Over 900 girls from 8 municipal schools celebrated ‘girlhood’ on Saturday to mark Children’s Day and 20 years of the child rights convention A Santacruz-based non governmental organisation, Vacha, organised the event in which short films made by girls were screened and photographs shot by girls were displayed.

The group was formed in 1987 as a women’s library. It now works for schoolgirls and adolescents. “After working with women in slum areas we realised that intervention at an early stage in a girl’s life can help empower her, hence we targeted young girls through education, theatre activities, film making and photography,” said Sonal Shukla, member of the core group.

“There are many issues in addition to school and college dropouts, early marriage and unemployment. Love affairs can be resolved through counselling and also gender education. Even though sex education is banned in India there is a need for gender education,” said Shukla.

Shukla pointed out that many parents in slum areas are now investing in education. “People in slum areas have realised the need for education and are investing in it. However, there is a disparity in education among girls and boys. Girls in the families go to municipal schools whereas their brothers are sent to private schools. This diparity needs to be addressed,” said Shukla.