From the Field: Amplify Change
Yesterday, our CEO & Founder, ElsaMarie D’Siva visited Kasewadi and Premnagar – two communities in Pune currently acting as the hub for our Amplify Change initiative. Accompanying Elsa was Tania Fernandes, our Director of Operations and Partnerships, as well as Mona More, our Youth and Outreach Officer in Pune.
Here is what Elsa has to say about her visit:
“We have been working on a ‘Safe Neighbourhood Campaign’ for Amplify Change and supported by Point of View. Tania Fernandes and Mona More have done a fabulous job with the community at all levels – young girls, women, young boys and men and then stakeholders like police and municipal officers.
One year ago the girls and women were not allowed to step out after 7 pm and now they confidently stay out beyond 0930 pm. They were afraid to speak up and found it difficult to talk to people. We made them do surveys and talk to people. What initially took 30 mins per survey now takes them 10 mins or less. The confidence with which they speak was there for all to see. The young men spoke about how they are revisiting the toxic norms of masculinity and that they now counsel others. Mothers spoke about correcting their boys when they harass girls and bringing up boys and girls equally. They aspire for a better life for their daughters who can be whoever they wish to be.
We have trained about 15 youth leaders to become peer educators. The young dancer did a dance sequence not on a Bollywood ‘item’ number but on a song that was about being free.
I was very moved by the visit yesterday.”
We will continue to bring you more snapshots of our campaigns from around our operation bases, and request to stay tune onto your blog for updates.