(continued from Part 1- Beginnings, Bonding, Becoming.) As the festive spirit of Christmas and New Year quietly settled over communities, we returned to our field locations with a new kind of strength. The second training had deepened our bonds, reaffirmed our purpose. But reality soon reminded us — not everyone would continue. Some fellows, overwhelmed […]
Author: Valli
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Beginnings, Bonding, and Becoming
On the 28th of September 2023, something quietly powerful began. Thirty individuals from different corners of India — diverse in language, culture, upbringing, and aspirations — stepped into an experience that would soon challenge, transform, and ultimately bind them in ways they could never have imagined. We arrived not knowing what lay ahead, but with […]
How a night trek to Garbett Plateau became a metaphor for life, friendship, and resilience. It wasn’t a classroom, a community, or a conference room that offered me one of the most transformative experiences of my fellowship — it was a dark hillside under a sky full of stars. We were in the middle of […]
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “What exactly do you do?” When I respond that I work on menstrual health and hygiene, the reactions are often predictable—raised eyebrows, forced smiles, and occasionally an awkward pause followed by, “Oh… that topic.” Some even dismiss it outright: These are not just questions—they are reflections […]
Working on the field has been nothing short of an adventure—marked with moments of insight, unpredictability, and profound learning. The journey has unfolded with its fair share of twists and turns. Some days went exactly as planned—smooth sessions, open discussions, and impactful engagements. But there were just as many days when things came to a […]
Celebrating Women Beyond a Single Day – The Vijayanagar Way In many parts of the world, International Women’s Day on March 8th is marked by ceremonies, speeches, and symbolic gestures that celebrate the achievements and potential of women. But in Vijayanagar, a quiet yet powerful transformation is underway—one that redefines how and when we choose […]
The first time I stood before a group of young girls in the community, there was an eerie silence. Eyes lowered, feet shuffled, and a strange discomfort filled the room. I had seen this reaction before. It happened every time I uttered the word ‘menstruation.’ As part of my fellowship, I had set out on […]
As fellows of the JSW Foundation, our fifth training took us on a remarkable 10-day travel workshop to the Kutch region of Gujarat. This was not just an ordinary training; it was an immersive experience where we got to explore the dynamic work of various organizations, learning how they collaborate with communities and the government. […]
The Beginning of an Uncertain Journey As I embarked on this two-year fellowship journey, uncertainty loomed large. I struggled to determine the right approach for fieldwork—what exactly needed to be done, how I would engage with the community, and most importantly, how I would navigate the language barriers. While I knew Kannada, the dialect spoken […]
Menstrual Health and Hygiene—a topic that still remains a taboo, a phrase that makes many of us feel awkward to even say out loud, let alone discuss in a normal conversation with friends or family. And yet, this very topic became the core of my fellowship journey—a mission to create a sustainable change that the […]
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