"I want to help create a society where no one has to live in fear of discrimination or violence," says Jasmin, an 18-year-old girl living with her family in MCD Colony, Tahirpur. She has lived there since birth and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Shyam Lal College.
Jasmin has been associated with the Kadam Badhate Chalo (KBC) programme for over two years now. One of the most memorable experiences for her was the body mapping session at the Martha Farrell Foundation (MFF) office. "That day, I truly understood my feelings and emotions," she recalls. Before joining KBC, she had little awareness of gender, sex, or how discrimination leads to violence. "I never realised how common violence is or how often it goes unspoken," she shares. Jasmin has observed discrimination in her tuition classes, where boys and girls are treated differently. "Boys and girls were treated differently, and I used to accept it as normal," she admits. But after joining KBC, she realised that discrimination itself is a form of violence. Earlier, she lacked the confidence to speak up. "I used to stay silent, afraid of expressing my thoughts. But now, I speak without fear."
Jasmin shared that she first learnt about KBC from Anjali from Team Up for Transformation, a partner organisation of the Martha Farrell Foundation, who encouraged her to join. "At first, I just wanted to understand what gender and violence really mean," she says. Curious about these issues, she decided to explore the sessions. Through discussions during the sessions, she realised that even she had once accepted unfair gender differences without questioning them. "I used to think boys and girls were naturally different in what they could do. But KBC helped me see that these differences are created by society, not nature."
She found the sessions on child safeguarding very helpful and valuable, becoming aware of the POCSO Act, 2012, and the Child Helpline (1098). "I never knew about these things before but now, I feel confident because I know where to seek help if needed," she says.
She also discovered the power of street theatre (nukkad natak) in spreading awareness. "People listen when they see real-life situations being performed. More such plays should be done to start conversations about violence in our society," she suggested.
Jasmin's journey has not just impacted her, but it has also inspired her friend, Mehak. After every session, Jasmin would excitedly share what she had learned with Mehak. "At first, she would just listen," Jasmin recalls, "but slowly, she started asking questions." Eventually, Mehak became so interested in the conversations with Jasmin on what she had learnt in KBC that she eventually joined KBC herself. Encouraged by this impact she could have had on Mehak, Jasmin motivated four more friends to become a part of the programme.
Jasmin is deeply passionate about ending violence against women. "Harassment, stalking, eve-teasing, verbal abuse, physical violence and I have seen how these things affect women’s lives," she says. She firmly believes that silence allows violence to continue. "Women should know their rights, report incidents, and support each other. Domestic violence should not be seen as a private matter; instead, it is something we need to speak up about."
One of the biggest personal transformations Jasmin experienced was in her interactions with boys. Earlier, she would avoid talking to them altogether. "I used to think, 'What if someone judges me for talking to a boy?' ” But after KBC, that fear disappeared. Now, she can talk to boys freely, make friends, and even play games with them. "It feels like a kind of freedom I never had before," she smiles.
Looking ahead, Jasmin wants to continue raising awareness. She sees many narrow-minded people in her college and community and hopes to change their thinking. "Even small efforts can make a big difference," she says with determination.
Jasmin, along with other KBC leaders and the MFF team in a body mapping session at the MFF office.
