformation to my personality. Similarly, Daughter Empowerment Projects like 'Asmita' also transform women from being vulnerable to confident and from proactive to empowered. I am happy to be associated with Rotary for this initiative, which is equipping daughters with knowledge, skills, and tools to defend themselves," she further added. Project Asmita's unwavering commitment to nurturing the potential of young women continues to shine brightly. RID 3131 joining hands with RID 3060, RID 3142, in collaboration with GTPL Hathway Ltd, remains steadfast in its mission to empower young women, equipping them with the knowledge and self-assurance to confront the challenges of life head-on. Photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QzGxNVoUTq1VPsqj54jV394G1SpE0Rtz?usp=share_l ink