I learned that just because I haven’t gone through a particular experience, it does not mean someone else has not. I learned to respect everyone as human beings, regardless of gender. This quality of respecting everyone as they are, through their choices, will make me a positive human being throughout my life journey.
~ Gita Patankar, Teach For India, Student, Pune-Maharashtra
परंपरा से परे:
मैंने इस शिविर में यह सीखा कि क्या सही है और क्या गलत-इसकी परख करना और खुद से फैसले लेना। परंपराओं के नाम पर मुझे अपनी खुशियों को नहीं दबाना है। यह शिविर मेरे जीवन का सबसे अच्छा शिविर था।
~ Chhavi Saxena, Educate Girls, Udaipur-Rajasthan
Respectful Living Space:
The healthy food, the clean environment, the morning schedule and the facilitators’ behaviour towards the participants were all very good. The cooking staff’s smiling gesture towards the participants was also appreciable. The creation of space for all types of communities was something I liked very much.
~ Arati Sahu, Safe Odisha For Her, Odisha
Space of Trust:
What I liked most about this camp is how they created a safe space for everyone. We were here from different parts of India and didn’t know anyone but we still shared our deepest secrets without hesitation or fear of anything.
Another thing I liked most about this camp is how our facilitators bring out best from us.
~ Saika Sheikh, Student, J&K
आत्मपहचान का सफ़र:
यह कैम्प हर लड़की तक पहुँचना चाहिए, क्योंकि हर लड़की को हमेशा दबाया जाता है। हमारी choices और हमारे rights कहीं न कहीं खो जाते हैं। इस कैम्प में आपको खुद को जानने और समझने का मौका मिलेगा।
After attending the sessions, I had a lot of realisations. Like “Am I controlled by family or society for being a woman?” It gave a reality check on how society is running on patriarchy and how a woman is controlled. This camp is necessary for all the women. Being a woman, I learnt where to take a right stand for myself and for others also. Women empowerment is not only talking about women’s freedom or independence, but to have equal rights and opportunities according to their needs for both men and women.
~ Harshitha M., Cricket Coach, Bengaluru-Karnataka
प्रतियोगिता नहीं, पहचान:
पहले मैं भी लड़का बनने का प्रयास कर रही थी। परंतु यहाँ आकर मुझे पता चला कि हमें लड़कों से प्रतियोगिता नहीं करनी है। हमें लड़का नहीं, लड़की ही बनना है।
~ Astha Desai, Student, Gujarat
True Empowerment Defined:
I loved that the camp was aimed at providing awareness about true women empowerment, seeing both men & women as human beings & not humiliating & dominating men in the name of women empowerment. I learnt that it is so important to stand up for any injustice that is happening with women because if we are suffer in silence, there are new victims who are born.
~ Keerthana S., School Counsellor/Special Educator, Bengaluru-Karnataka
સ્વ-ઓળખની શરૂઆત:
આ શિબિર બાદ મને પોતાને જોવાનો એક મોકો મળ્યો. આજ સુધી હું જે નેન્સીને જોતી હતી શું એ નેન્સીનું સાચું સ્વરૂપ છે? એવો પ્રશ્ન મેં પોતાની જાતને કર્યો.
~ Nainsi Suryavanshi, Student, Surat-Gujarat
Beauty Tips
समझने वाला नेतृत्व:
मुझे सभी फ़ैसिलिटेटर्स का प्यार से बात करना, जो समझ न आए उसे फिर से अच्छे से समझाना और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण हमारी भावनाओं को समझना - जो शायद ही कोई समझ पाता है - बहुत अच्छा लगा।
~ Komal Nayak, Student, Surat-Gujarat
Guided with Empathy:
I really loved the facilitators. All of them were amazing. In each of the sessions we had, the delivery by them was to the point and easily understandable. The real-life experiences and examples were encouraging and powerful, which made me reflect on my life a bit more in depth. Thank you so much for being patient, calm and understanding our feelings, emotions and perspectives.
~ Anisha Ansari, Teach For India, Student, Pune-Maharashtra
The launch of Saamarthya Facilitators’ Training Camp was the first step in preparing young women to take this movement further. If women do not stand for themselves, nobody else will.
I am deeply grateful to destiny that, while organising and conducting this camp, I realised what my responsibility truly is.
It is not merely about numbers or delivering modules; it is about transforming each life because one transformed life can uplift many lives and families.
If women do not see themselves as human beings and continue sacrificing themselves to fulfil societal norms, they waste their potential to make this country more responsible, independent and courageous. We must question these norms to create a healthy society where both genders grow together, respecting each other’s strengths and bringing out their own “Saamarthya.”
I pray that this year, through sincere effort and collaboration with organisations working for a similar cause, we reach thousands of girls. We truly believe that positive synergy is essential to transform the nation.
मिसाल बनने का साहस:
तू यह क्यों मानती है कि तू लड़की है और कुछ कर नहीं सकती?
तू पहले खुद की खोज तो कर, फिर देख कि तू कितनों के लिए मिसाल बनेगी।
तू हमेशा सबके बारे में पढ़ती और सुनती आई है, अब तेरी बारी है कुछ कर दिखाने की।
मैं चाहती हूँ कि जितनी भी लड़कियाँ यह पढ़ रही हैं, वे सब बाहर निकलें, आएँ और दिखाएँ
कि आप क्या-क्या कर सकती हो।
~ Tulsi Singh, Educate Girls, Uttar Pradesh
Walking My Truth:
I felt I am extremely late for such camps. Anyway, what I learnt which I would carry for life is not to compromise my values because they do not align with the world around me. I might not be entertained by them, but I have to carry on with my values that I believe in.
Alive Newsletter/ Magazine10 Jan 2026
Year 19, Issue 1
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