Artwork by C2C Student
The girls we support at C2C come from extremely difficult backgrounds. They often live in poverty, have limited access to school, and are victims of abuse, child labor, and child marriage. Many of the girls have been orphaned after the loss of one or both parents. Some are forced to beg on the streets for money and food. In these abject circumstances, the girls rarely have a say about their lives.
One of C2C’s main goals is to give every one of these girls the tools to reclaim their power of choice. We believe that having the ability to make decisions about their future strengthens all areas of girls’ lives and identities. By using a curriculum that emphasizes the 4Cs—confidence, creativity, communication, and critical thinking—along with STEM education and holistic support, C2C empowers girls to learn how to make life choices that will drive their autonomy and independence.
A recent initiative through one of our partner centers proves the importance of choice and the impact of C2C in girls’ lives. Udayan Care runs a popular pan-India program designed to give at-risk girls financial support, personal development, and practical skills through workshops, internships, and apprenticeships.
As part of this program, Udayan recently launched a new fellowship initiative to provide girls with coaching in a variety of professional industries, such as IT programming, radiology, nursing, etc. The program administrators then work with recruiters to attain a goal of employing 100% of the girls. The program is beneficial to all parties involved—the girls gain both practical training and employable skills, and the companies gain employees from an already-trained workforce.
At C2C, we sought to open up further opportunities for our students by connecting them with this new program. All of the girls interested in the program pre-qualified through a highly competitive process, and several C2C students applied for an Udayan fellowship.
However, despite the program’s strong credentials, only two out of 11 eligible girls eventually chose to accept the fellowship. Of those two girls, one is genuinely interested in pursuing a career in nursing and healthcare, and the second girl is seeking admission into a master’s program in the US. Both of these young women believe the fellowship is an excellent fit for their future aspirations.
The nine girls who declined the new initiative were already enrolled in the programs of their choice and wished to continue studying in their own disciplines. Several of the girls are also pursuing more academic, rather than professional, areas of study.
After coming from circumstances in which they had little or no choice, these girls learned through C2C’s life-skills training and education how to make decisions that directly impact their individual futures. Whether they accepted or declined the fellowship, the girls chose the option that was best for them. They have developed confidence in their choices and understand how to think critically about decisions, pursue their interests, and further develop their abilities.
The C2C curriculum continues to emphasize the importance of choice in shaping the path of one’s life. Since inception, we have provided girls with STEM curriculums, sponsorships, and holistic support, in addition to workshops and mentoring on career development and professional training.
We encourage girls as students to pursue their passions, and once they graduate, we continue to assist them in charting out their career path. C2C’s support and focus on the 4Cs gives all of our students the power to critically consider their options and ultimately make confident, empowering decisions about their own futures.