Sakhi Initiative — To Secure Her Future

Project Brief:

Sakhi Initiative — To Secure Her Future is a comprehensive girls' education and empowerment programme implemented by Zycon Foundation in partnership with local community organizations. The project aims to remove barriers that prevent adolescent girls from completing their education by integrating menstrual health and hygiene, life skills, leadership development, scholarships, school infrastructure improvements, and community engagement. By creating safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive learning environments, the initiative enables girls to stay in school, build confidence, and realize their full potential.

Project Context:

In spite of improvements in school enrolment, many girls from vulnerable rural communities continue to face barriers that hinder their education, including poverty, gender norms, early marriage, safety concerns, and inadequate school infrastructure. Poor menstrual hygiene management further contributes to absenteeism and increases the risk of school dropout, particularly in underserved rural areas. These challenges are compounded by socio-economic and regional disparities that limit girls' opportunities to learn and thrive. The Sakhi Initiative addresses these interconnected issues through an integrated approach that promotes girls' education, menstrual health and hygiene, life skills, safe learning environments, and community engagement.

Project Objectives:

• •Promote menstrual health and hygiene awareness among adolescent girls, teachers, and rural communities.
• •Build girls' life skills, leadership, confidence, and self-defence capabilities.
• •Reduce financial barriers through scholarships, SAKHI Kits, and linkages to government social protection schemes.
• •Strengthen gender-responsive school infrastructure, including WASH facilities, clean toilets, and Pad Banks.
• •Foster supportive school and community environments through teacher capacity building and community engagement.