In the small village of Jarera, in the district of Balaghat, India, the Children’s Parliament meets regularly to discuss community-related issues and work toward positive change. As part of the Good Shepherd project “Creating a Safe Environment for Children through Children’s Parliaments and Adolescent Girls’ Groups (CCSE),” this initiative was born from the desire to create an open space for dialogue, where young people feel safe to freely express their views, learn about their rights and share community concerns. Among them is Nupur Banote, a 17-year-old girl elected as the Parliament Secretary. Once known for her quiet and shy nature, she has over time developed the confidence and skills to make her voice heard thanks to the leadership and advocacy training provided by the CCSE project. Throughout her training, she has deepened her understanding of girls’ and children’s rights and is now determined to play a proactive role in improving the lives of young people in her community.
During a recent monthly meeting, the group discussed the importance of understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Children’s Parliament ministers. Nupur, serving as the facilitator of the meeting, encouraged members to take ownership of their positions and speak confidently about them. She insisted that if everyone is well aware of her/ his roles and responsibilities, they can work together more effectively – to the benefit of the whole village.
As leaders, we should know our roles and responsibilities to guide others with clarity and respect. – Nupur
Her inspiring words motivated her peers, and for the first time, the Children’s Parliament passed a resolution to display each member’s roles and responsibilities in the meeting hall, helping strengthen the sense of accountability and ownership of the group.
Another crucial component of the project is the adolescent girls’ groups, which promote youth empowerment and girls’ and children’s active participation in community decision-making. These groups have organized clean-up drives, helped younger children with their studies and met with local leaders to address challenges facing their communities. The change in the village of Jarera is evident: its adolescent girls and children now demonstrate greater self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills and they no longer hesitate to challenge local authorities, calling for positive change.
Hundreds of kilometers away, in Chainpur, Jharkhand, young Jyothi has also seen firsthand the difference that the adolescent girls’ group has made in her life and in her village. Born into a family of paddy and vegetable farmers, she never saw education as a priority—nor did her parents, who believed that a girl’s place was in the home. Jyothi disliked going to school, had little interest in learning and eventually dropped out after eighth grade.
One day, while doing household chores, she heard a knock on the door. A group of girls from the adolescent group were going house to house, spreading awareness about their activities and the importance of education. Curious, Jyothi decided to attend a few of their awareness-raising sessions and little by little, she began to understand how education could empower her to make her own life choices.
Staff members and girls from the group, together with representatives from the Children’s Parliament, visited Jyothi’s home several times to talk with her parents, encouraging them to support their daughter’s education and challenging their gender beliefs about girls’ abilities. Feeling seen and supported, Jyothi decided to give school another try. Her parents’ support and belief in her potential made all the difference.
The encouragement from the group gave me the courage to rejoin school Jyothi shares. Now I’m studying in 9th grade at Lutheran High School in Chainpur. My family and I are proud—and I’m more motivated than ever to learn. – Jyothi
Working at the grassroots level, these Children’s Parliaments and adolescent girls’ groups empower the youth to build confidence in their voices and themselves, turning them into active agents of change. By experiencing the power of active participation, they discover they can also work toward a fairer and more inclusive society where their voices are heard, their needs met and values recognized!
