Here’s What Went on at eShe’s ‘Shine Your Light’ Workshop for Teenagers!

Photography by Ananya Jain

The fourth edition of eShe’s Shine Your Light was only for teenagers — both boys and girls — and saw plenty of excitement and enthusiasm!

Held on June 8, 2019, at a private residence in Panchsheel Park, New Delhi, the personal-growth workshop followed its usual format with a variety of speakers and an interesting and fun lineup of activities.

On the agenda this time: Self-empowerment, self-awareness, sex education and safety, solution mindset, jazz dance and fun games

The event began with a round of introduction as the teenage participants trickled in. eShe contributor Ananya Jain conducted the introductory session.

L-R: Raghav, Priyanka, Anhad and Shivani introduce themselves to one another

Ice-breaking can be embarrassing at times

This was followed by a session on developing a solution mindset conducted by Isha Jerath, vice president at AIESEC at Delhi IIT. The session taught kids about team-work and innovative thinking, buoyed by a competitive spirit. The winning team got eShe notebooks for each member!

Arsh, Anhad, Ishita and Sourabh display their prize-winning construction

The second session of the day was a time of quiet contemplation as participants expressed their emotions through art therapy and learnt about their dominant emotions.

The third and most thrilling session was a choreographed dance performance conducted by Vidisha Anand, founder of All That Jazz. All the kids — and even eShe’s own facilitators — couldn’t help joining in and shaking a leg!

This was followed by a break for snacks, with delicious homemade treats prepared by Kaveri Jain and snacks and sweets by Naani Ki Matthi.

After the break, participants settled down for an enlightening session on sex education conducted by eShe’s founder Aekta Kapoor. She talked about teen sex, relationships, personal empowerment, masturbation and keeping yourself safe – physically, emotionally and digitally. She also conducted a guided gratitude meditation at the end.

Krish, Sancia and Priyanka are both fascinated and awkward

Krish, Raghav, Anhad, Kanika and Ishita get serious

This was followed by a fun and playful game conducted by eShe’s business director Kaveri Jain.

Kaveri also conducted a session on self-awareness. The kids filled up questionnaires with an answer key to help them understand how they saw themselves and how others saw them.

A final session on becoming globally citizens and world leaders left a few participants in tears as it pushed them to reject stereotypes and judgements of others, and to go deep within themselves and allow vulnerability to surface.

All participants got goodie bags with eco-friendly stationery from 23.23 Designs, luxury skincare from Taaseer, delicious tea-time snacks by Naani ki Matthi, and an eShe magazine!

Reluctant to leave, a few remaining participants decided to see if they remembered the choreography that Vidisha had taught them a few hours earlier. To their surprise, they were joined by an unexpected visitor!