Meet Binita

Twinings and UNICEF are working together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable women and children living in 63 tea gardens in Assam, which have a total population of 350,000. Our partnership has already reached over 34,000 adolescent girls, through nutrition, empowerment and protection interventions.

Through our active presence on the ground, we identified that because of the lack of access to education, early employment opportunities and robust child protection measures, girls and young women like Binita, who live on the estates with their parents, are more likely to enter into marriage at a young age, or be trafficked. This, combined with high rates of anaemia, often leads to high maternal mortality rates, under-nourishment and low learning levels.

Our programme with UNICEF has established a number of Adolescent Groups (AGG) on the estates. Girls in particular benefit from weekly life skills training sessions (critical thinking; confidence and self-esteem), as well as a place where they can discuss important topics.

Binita is an active member of her local Adolescent Girls Group and plays a key role in the community by empowering others.

“Being part of the AGG has also given the girls of my community and tea estate a platform to discuss, share and learn about topics such as menstrual hygiene, which is still considered a taboo in our society."

Group members are now more confident and can make informed decisions, access better opportunities, and protect themselves and their peers from all forms of harm. The groups also discuss issues such as gender-based violence, and gender and sexuality.

The project has also seen a 21% decline in the prevalence of anaemia following community-based interventions on nutrition, such as distribution of Iron Folic Acid and development of kitchen gardens.