{"id":3398,"date":"2023-03-31T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pathfinder.local\/?post_type=essay&#038;p=3398"},"modified":"2025-08-13T16:10:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T20:10:15","slug":"meet-vaishali-and-subash-yuvaakaars-for-life","status":"publish","type":"essay","link":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/impact-stories\/meet-vaishali-and-subash-yuvaakaars-for-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Vaishali and Subash, Yuvaakaars for Life!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Across India\u2019s Bihar and Maharashtra states, married couples are joining together to reach young couples with modern contraception.<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This story is part of a multi-part series on Pathfinder\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/projects\/yuvaa-youth-voices-for-agency-and-access\/\" data-type=\"projects\" data-id=\"845\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Youth Voices for Agency and Access (YUVAA)<\/a> project:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Part 1:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/impact-stories\/engaging-couples-engaging-communities\/\" data-type=\"essay\" data-id=\"2495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Engaging Couples, Engaging Communities<\/a> \u2014 <em>Learn about YUVAA\u2019s program model, and see how it works in practice<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Part 2: Meet Vaishali and Subash, Yuvaakaars for life! <\/strong>\u2014 <em>Learn more about YUVAA\u2019s social entrepreneurship component, as well as its gender-synchronized approach&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Part 3: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/impact-stories\/yuvaas-digital-innovations\/\" data-type=\"essay\" data-id=\"3412\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YUVAA\u2019s Digital Innovations<\/a> \u2014 <em>Learn about YUVAA\u2019s digital approaches, including specifically designed mobile apps, VR interventions, and social behavior change campaigns<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Part 4:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/impact-stories\/in-india-married-couples-teach-the-next-generation-about-contraception-and-family-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In India, Married Couples Teach the Next Generation About Contraception and Family Planning<\/a> <em>\u2014 A \u2018day in the life\u2019 of two Yuvaakaars, as they work in their own community to bring modern contraception to married couples<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-01682c94-9e94-491a-b546-97b948e61171.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8044 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-01682c94-9e94-491a-b546-97b948e61171.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-01682c94-9e94-491a-b546-97b948e61171-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-01682c94-9e94-491a-b546-97b948e61171-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-01682c94-9e94-491a-b546-97b948e61171-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vaishali and Subash Chaugule, Yuvaakaars with Pathfinder\u2019s Youth Voices for Agency and Access project, in Village Mhakave, Block Kagal, Kohlapur, Maharashtra state<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Vaishali Chaugule is a force to be reckoned with it, and you know it from the first moment you meet her. Far faster than a human can translate, Vaishali launches into an animated story about herself, her family, her husband Subash, and her work with Pathfinder\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/projects\/yuvaa-youth-voices-for-agency-and-access\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"projects\" data-id=\"845\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YUVAA project<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor the last six years,\u201d says Vaishali, \u201cI worked with Dharma Life.\u201d (Dharma Life is a local partner to Pathfinder in implementing the YUVAA project). \u201cBut because of the YUVAA project, Subash and I have started to work together. It\u2019s shifted our relationship. Subash started to understand the work, and as we worked together, we started to develop more financial stability. Now, we have a new identity as a couple\u2014as a YUVAA couple. More than this, family planning wasn\u2019t that readily available in the places we are going. Villages have been happy to have us, to host us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brand-color has-text-color\"><strong>Social Entrepreneurship with YUVAA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A \u2018product basket\u2019 gives Yuvaakaars the option to reach communities with needed goods while promoting contraceptive access<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"8046\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-081522ec-c16a-4b7a-9e06-9cf0c384dfc7.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8046 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-081522ec-c16a-4b7a-9e06-9cf0c384dfc7.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-081522ec-c16a-4b7a-9e06-9cf0c384dfc7-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-081522ec-c16a-4b7a-9e06-9cf0c384dfc7-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-081522ec-c16a-4b7a-9e06-9cf0c384dfc7-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vaishali and Subash hold a small solar-powered lamp, one of the products offered by Yuvaakaars, along with modern contraception<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"8047\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-5cdc32c9-1c0e-4977-a3f6-f8e2e33c4228.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8047 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-5cdc32c9-1c0e-4977-a3f6-f8e2e33c4228.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-5cdc32c9-1c0e-4977-a3f6-f8e2e33c4228-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-5cdc32c9-1c0e-4977-a3f6-f8e2e33c4228-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-5cdc32c9-1c0e-4977-a3f6-f8e2e33c4228-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vaishali Chaugule <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pathfinder\u2019s YUVAA project combines social entrepreneurship and innovative communication approaches, working to improve access to contraceptive choices and positively shifts gender and social norms by delivering customized family planning messages to young couples in 10 districts of Bihar and Maharashtra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The social entrepreneurship piece is a unique one. Couples are able to not only get training on family planning and modern contraception, but they also learn about entrepreneurship. Yuvaakaars are then provided \u2018product baskets,\u2019 which contain a range of useful household goods like sanitary napkins, baby formula, and solar-powered lamps, but also contraceptive options like pills and condoms. Because couples are \u2018mapped\u2019 to work with local communities, they are able to bring these products to young people\u2019s doorsteps, increasing the convenience and accessibility of the contraceptive options. When they sell a product, they keep their earnings and use them as they like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before working with YUVAA, Vaishali worked on another project where she taught basic internet skills in four villages, as well as basic mobile literacy. That work helped her have stellar results with YUVAA, and she is the top entrepreneur in the entire district. \u201cBecause of this work, I got to travel to Delhi!\u201d she exclaims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brand-color has-text-color\"><strong>A gender-synchronized approach<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Building gender equity through engagement of couples and communities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-c9245c0c-413a-459b-9543-ae928c9a5323.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8048 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-c9245c0c-413a-459b-9543-ae928c9a5323.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-c9245c0c-413a-459b-9543-ae928c9a5323-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-c9245c0c-413a-459b-9543-ae928c9a5323-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-c9245c0c-413a-459b-9543-ae928c9a5323-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left to right: Dr. Balaram Jadhav, Maharastra Program Manager, Vaishali, Shabbir Mulla, State Program Manager, Dharma Life, and Subash walk through their community<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Yuvaakaars identify and engage young women and men&nbsp;\u200bin&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/publications\/gender-approaches-in-yuvaa\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"publications\" data-id=\"3400\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gender-transformative counseling<\/a>, focusing on the benefits of gender-equitable relationships, couples communication, shared decision-making, and family planning. Because Yuvaakaars are couples themselves, they are often able to make deeper inroads into communities, sometimes connecting separately with young men and women, and sometimes connecting together.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith YUVAA,\u201d says Subash, \u201cwe have been able to bring so much information. Because of the program, behavior change is happening, especially among the males.\u201d Vaishali adds. \u201cBefore, generally, females were always worrying about family planning. But now, change is happening. Now, they are aware of the different methods. They are aware of healthy timing and spacing [of pregnancies]. They have more information, more agency.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subash and Vaishali worked as a team, thinking of new ways and places to reach the communities.&nbsp;\u201cI\u2019m not shy about this work. Why be shy?\u201d says Vaishali. Subash laughs as his wife is talking. \u201cShe sold *so many* condoms,\u201d he says. \u201cShe pitched to self-help groups. She created her own team.\u201d \u201cYes, I leveraged self-help groups,\u201d she adds. \u201cI convinced them about our work, I built relationships.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTogether,\u201d adds Subash, \u201cwe worked with community groups. I went to festivals, or other informal gatherings.\u201d Today, Vaishali has obtained a license to open up her own shop, selling anything she wants. \u201cBut we will continue to include contraception,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"8049\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-b8c3a78e-9572-4c47-a3f3-fbc8506d53d3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8049 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-b8c3a78e-9572-4c47-a3f3-fbc8506d53d3.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-b8c3a78e-9572-4c47-a3f3-fbc8506d53d3-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-b8c3a78e-9572-4c47-a3f3-fbc8506d53d3-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-b8c3a78e-9572-4c47-a3f3-fbc8506d53d3-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left to right: Swaara Chaugule, Yashwant Dawar (Vaishali\u2019s grandfather), Vaishali and Subash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" data-id=\"8050\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-16126673-6432-4077-ac9f-7a065727ffb2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8050 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-16126673-6432-4077-ac9f-7a065727ffb2.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-16126673-6432-4077-ac9f-7a065727ffb2-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-16126673-6432-4077-ac9f-7a065727ffb2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Web-16126673-6432-4077-ac9f-7a065727ffb2-600x400.jpeg 600w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/533;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yashwant Dawar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, the work hasn\u2019t just reached the community\u2014&nbsp;has&nbsp;built Subash and Vaishali\u2019s own relationship.&nbsp;\u201cWe were given the platform,\u201d says Vaishali, \u201cand we will continue to do this work.\u201d For Subash, it has started to shift the way he thinks about reproductive health. He admits he didn\u2019t consider this rights work at the onset. \u201cBut now,\u201d says Vaishali, \u201che\u2019s getting close to 100% believing that women\u2019s\u2019 rights and family planning is a human right!\u201d \u201cNow,\u201d adds Subash, \u201cmen&nbsp;and women&nbsp;are making these decisions together.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does their grandpa, Yashwant, think? Loosely translated, \u201cThey are rocking,\u201d he laughs! \u201cThey don\u2019t fight. I\u2019m so proud of them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, Yuvaakaar couples like Vaishali and Subash are working to shift individual, couple, family, and community practices and perceived social norms that create and reinforce gender inequality, impacting young people\u2019s reproductive health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Says Vaishali,&nbsp;\u201cIf people have the will and the ability, they can do ANYTHING! And women aren\u2019t less than any man. If you give me more incentive, I will do more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8046,"template":"","class_list":["post-3398","essay","type-essay","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay\/3398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/essay"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/essay"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pathfinder.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}