The Adolescent Health Team from Bengaluru and Koppal undertook a two-day learning visit to the People’s Action for National Integration (PANI) NGO in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The purpose of the visit was to gain insights into PANI’s adolescent-focused initiatives and explore ways to integrate select practices into their own adolescent health programmes.

The team received a comprehensive briefing on adolescent empowerment through collectives and mental health initiatives. They participated in a field visit where they engaged directly with adolescent girls, gaining first-hand insight into the challenges they face, their resistance to restrictive gender norms, and the life-changing impact of PANI’s support. At the Adolescent Resource Centre, the team interacted with Community Change Makers involved in PANI’s Youth Mental Health Programme and learning about grassroots mental health interventions and how it has helped adolescent girls overcome mental health problems and build resilience.

The visit was conducted to foster cross-learning and collaborative engagement to enhance the effectiveness of adolescent-focused initiatives in UP and Karnataka.