Jhumur is now the president of the Social Development Centre (SDC) under the PPEPP-EU project, but her family was initially hesitant about her involvement. They initially didn’t allow her to join the club, and even after she became a member, they tried to prevent her from attending regular sessions or leaving the house. However, driven by her own curiosity and eagerness to learn, Jhumur would secretly attend sessions with her family’s permission and try to share what she learnt when she returned home. Over time, her family’s perspective gradually started to change.
One day, one of the project staff told the club members about an upcoming event dedicated to their fathers. She asked them to write a letter to their fathers, sharing things they had never said before and their dreams for the future.
This special event is called the ‘Exemplary Father’ campaign. Selected fathers who raise their children in an equal, violence-free environment participate in a special meeting held at the Social Development Centre, a PPEPP-EU social platform for adolescent girls and boys. In the meeting, daughters read out letters titled ‘My Father’ to show their feelings and gratitude for their fathers.
The campaign highlights fathers’ roles in promoting equality, a violence-free society, breaking stereotypes, and supporting their daughters’ education and aspirations. Strengthening father-daughter bonds inspires confidence in girls to pursue a brighter future.
During the event, Jhumur and her fellow members read their heartfelt letters to their fathers. When Jhumur’s father heard her expressing her love, her unspoken words, and her dreams, he was deeply moved. He shared, “Earlier, I thought that if my daughter attended SDC meetings, she might learn bad things by mixing with girls from outside. So I used to stop her from going. But later, I realised my mistake. After this program, I feel that my daughter is learning good things.”
Her family, once a barrier, now supports and encourages her to attend the sessions. Jhumur said, “Because of being a member of this club, now I can participate in meetings of the Union Parishad and various NGOs, and my father takes me there. This positive change has come about because of the PPEPP-EU project and I am very grateful to you.”
The PPEPP-EU project promotes behaviour change within communities through initiatives like the ‘Exemplary Father’ campaign organised under its Women Empowerment Leading to Gender Equality component. This campaign recognises and appreciates fathers responsible for childcare, supporting their children’s education—especially girls—and avoiding domestic violence.