Akshara

Violence against women, especially young women, is a growing concern in the megacity of Mumbai; women are regularly harassed (“eve-teasing”) on the way to and from school and work and lack of municipal investment in infrastructure such as proper lighting increases risks. Akshara, founded in 1995 with the goal of strengthening the capacity of women and youth to promote gender equality and human rights, works with women and youth from different walks of life (youth in local colleges, young women living in slums) and provides leadership development workshops, a free library, and online courses in women’s studies to empower women at the individual and community level to challenge and prevent gender based violence and discrimination.

With EMpower’s first grant, Akshara is expanding its activities in two new districts of Mumbai, establishing a multi-pronged campaign to confront violence and harassment of women in the home, on the street and in schools and workplaces, including a counselor training curriculum they piloted in another district of Mumbai, and youth trainings they have conducted with students from local colleges.