Interview with Véronique Jenn-Treyer (Planète Enfants & Développement): Supporting Girls Toward Autonomy

Can you introduce Planète Enfants & Développement and this program supporting girls in West Bengal?

Planète Enfants & Développement is a French nonprofit founded in 1984 to assist vulnerable children. Today, it operates in eight countries, focusing its efforts on child protection, health, education, socio-professional integration, and combating violence and exploitation. In 2024, 57,000 people, including 4,900 women, benefited directly or indirectly from the actions implemented by the forty staff members based in the countries of intervention.

Since 2023, Planète Enfants & Développement has collaborated with Tomorrow’s Foundation, based in Kolkata, West Bengal. This region faces significant challenges: according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, the Birbhum district is among the areas with the highest prevalence of early marriage, with more than 50% of women aged 20 to 24 reporting they were married before 18.

Building on the experience of both organizations, the project targets girls from smallholder farming families, who face multiple challenges: patriarchal norms limit their choices and rights, climate change affects local resources, and access to knowledge on women’s health and personal development is limited.

The program aims to empower these girls by providing practical and technical skills, particularly in crafts and sustainable agriculture, in a school environment. By combining hands-on training with education, the project helps girls gain confidence, independence, and the tools necessary to take control of their lives. Additionally, the initiative contributes to long-term systemic change by advocating for the integration of technical skills into school curricula so that these opportunities benefit more girls in the region over time.

In India, one in two girls is married before turning 18, making it the country with the highest number of child brides in the world. How does this project help prevent early marriage and provide concrete alternatives for rural girls?

In all our meetings with families and village councils, we highlight this issue to raise awareness among everyone involved. We encourage all our adolescent girls to stay vigilant and report cases by calling the government helpline 1098.

Within the life skills component, the project addresses women’s rights, supported by activities such as theater workshops. These activities help girls express themselves, recognize and communicate their emotions, and assert themselves in decisions that may not be theirs to make. Workshops will also bring boys and girls together to discuss equal rights and early marriage, so that young men become allies.

The technical skills they acquire, such as jewelry-making or climate-adapted agricultural techniques, will help them engage in income-generating activities and gain greater autonomy. Parents, particularly mothers, are regularly involved to discuss the project and the issue of early marriage. Social workers also encourage the girls to continue their education. These actions are designed to strengthen girls’ resilience against the pressure of early marriage.

At the end of the 18-month training, 1,300 girls will have gained technical and language skills, as well as awareness of their rights. What long-term impact do you expect on their life paths, and what lessons could this model offer in similar contexts?

We expect these young girls to lead the life they choose, with the highest possible level of education. We hope they will become role models in their communities.

The success of this project could allow Planète Enfants & Développement and Tomorrow’s Foundation to replicate these actions in another region. This systemic change is what drives us: creating a replicable model that can inspire other areas facing similar challenges.

The project has a strong environmental component in a region heavily affected by climate change. Why is it essential to train girls in sustainable agricultural practices in a still highly male-dominated farming world, and how does this education contribute to their empowerment?

Women participate in agricultural work and derive resources from it. The goal is not to leave these resources solely in the hands of men but to show that women also have skills that can improve family income—and eventually their own—especially for those who choose to remain in this sector.

Their education will also open other doors. Equipped with multiple skills, they can choose the path that suits them. This capacity to choose is at the heart of empowerment: not being confined to a single path but having the tools to decide their own future.

Educating girls about menstruation in a deeply patriarchal society can be sensitive. How do you approach these sessions, and what changes have you observed in their self-esteem?

Educating adolescent girls about menstruation in a deeply patriarchal context is both delicate and essential. We approach these sessions with care and cultural sensitivity.

First, all sessions are conducted exclusively by trained health professionals, such as public or private nurses. Before each session, we engage with the community and inform parents about the program’s objectives and the facilitators’ profiles. This initial step builds trust, which is crucial for acceptance and participation.

During the sessions, confidentiality is strictly maintained. Only designated resource persons are present, as girls are much more comfortable discussing menstrual and personal hygiene issues in a safe and private environment. In many remote villages, these topics remain taboo, so creating a judgment-free space is essential.

We also use age-appropriate and creative methods, including visual materials, short awareness videos, and artistic activities. These tools help overcome hesitation and encourage participation. A strong indicator of impact is the change we observe during sessions: girls who were initially hesitant begin to ask questions confidently and openly during discussions, reflecting growing self-esteem and awareness.

Although this specific program is still in its early stages, our team has extensive experience organizing similar menstrual health awareness sessions in girls’ schools. Based on this experience, we have observed a consistent improvement in confidence, understanding, and openness, without creating resistance or disruption in the social setting.

Overall, our approach combines cultural sensitivity with empowerment, ensuring that girls acquire essential knowledge while feeling respected, safe, and supported.