WHAT WE DO?
CAPACITY BUILDING
Capacity Building is perceived by Ekta as more than trainings and an ongoing process through which individuals, groups, organizations and communities enhance their ability to identify and meet development challenges and move towards actualizing their rights. The interventions are around the following thematic areas:
- GENDER AND GOVERNANCE
- GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS
- GENDER AND MASCULINITY
Campaign and Networking
Ekta envisages social change as a process of collective action and reflection, and works in collaboration with similar thinking organisations and individuals.
- ‘One Billion Rising’ is a worldwide campaign on February 14, to create a world free from violence
- The 16 days campaign (Nov 25 – Dec 10) was launched by Ekta in 1994. The purpose of this campaign is to create greater awareness on the issue of violence against women and also to express solidarity to the inter-national campaign on the above issue
- Safety audit is a participatory tool for understanding the elements of public spaces that contribute towards creating safety or vulnerability. Ekta initiated safety audit in Madurai with the guidance from Jagori, New Delhi and Sakhi, Kerala since 2013
- ‘Study Circle’ was initiated at Ekta on the 14th January, 1992. The objective was to create a space for women from different professional backgrounds to come together to discuss, debate on women’s issues and thereby evolve strategies for collective action
- 10-day Feminist Capacity Building Programme for the two countries in Tamil every year with the support of SANGAT since 2009. The participants come from both Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. The main objective of this programme is to equip women activists with knowledge on gender and development issues that perpetrate gender inequalities at the level of household, community, workplace and the state.
- Sangat Reports - 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
We work with the following institutions and networks:
- Childline 1098
- The Naz Foundation (India) Trust - Life Skill and Sports for Adolescent girls
- Girls Not Brides - Advocacy to prevent child marriage
- Forum to Engage Men (FEM)
- International Women Peace Group (IWPG)
- Voluntary Action Network in India (VANI) – Information dissemination
- National Alliance of Women (NAWO) – Networking of Women
- State and National Commission for Women – Promotion of women rights
- Universities and Colleges – Advocacy and Lobbying for Gender Equity
- National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) – Advocacy and Lobbying
OBR 2019
Since 2013 Ekta is organizing OBR in Madurai, TN in collaboration with Jagori, New Delhi. In 2018, there were five launches and 3 planning meetings for the main public event on 14th Feb 2019.
In collaboration with 16 NGOs, Advocates, Individuals, 1 University and 7 colleges this year Ekta organized the One Billion Rising in Madurai. Around 650 members participated.
COUNSELLING
Ekta provides counselling to women and their families irrespective of their class. Based on the merit of the case, they are helped to access to get referrals to Police and Family Courts. For litigation process, we get the help of specialized agencies.
PROGRAMME WITH YOUNG ADULTS AND ADOLESCENT
- Students for Change - This was launched in the year 1994. Every year workshops and seminars are organised for students in different colleges in Madurai.
- Life Skill Programme - Life Skill Education is one of the flagship programmes of Ekta. In the year 2000 Life Skill programme was initiated in six corporation schools in Madurai. The students in the corporation schools who primarily come from the urban poor settlements are victims of poverty, social discrimination and lack access to development opportunities. This programme aims to provide these students relevant information and counselling for enhancing their self-esteem and skills to address the problem they are confronted with.
- Ekta has partnered with NAZ India Trust from 2016 implement life skill through sports through a programme called Young People's Initiatives (YPI) with children coming from socially and economically marginalized communities to help them their potential and act as change makers. Each year around 1200 girls are being covered through this programme.
OUR BOARD
Ekta has all women Executive Body but the General Body has both female and male members. The General Body meets annually and the Executive Body meets on a quarterly basis.
S.NO NAME OF THE MEMBER DESIGNATION
1. Ms. Bimla Chandrasekar Secretary
2. Ms. Gandhimathi President
3. Ms. Revathy Vice President
4. Ms. Jesu Rethinam Treasurer
5. Ms. Manohari Doss GB Member
6. Mr. Gnana Surabi Mani GB Member
7. Mr. Deva Manoharan GB Member
8. Ms. Valligopal GB Member
9. Ms. Epsi Bai GB Member
10. Mr. Mahaboob Batcha GB Member
11. Ms. Ranjini K. Moorthy GB Member
12. Mr. M. J. Prabhakaran GB Member
13. Dr. Santha GB Member
14. Dr. S. Nagarathinam GB Member
15. Ms. Jeena GB Member
16. Ms. Lydia Rajaselvi GB Member
Our Staff Team
Ekta’s team consists mostly of women. The team is committed to social change process and constantly engaged in updating their knowledge and experiences.
S.NO NAME OF THE STAFF DESIGNATION
1. Ms. Bimla Chandrasekar Director
2. Ms. T. Tamil Moni Programme Manager
3. Ms. M. Latha Accountant
4. Ms. K. Suganya System Associate
Goal Team
5. Ms. Jenifer Megala Net ball Coach
6. Ms. M. Gomathi Life Skill Trainer
7. Ms. R. Shanthi Community Sports Coach (CSC)
8. Mr. V. Sangu Sathish Net ball Coach / Field Organizer
9. Ms. Suriya CSC / Field Organizer
10. Ms. Kavitha CSC / Field Organizer
11. Ms. Vinitha Mozhi CSC / Computer Teacher
12. Ms. Vathani CSC / Field Organizer
13. Ms. s. Muthamil CSC / Field Organizer
Nambikkai Team
14. Ms. V. Vaithegi Coordinator
15. Ms. M. Suganya Warden
16. Ms. B. Kavitha Field Organizer
17. Ms. A. Basheerunisha Tailoring Teacher
S.NO NAME OF THE STAFF DESIGNATION
Childline 1098 Child Help Desk, Railway Junction, Madurai
18. Ms. Janani Priya Coordinator
19. Ms. S. Anita Vithya Counsellor
20. Ms. Sujatha Team Member
21. Ms. Suriya Devi Team Member
22. Ms. Charu Nivetha Team Member
23. Mr. James Team Member
24. Mr. Venkatesh Team Member
25. Mr. Jeyanth Team Member
26. Mr. Viknesh Team Member
27. Mr. Kathiresan Volunteer
28. Mr. John Soloman Volunteer
29. Mr. Muthu Pandi Volunteer