Women trainees are assisted to see themselves as equal in capacity to men, to discover their innate abilities, and to see new ways of contributing to the welfare of the community. As educated mothers, they also gain a new sense of the importance of their role in re-shaping tribal societies. This holistic approach to the education of rural women takes several forms. Daily informal discussions among the women stimulate self-expression, sharpen thinking skills, and awaken an awareness of both problems and possibilities. These discussions may on one day address problems such as caste prejudice or alcoholism and on the next address the contributions women are making to world development, the establishment of peace, and scientific thought.
Classes offer skills and information of benefit to the women and their families.
In Bah ' communities, promoting the equality of the sexes is considered to be the task of both men and women, and one that can be achieved fully only if the goal is shared by everyone. Thus, one aspect of the Institute's programme is an effort to foster in male family members a desire for women's advancement. Bah ' institutions lend crucial support. Members of the national Bah ' council of India and other respected Bah ' consultants speak to the men of the village about the principle of equality, and they urge husbands to take pride in their wives' accomplishments. Moreover, they discuss with the men how they, as husbands and fathers, should vigorously defend women's rights, protect women's interests, and promote the development of women's capacities.