CRY conducts 'Walk to EmpowHER' marathon in Chennai to raise awareness about girls' education

A walkathon called "Walk to EmpowHER" was held on Nov 24 at Elliot's Beach in Chennai by Child Rights and You (CRY) as a part of their national campaign, "Poori Padhai Desh Ki Bhalai."

CRY, an Indian non-governmental organization (NGO), strives to protect the rights of children.

The purpose of the event was to increase awareness of the obstacles that Indian girls face in their pursuit of upper secondary education and the necessity of working together to overcome them.

S Madhumathi, Secretary of School Education, attended the event and addressed the programs GoTN has put in place to support education for girls.

GoTN is a platform that aims to bring together entrepreneurs from around Tamil Nadu to form a creative community by offering inspiration, information, and interaction.

Filmmaker Dharani Rasendran emphasized that society and the government are both accountable for educating girls. He talked about his experiences working with a CRY partner to empower girls in Vyasarpadi.

"While India has made strides in primary education, the transition to higher secondary education remains a significant challenge," explained John Roberts, Regional Director of CRY (South).

“According to UDISE+ 2022, only three out of five girls continue beyond Grade 10. Barriers like poverty, gender discrimination, child marriage, and safety concerns disproportionately affect girls, leading to dropouts and limiting their futures,” he added.