#InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild

“Mujhe bahut accha lagta hai dariya kinare jaana, kyunki har roz kuch naya seekhne milta hai…Yahan self-defence seekhne ke baad, maine khud ke andar ke taakat ko pehchana hai…aur ab mujhe kisi bhi cheez ka dar nahi lagta,” said 14-year-old Sakshi, living amidst the slums of Versova beach in Mumbai. An otherwise reticent girl, every morning, Sakshi comes to the beach to learn Martial Arts. With every powerful punch, her shyness slowly fades away. Like Sakshi, hours of practice did not deter more than 3000 girls from learning martial arts, only to make them stronger, bolder and more vocal community members.

These young girls have been empowered by MukkaMaar a non-profit organisation that empowers young girls and envisages ending gender-based violence through their comprehensive 3-year self-defence training program.

The bylanes of Versova beach are full of stories of girls who fought their challenging circumstances and broke away from the moulds created by a patriarchal society, today acting as role models for other girls in their community.

Beginning today, we bring to you 3 personal narratives of girls as young as 14 years, sharing their Martial Arts stories of becoming victorious both in their game and their community.

This #InternationalGirlChildDay, here’s celebrating the feisty girls breaking gender stereotypes one punch at a time. #FightLikeAGirl

#InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild: Soni learns new life skills & represents Mumbai at state-level martial arts.

Soni learns new life skills & represents Mumbai at state-level martial arts. #InternationalDayOfTheGirlChild #FightLikeAGirl MukkaMaar

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Soni Learns New Life Skills & Represents Mumbai At State Martial Arts

“Pehle jo log bolte the, main vaisa hi karti thi. Mujhe yeh sunne ko milta tha ki ‘Ghar se ladkiyaan bahar nahi jaayegi. Bahar ka kaam nahi karegi. Zyada padhai nahi karegi’. Ab toh main yeh bilkul follow nahi karti hoon kyunki maine self-defence seekha hua hai! Ab mujhe mere mummy, papa kuch nahi bolte. Har ladki ko khud ke liye martial arts seekhna chaiyee,” says Soni, illustrating the change in mindset of her family and community in Versova, Mumbai, after many girls enrolled with MukkaMaar to learn self-defence.

Soni’s story is part of a three-part narrative in collaboration with Leher and MukkaMaar, a non-profit organisation that empowers young girls and envisages ending gender-based violence through its comprehensive 3-year self-defence training program.

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Shreya Finds A New Sense Of Freedom Through Martial Arts

“Before I joined MukkaMaar, I was very weak. I would just play with my friend and while away my time aimlessly. Even if I would fall or get hurt by mistake, I’d sit and cry for a long time. I used to also feel scared whenever I would go anywhere. My parents were scared to send me out alone. More so, even our thinking was negative and orthodox.

After being introduced to MukkaMaar and a lot of practice, I came back with two gold medals and a silver medal that I won at the state-level fights. Everyone in my colony was extremely happy for me. Even they were encouraged to send their children to learn Martial arts and I remember telling one aunty from my colony ‘sabar ka fal meetha hota hai.’”

Sheetal’s story is part of a three-part narrative in collaboration with Leher and MukkaMaar, a non-profit organisation that empowers young girls and envisages ending gender-based violence through its comprehensive 3-year self-defence training program.

Sheetal shares her journey of strength, self-defence and winning a gold medal. #InternationalDayofTheGirlChild #FightLikeaGirl #MukkaMaar

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Shreya Finds A New Sense Of Freedom Through Martial Arts

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Sheetal Shares Her Journey Of Strength, Self-Defence & Winning A Gold Medal

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Sheetal Shares Her Journey Of Strength, Self-Defence & Winning A Gold Medal

#InternationalGirlChildDay – Sheetal Shares Her Journey Of Strength, Self-Defence & Winning A Gold Medal

“Before I joined MukkaMaar, I was very weak. I would just play with my friend and while away my time aimlessly. Even if I would fall or get hurt by mistake, I’d sit and cry for a long time. I used to also feel scared whenever I would go anywhere. My parents were scared to send me out alone. More so, even our thinking was negative and orthodox. After being introduced to MukkaMaar and a lot of practice, I came back with two gold medals and a silver medal that I won in the fights. Everyone in my colony was extremely happy for me. Even they were encouraged to send their children to learn Martial arts and I remember telling one aunty from my colony ‘sabar ka fal meetha hota hai.”