“As a father, I have always aimed for a bright future filled with education and opportunities for my daughters. In our village, traditional beliefs restricted their path to education. I clearly remember my mother’s words, ‘They are girls; unhe ghar ke kaam me laga do, is schooling ki koi zarurat nahi’. (Put them to work at home, there is no need for schooling). But I protested her rigid ideology” says Prakash ji, Antarang Programme participant’s father. Antarang is ECF’s Gender Transformative Programme for girls aged 12 -17 years, designed to nurture their voice, agency, and awareness.
Prakash ji’s actions provide a solid example of confronting and transforming gender biases.Prakash ji spoke up against family traditions, insisted on his daughters’ right to education, prioritised their dream over what society expected of girls and created an environment where they could pursue opportunities typically denied to girls in their community. He believes that everyone has equal rights, choices, and freedom, and he made a decisive move: “I left the village and settled in Pune to ensure my daughters received the education they deserved.” His decision to support his daughters’ education and rights shows that challenging old beliefs can set an example that can inspire others and build long-term resilience.
Climate Change and Social Inequalities
Climate change affects our everyday life and increases inequalities, which is why it is important to address gender norms early so that young people can be equipped to face adversity and lead equitable, empowered lives. A small badlav (change) in attitudes, like Prakash ji’s, becomes a catalyst for significant social change, spreading jagrukta (awareness) and inviting collective action.
When we talk about climate change, it is usually about intense heat, storms, or a lack of water. But there is a deeper story; we do not always see the one that disrupts people’s relationships and wellbeing. When disaster strikes, often it is women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals who face the hardest challenges. During an environmental crisis, they are the ones who face the tough struggles from not having work to struggling with basic safety and healthcare. As healthcare access becomes uncertain, people’s safety becomes a question and it limits the fundamental rights of individuals to make informed choices about their bodies and sexuality.
Creating Safe Spaces for Adolescents
During ECF’s Gender Equality Programme (GEP) in schools in Pune, a class teacher shared, “While Equal Community Foundation was conducting various sessions for our students, the topics discussed were needed for them. It provided a safe space for students to share openly what they feel and observe around them during times of crisis in life. Adolescent girls expressed how the session on menstruation and adolescence changes was helpful for them, stating that ‘periods are natural, it is not a bad thing.’”
In moments of crisis, adolescents are frequently isolated, without anyone to talk to or a safe space to discuss what is happening with their bodies and feelings. ECF’s sessions actively create an enabling environment where students can speak honestly, share their struggles, and understand their bodies better. For example, by learning that processes like menstruation are natural and are a part of lived experience, not a source of shame.
When adolescents feel safe to share, it not only helps them to cope with their emotions, but also prompts a critical reflection on: What does this mean for the way we think about rights, relationships, and resilience?
This means we have to see sexual health and gender equality as part of the bigger picture. They are not just add-ons. They are the key to how communities face, manage, and bounce back from climate challenges. Sexual and reproductive rights are deeply intertwined with these realities. The spaces where young people grow up, are educated, and nurtured, greatly impact their experiences.
Shaping Gender Norms and Resilience in Adolescence
The relationship between climate change and gender norms may appear unrelated at first glance. Yet, they are closely tied together. Climate disruptions do more than damage shelter and income. In certain areas, child marriage remains an accepted practice that cuts short school and takes away control over choices. In many communities where ECF works, sudden climate disruptions to daily life worsen existing challenges, pushing families toward desperate measures like marrying off girls early or pulling them out of school to care for siblings, staying at home, and earning money through domestic help jobs. A lot of these norms begin in the household, where family attitudes shape choices and decisions, and sustain patterns of discrimination. Addressing these issues early is essential to empower young people and ensure their rights and wellbeing are protected.
“Through ECF, I realised why child marriage is such a social harm. Children are not ready physically or emotionally to handle the responsibilities of marriage at a young age” says Anushka, Antarang programme’s alumna. Even Anushka’s mother observes “Mujhe lagta hai ki ECF ke saath judne se Anushka mein pehle se hi achhe badlav dikh rahe hain.” (Being involved with ECF is already bringing about positive changes in Anushka).
In some communities, boys are pressured to prove their masculinity through risky behaviours, hiding their vulnerability and mental health issues. Additionally, many families avoid discussing topics like contraception, menstruation, or relationships due to fear of judgment, which blocks young people from seeking proper healthcare. Because of disasters, the loss of homes, income, and stability exacerbates existing barriers, making it harder for individuals to get support or claim their rights. It is not enough to solely focus on providing services. Conversations around sexual health must also engage critically with other issues like power, equality, and consent. Failure to address ingrained societal beliefs prevents communities from ensuring that everyone has the support needed to navigate crises, especially those people who are already marginalised.
With a gender transformative approach, change starts with small things, whether at home, in school, or in the communities and gradually creates more inclusive and resilient spaces. In Pune’s low-income areas, where ECF works, worsening rainfall and flooding disrupt homes, schools, and livelihoods, increasing household stress and the risk of domestic violence. Girls, above all, are at greater risk of early marriage, dropping out of school, abuse, exploitation, and facing barriers to accessing crucial health services.
Under these conditions, boys and men who are often expected to provide for and protect their families experience huge pressure. ECF’s work with adolescents encourages everyone irrespective of gender to share responsibilities, support each other, and re-evaluate established gender expectations. By learning to share the load at home, boys become equipped to respond with courage and teamwork during challenging times. Such actions promote resilience, supporting families to navigate both environmental and social challenges.
In ECF’s over a decade’s work with adolescent boys and young men, they are encouraged to question fixed gender roles, and support each other with care, empathy, and responsibility. By seeing how unequal power plays out in relationships, boys are better equipped to support reproductive health.
They also learn the significance of dignity and consent, even in tough times, such as during family or community disruptions caused by climate-related events. One Action for Equality (AfE) programme participant said in a session, “Now, I support my mother during her period and try to ease her stress in small ways that matter” showing how boys put their learning into practice to support their families and reduce stress, especially during challenging times.
Community-level Impacts
Community-based waste-handlers are also affected by climate change; like extreme heat, water contamination creates exposure to diseases like diarrhoea, respiratory issues, and also multiple skin infections. Waste-handlers are also exposed to hazardous materials and waste-related illnesses.
In our communities where many mothers work as waste-pickers, climate change adds layers of hardship to those already facing uncertainty. Community members have shared with us that inadequate healthcare and safe working conditions become a challenge during climate emergencies, with women being the hardest hit and expected to balance both work and domestic care. When there are floods and workspaces close down, families lose their income overnight. Women, already stretched thin with caregiving, are left to manage both work and family tasks without any strong support. They carry a double burden, one from environmental upheavals and the other from gendered pressures.
Violence, Rights, and Resilience
As floods claim homes and jobs, many families, especially women and children, are forced to live in makeshift shelters with limited resources. These precarious conditions, coupled with overcrowding and insufficient resources, increase the potential for violence, trafficking, and exploitation. We have seen in our communities how climate disruptions directly contribute to unsafe living environments, aggravate existing inequalities and isolate vulnerable groups further.
At ECF, we realise that these challenges cannot be disconnected from conversations on violence and human rights. For this reason, in our sessions with adolescents, we openly explore how crises create opportunities for violence and exploitation. We encourage young people to reflect on these realities critically, recognise the impact of power and inequality, and equip them with tools to support themselves and others. Atharva, one of our Action for Equality programme’s (AfE) alumni, clearly highlights “If you do not speak up, things will not change. Violence and its different forms are also discussed in the ECF sessions. And now I understand its impact.”
Our alumni take these conversations beyond the sessions. By engaging with parents, supporters, and community groups, they create safe spaces where sensitive issues like abuse, consent, and survival are discussed without fear or stigma. By promoting their learning, they break the silence, generate awareness, and strengthen community solidarity.
The climate crisis creates a vicious cycle, upsets lives, adds to inequality, and makes people more vulnerable to abuse. Addressing these requires gender-aware strategies that respect rights, provide safety, and give people the support they need most.
A world free from gender-based violence begins with rethinking how we interact daily. It is about making small changes, sharing responsibilities, and acting with respect and care. When adolescents are empowered to lead, express, and promote equality, they strengthen families and communities.
The change may start in a small way, but it grows with every action. As one mother said about her son, “One day, when I left home early to attend my daughter’s sports day, he quietly managed all the housework… He is sharing the load and understanding his responsibilities too.” During a focus group discussion, Anushka’s grandmother said, “Anushka ne seekha ki aab sabko barabari se treat karna chahiye…” (Anushkha has learned how to treat everyone equally…)
When adolescents are encouraged to voice their opinions, they shape their families and communities. By standing together, sharing duties, and being sensitive to each other’s needs, they foster a culture of respect and empathy that benefits all. At the beginning of this article, we read Prakash ji’s story; even a small badlav in mindsets can lead to big results, particularly when young people are supported to speak out and take the lead.
It makes us reflect: What other stories are waiting to be told? How can we encourage more families to stand together, share chores, and make safe spaces where everyone feels respected and valued?
Increasing climate disruptions in urban and peri-urban areas like Pune underline how essential gender-aware strategies are. By identifying the tangible outcomes of environmental stress such as school dropout, early marriage, and domestic violence, ECF’s work becomes even more critical in ensuring that families overcome difficulties and grow.
Perhaps in the choices we make every day, we build a more resilient and equal society – one where courage, empathy, and equality guide us through both social and environmental challenges.
Cover image by Divyanshi Verma on Unsplash
