International Womens Day 2016: "Recognizing the Unrecognized"

Women work without a break for their families, society, and friends all through the year. So, on IWD 2016, LEAD conducted their 3rd annual "Recognizing the Unrecognized", where women in our society who are rarely recognized but are responsible for important work were recognized for their contributions, such as cleaning railway stations, bus stands, picking household trash, selling vegetables etc. LEAD and LEADers believe that, without these women, our communities would come to a standstill.

LEADers from each location of LEAD voluntarily took up the initiative to identify and appreciate these women on the occasion of International Women’s Day. After identifying these unrecognized women in their communities, the LEADers made personal visits to their homes and workplaces to thank them for their contributions and presented a certificate of gratitude they personally signed.

In total, 347 students recognized 30,245 women in honour of International Women’s Day, thanking them for their contributions to society that otherwise go unnoticed. AMAZING work by our LEADers!

Students noted that this project helped them improve their communication skills and confidence, as each LEADer approached and spoke to hundreds of women from all different professions, backgrounds, statuses, and levels of education. 

LEADers from Hubballi Sandbox recognizing local security women

LEADer from Ek Soch Sandbox (Varanasi) and LEAD Functional Head Ajay Suman Shukla
recognizing a working mother

LEADers from Kakatiya Sandbox (Nizamabad) recognizing a local shopkeeper

Nizamabad LEADer Opens Discussion About Women Harassment Problem

Women harassment still remains a major problem due to lack of awareness.  LEADer S. Priyanka from Women's College, Nizamabad, decided to do her part to shed light onto this issue.  With support from the District Judge, she conducted an anti-women harassment seminar at her college. 

The event attracted 120 people. Radhakirshna Chouhan (Nizamabad District Judicial First Class Magistrate), Rajkumar Subedar (Advocate and President, Distrcit Bar Association of Nizamabad), and Manik Raju (Advocate) were actively involved in the even.  These members of the legal community added perspective and scope to the event.  

Because of this LEADer's initiative, different members of the community united to further promote the discussion of the safety of women.  

LEADer Organizes Skit to Fight Women Harassment

With the objective of promoting gender equality and freedom for women in society, LEADer Shraddha of Godutai Engineering College for Women, organized a skit about women harassment.  In addition to themes of women empowerment, the skit also portrayed a message of the importance of creating an open relationship between children and their parents so that children do not hesitate to speak about about their fears or problems.

 

Over 80 people of all ages attended the event and appreciated the initiative.  Furthermore, the audience collectively contributed Rs.700 to help the students in future projects. 

 

 

 

LEADer Helps 15 Women Gain Employment

Kiran from MSW Department, Davangere University, recognized women as important players in breaking the cycle of poverty.  More importantly, he wanted to empower women by making them independent.  Kiran coordinated with Sri Lakshmi Ranganath Swamy Mahila Mattu Graminabhirudhi Samsthe and provided free vocational training for 25 women. While convincing the women to participate in the training was a difficult task, this project allowed Kiran to practice and improve upon his communication, time management, and persuasion skills, which ultimately enabled him to persuade the women.

The vocational training organized by Kiran helped 15 women gain employment.

Project: Akshar Gyana

Chidanand (A.S.S. College, Gadag)

Literacy remains one of the most serious issues facing the world today.   Chidanand recognized his own potential to solve the literacy problem on a local level, and implemented a project for the illiterate women in his village.  He taught them how to read and write useful words, and how to sign their own signatures.  Through his initiative, these women can better manage their daily lives and exercise more independence.

Project: Teaching Illiterate People

Somshekar Nekar (SKSVMACET)

Many people in Laxmeshwar, especially women, do not know how to read, write, or even sign their own names. While these tasks may appear to be simple and basic, they form a crucial part of managing daily life.  Knowing this, Somshekar felt that it was important to help these women.  He held evening classes for 20 women every day.  Now, these 20 women know how to read, write, and sign their own names.  Additionally, these women now know how open savings bank accounts.  Because of Somshekar's initiative towards empowerment, these women will now lead brighter futures.

Project: Early Age Marriage

Usha Raju Kamble (SJPN Trust's BCA College)

In Solapur, child marriage is still very common.  To help these girls, Usha made a team and together they visited Solapur to educate the people.

While in Solapur, Usha and her team met with the Gram Panchayath and other villagers.  Through PPT presentations, group discussions, and door-to-door visits, Usha and her team members worked to convince the people of the disadvantages of child marriage. 

More than 150 people benefited from Usha's efforts and gave her positive feedback.  Usha says that this project helped her increase her self-confidence and motivated her to take on more problems in society.

Project: Essay Competition for International Women's Day

Ramya (Chanukya First Grade College)

Women today still face many issues and challenges in society.  To educate people about women's issues, as well as their important roles in society,  Ramya conducted an essay competition in honor of International Women's Day.  She organized a team to help her plan for the event.  During the event, participants were given sheets of paper and were instructed to write an essay.  Ramya awarded two prizes for the best essays at her college Annual Day function.  First year students were the main beneficiaries of her project.  Ramya's project helped her feel proud to be woman. 

Project: Teaching Origami to Homemakers to Make Them Financially Independent

Kaveri (SGBIT)

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding and dates back to the 17th century.  The objective of this art is to transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished, artistic sculpture through folding, without cutting the paper or using glue. Origami folds can be used in a variety of ways to make intricate designs.  

1st year LEADer Kaveri from SGBIT rides her bicycle to commute to college every day.  During her journey, she would regularly pass by poor housewives, who would spend most of the day inside the home.  Although Kaveri had already completed a previous project with LEAD helping school children, she thought to initiate another project with LEAD to financially empower the women she rode past on her bicycle every day.  After meeting and interacting with these women, Kaveri noticed that the women were very creative and talented.  She taught the women basic Origami, a skill that could help the women earn additional with limited resources.

Kaveri has future plans to become an entrepreneur through marketing and scaling this art form using local sources.

Women's Day at BIET College

Hanumanth (BIET College)

On March 8th, 2013, Hanumanth organized a Women's Day celebration.  The objective of the program was to highlight the meaning and importance behind why Women's Day is celebrated, as well as to honor the ways that women contribute to society.  

Several dignitaries were present at the event, including Smt Kiruvadi Girijamma (social worker), Mrs. Malati Kesari (woman engineer) and Dr. Rama Swamy (Principal).  

Hannumath says that this project gave him good exposure to the facets of event management.  He also says that he feels more confident after completing this project.  Additionally, this project inspired students to join LEAD.

LEAD would like to give a special thanks to Krishna Kumar (NSS Head) for coordinating with the students to make this event possible.  

Project: Tailoring Training for Women

Asha N E (GMIT College)

Asha wanted to give illiterate, unskilled women the chance to learn and earn a living for themselves.  With help from her mother, Asha organized an 8-day training camp for 10 women on basic tailoring skills at a tailoring center.  The training classes were conducted two hours each day, and the women learned important and useful skills such as stitching and artistic designs.  As a result of Asha's training camp, the women are now more self-confident.  They now manage and complete minor orders, and are satisfying their customers.  

The women who participated in Asha's classes wanted to give a special thanks to LEAD for enabling Asha to conduct this training camp.  

Project: Creative Sketch and Writing Competition

Deepa (Chankuya First Grade College, Davangere)

In honor of International Women's Day, Deepa conducted a creative sketch and writing competition.  The competition was unique in that it gave students a platform to express their thoughts on a compelling issue in an artistic manner.  Students' creations reflected the roles of women, and their importance, in our present society.  The best creations were awarded at the end of the competition.  

Project: Refresh the Mind

Pooja V. Bhat (BIET)

As per the saying "Student life is golden life."  Pooja took initiative to make time memorable through the small and simple task of reading.  She conducted a survey and discovered an interest in reading among the student.  Pooja purchased some new books and received permission from the PG head to establish a LEAD library.  Pooja invited all of the PG girls to participate in the inauguration of the LEAD Library.  During the inauguration, she explained about the LEAD program. Her initiative inspired the girls to to become more involved in leadership activities and social work.  

Project: Teaching the Village Women

Ashwini (SKSVMACET)

Ashwini empowered village women through literacy.  First, she educated the women on the importance and advantages of literacy, and how literacy would benefit not only themselves, but their families as well.  Then, Ashwini organized several classes where she taught the women basic Kannada letters and sentence formation.  Implementing this project helped Ashwini not only increase the self-confidence of the women whom she taught, but it also helped her increase her own self-confidence as well.  

Project: Taking Initiative in Women's Day Celebrations

Anushree Kini

Anushree took initiative to handle technical aspects during various Women's Day celebrations.  Some examples of the initiative taken includes playing appropriate music throughout the celebrations to attract the attention of the audience and to keep the audience cheerful and enthusiastic.  In addition, Anushree oversaw the microphone arrangements and video playing.  Anushree says that this project increased her self confidence and improve her multi-tasking abilities. 

  

Project: Bharathi

Bhagyashree Kulkarni (A.S.S. College for Business Administration, Gadag)

Bhagyashree organized, coordinated, and executed Bharathi, and event aimed at creating awareness about women empowerment and safeguarding women's livelihoods.  At the event was a panel session that consisted of a women lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, NGO heads, police members, and heads of various women's organizations.  Among the panel members included several notable figures such as Dr. Shantbai Bhoomreddi, Vijayaklakshmi Angadi (lawyer), PSI Krishnaveni, Shravani Hagargi (CEO of Safe Hands 24x7), and Jayashri Hiremath (NGO worker).  The panel spoke about issues in women's safety, as well as the importance for women to empower themselves and improve their status in society.  In addition, plans were made to appeal to various administrative bodies in order to provide a 24x7 helpline to women in the city.  

Around 200 guests attended the event and benefitted from the inspiration, motivation, and guidance provided by the panel speakers.  Bhagyashree says that after the event, many women felt very empowered, and approached her with ideas of starting and managing their own businesses.  

Project: Evening Class

Moushin M J (Karnataka Science College, Dharwad)

Moushin dedicated his project to holding evening literacy classes for the illiterate maids working at KCD.  His first class started only with one woman, but soon grew to a class size of six women.  As of now, the women who have participated in Moushin's class can now write their names and read bus boards. Moushin's class is still in progress, and more women have since joined the class.  

Project: Helpline for Women in Navanagar

Manjunath K. Gogi 

Majunath, inspired by World Women's Day, organized an event to help the women in the city of Navanagar.  Majunath coordinated with the President of the Navanagar Ladies Club, as well as Mr. I.M. Dundasi, the Police sub-Inspector of Navanagar to plan the event.   Prior to the event, Majunath presented a plan to the Mr. I. M. Dundasi to create a separate women's helpline number for the city of Navanagar, and to post this number on every street in Navanagar. Mr. I. M. Dundasi agreed comply with Majunath's plan. 

The program organized by Majunath consisted of a dialogue between the women of Navanagar and with Mr. I. M. Dundasi.  During this dialogues, many women voiced their doubts about women's safety within the city.  Mr. I. M. Dundasi addressed the doubts of the women and even taught them some important guidelines for them to help maintain their safety.  As a result of the program, the women became more knowledgeable about safety, laws, and procedures, and significant progress has been made for the women of Navanagar. 

Project: Women's Day Celebration, Davangere

Rakesh and Chaitra (DRM Science College, Davangere). 

Rakesh and Chaitra successfully organized a Women's Day Celebration event at Mallanayakanahalli Davangere.  The event focused on women's health and women's rights, and showcased notable community members such as Dr. Shashikala (Vice Principal of JJM Medical College), Dr. Mallikarjun (HOD & ENT Specialist), Mr. Gururaj (Program Manager of the Durga Shakti Organization in Davangere), Mr. Ishwarappa (Principal of DRM Science College) as well as Gram Panchayat members and other SDM members.  Not only did the event create public awareness for the fight for women's equality, but the event also incorporated women from local villages by having them participate in different activities and giving them prizes.  

Project: Self-Employment

Chetana Bhat (MES College of Commerce)

Chetana helped women by teaching them how to do handicrafts and embroidery.  She further helped these women by encouraging them to participate in self-help groups. The training that Chetana provided helped these 10 women create self-employment, thus also benefitting their families in the process.