Awakenings
September 2002

In this issue:

Copyright © 2001-2002
Jagriti International.
All rights reserved.

Jagriti Workshop - Secunderbad, India

For three days, emerging women leaders representing 24 women's organizations in India will come together to "Build Bridges" amongst themselves. In conjunction with the January Jagriti International "Awakening Journey" the workshop will also provide the opportunity for Building Bridges with women from around the world.

Nirnaya, a women's organization in Secunderbad, will assist Jagriti International in the organization and facilitation of the workshop. All travel, lodging and workshop costs for the emerging women leaders have been covered by a generous grant from a Jagriti Friend in Palm Springs, California.

The goals of the workshop include:

1. To create a network of Jagriti International partner groups within India (This will be the first time for representatives of these groups to meet with one another. It will allow them to explore ways that they can collaborate with one another and with Jagriti International to achieve their own missions.)
2. To provide a two-day training program to the participants (subject is being determined by the participants)
3. For the group to select 2-3 candidates to serve as the India Bridging Worlds 2 volunteers to work with women's groups in the U.S. in 2003.

Bridging Worlds 2 Background Information

To support the work of grassroots women's groups, one of the important considerations for long-term sustainability, is to support the development and training of future leaders and managers. Jagriti International's Bridging Worlds 2 program aims to provide these emerging women leaders with opportunities for training and international work experience as Bridging Worlds 2 volunteers.

For 2003 our goal is to bring 8-12 Bridging Worlds 2 candidates from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to the U.S. for a 3-month residency. Because selecting just 2-3 Bridging Worlds 2 volunteers from 24 women's groups in India will be a difficult task, and the Jagriti Workshop in January will allow the women themselves to democratically elect their representatives.

Nirnaya

Nirnaya is a non-profit women's trust that was founded in 1998 by Indira Jena and Uma Maheehwan. The organization's main mission is to work towards gender equity by increasing women's power. Their mission is accomplished by financially supporting both rural and urban grassroots women's groups.

The organization primarily focuses its work on the Dalit Tribal women. These women are considered to be the most vulnerable to poverty and violence in Indian society. In addition, Nirnaya supports and promotes the formation of grassroots women's groups, in urban slums as well as in rural areas. The organization conducts and sponsors skill training for adolescent girls and has established a legal aid and counseling center for women.

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