At SABERA 2024, where changemakers were celebrated for their impact on society, a mesmerizing Bharatanatyam performance titled “He4She” captivated the audience. The performance symbolized the harmony of masculine and feminine energies, exploring themes of inclusion and balance deeply rooted in India’s cultural wisdom.

Performed by the talented duo Bhadra Sinha and Gayathri Sharma, He4She was choreographed exclusively for the event, blending classical storytelling with a contemporary call for unity and equality. Through their art, the performers brought to life three powerful excerpts from ancient scriptures, each illustrating the interplay of Shiv and Shakti and the timeless relevance of their divine union.

Three Stories of Balance and Inclusion

1. Shakti’s Ferocity Calmed by Shiva

The first segment portrayed the fierce battle between Shakti and the demon Mahishasur, a testament to the unyielding strength of feminine power. Overcome by her rage after slaying the demon, Shakti’s fury threatened to disrupt universal harmony.

It was Shiva who intervened, lying before her to pacify her wrath. In a moment of profound connection, Shakti placed her foot on Shiva, calming herself and restoring balance. This powerful story emphasizes the importance of mutual support between energies, highlighting the need for equilibrium in both personal and societal realms.

2. Shakti Soothing Shiva’s Anger

The second excerpt explores the tale of Shiva’s rage when Kamadeva, the god of desire, interrupts his meditation. Enraged, Shiva destroys Kamadeva, leaving his consort, Rati, in despair. Shakti intervenes, embodying compassion and wisdom, to pacify Shiva’s anger and offer solace to Rati.

This story demonstrated the strength of nurturing energies and the power of feminine wisdom to restore harmony. The performers brought this moment to life through expressive movements, reminding the audience of the importance of compassion in navigating conflict and rebuilding connections.

3. The Unity of Ardhanarishwar

The final segment showcased Ardhanarishwar, the divine form that unites Shiva and Shakti in a single body, symbolizing the inseparability of masculine and feminine energies. This form transcends duality, celebrating diversity and inclusion as fundamental to universal harmony.

The duo’s choreography reflected the essence of this union, with movements that blended strength and grace, individuality and togetherness. The segment was a powerful representation of He4She’s central message: the beauty of coexistence and equality in all forms.

The Performers: A Fusion of Professional and Artistic Excellence

Bhadra Sinha, a journalist, and Gayathri Sharma, a communication leader at Rolls Royce India & APAC, infused their performance with passion and purpose. Their dual roles as accomplished professionals and dedicated artists made their contribution to SABERA 2024 even more inspiring.

Gayathri also served as the pre-screener for the awards this year, her involvement extended beyond the stage, reflecting her commitment to promoting inclusion and unity through multiple avenues.

Their performance, steeped in classical artistry, was a testament to the transformative power of cultural storytelling.

A Celebration of Balance and Harmony

The He4She performance was more than an artistic showcase—it was a profound reminder of the relevance of ancient wisdom in modern contexts. Through the lens of dance, the performance highlighted themes of balance, inclusion, and unity, aligning perfectly with SABERA’s mission to honor initiatives that drive positive change.

As the audience erupted in applause, it was clear that He4She had resonated deeply, reminding everyone present of the enduring importance of embracing harmony in all aspects of life.

For more inspiring stories from SABERA 2024 and beyond, stay connected with WomenEndangered.org. Together, let us celebrate the art, courage, and wisdom that inspire change and foster inclusion.

They were acknowledged for the performance by IPS Chhaya Sharma, the lady cop who brought Nirbhaya Justice. Madam Chhay was also the guest of Honour

Contact us for more information and to apply for the SABERA awards.

For Membership, Sponsorship or Speaking Opportunities write to suparnaa@simplysupanaa.com

To submit your SDG-aligned campaigns for the SABERA jury to evaluate, Register here. 

The post He4She Performance at SABERA 2024 appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The world faces many challenges, but amidst the adversity, incredible women rise as beacons of hope. The SABERA Awards (Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Awards) recognize these changemakers for their outstanding contributions to society. As nominations open for SABERA 2024, let’s celebrate some of the remarkable women honored in recent years:

1. Brinda Poornpragna: Championing Education Equity

Brinda PoornPragna, CEO of eVidyaloka Trust and a SABERA Awardee, understands the critical role education plays in empowering underprivileged communities. Her social enterprise leverages technology to bridge the gap in quality education, making it accessible even in remote areas.

2. Sugandha Sukrutaraj: Empowering Adults with Disabilities

Sugandha Sukrutaraj, founder of AMBA and a SABERA Awardee and Ashoka Fellow, is an inspiration. With 19 years of experience, she’s crafted a sustainable livelihood solution for adults with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Her program focuses on visual data entry and peer training, fostering mainstream inclusion and empowering individuals.

Read about more women changemakers awarded by SABERA over the years here >>

3. Jyotika Dhawan: A Journey of Inclusion

Jyotika Dhawan’s story is one of dedication and growth. A 2023 SABERA awardee, Jyotika’s passion for inclusion has been a constant force. From receiving recognition in 2018 to winning the award in 2023, she’s consistently pushed boundaries for diversity and equity in workplaces.

4. Iram Maimuna: Superhero for our Planet

Iram Maimuna, Managing Director of E-Waste Social Pvt Ltd., is a champion for environmental responsibility. Her company connects businesses with responsible e-waste recyclers, tackling the growing problem of electronic waste and its impact on our planet.

5. Chandini Di: Voice of the Streets

Chandini Di’s story is one of resilience. Once a young girl living on the streets, she overcame poverty and hardship to become a powerful voice for underprivileged children. Through her NGO Voice of Slum, Chandini Di empowers street children and works towards a brighter future for her community.

6. Dr. Sudha Kidao: Shaping Educational Landscapes

Dr. Sudha Kidao, a SABERA Awardee and Honorary Managing Trustee of the Foundation For Excellence India Trust has dedicated over a decade to shaping education in India. Through her service as both a donor and volunteer, she’s played a crucial role in improving educational opportunities across the country.

7. Meera Shenoy: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Meera Shenoy, a SABERA Awardee and the founder of youth4jobs (Y4J), is a recognized changemaker. Y4J has become the largest organization in South Asia mainstreaming youth with disabilities in education and employment. Through her work, Meera has impacted millions of lives, empowering youth with disabilities and their families.

These are just a few examples of the extraordinary women honored by SABERA. Their dedication, passion, and resilience inspire us all. By supporting their missions and spreading awareness about their work, we can join hands in creating a lasting impact and building a brighter future.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of SABERA awardees!

Do you know a woman making a significant difference in the world? Encourage them to apply for the SABERA Awards and help us celebrate their achievements. Let’s continue to shine a light on the incredible women creating a more just and equitable world.

Nominate a Changemaker for SABERA 2024

The post Extraordinary Women Making a Difference appeared first on Woman Endangered.

SHO Tomar shares that there are 2 main reasons for any cybercrime – Greed and Fear.

Sexual Harassment of girls and Financial cheating embroiled through emotional traps for older women top the charts for cyber crime against women!

The podcast is a valuable resource for women who may be vulnerable to cybercrime and are unsure of what to do if they fall victim to it. SHO Pawan Tomar provides detailed information on how to report cybercrime, including the types of evidence that may be needed and the different agencies that can be contacted for assistance.

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8th to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all over the world. This year’s theme is “DigitALL: Technology & Innovation for Gender Equality.” The theme highlights the importance of leveraging technology and innovation to promote gender equality and empower women in all aspects of life.

In today’s digital world, women face unique challenges and risks online. Cybercrime against women is a growing problem in India. According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cybercrime against women increased by 50% in 2019 compared to the previous year. According to SHO Tomar, 90% of social media crimes are targeted at women. The two main offenses are cyber stalking of younger girls and financial cheating of older women.

Cyberstalking is a form of online harassment where the perpetrator repeatedly sends unwanted messages or follows the victim on social media platforms or other online spaces. Younger girls are particularly vulnerable to cyberstalking, with many cases involving perpetrators who are known to them. Infact in most cases, the victims may have been in a relationship with the perpetrator and as revenge for the relationship gone sour, the boys may also threaten or leak some intimate videos or photos to harass or blackmail the girl. This type of cybercrime can have a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of victims.

On the other hand, financial cheating is a type of cybercrime that targets older women who may be less tech-savvy and more trusting of strangers. Perpetrators use online platforms to establish relationships with victims and gain their trust before asking for money or access to their financial accounts. This type of cybercrime can lead to significant financial losses for victims besides the emotional trauma that they experience.

To address these issues, it is essential to promote digital literacy among women and girls, particularly in vulnerable communities. Education and training on safe online behavior can help women protect themselves from cybercrime and make informed decisions about their online activities. Additionally, there is a need to strengthen laws and policies to better protect women from online harassment and abuse.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, let us renew our commitment to promoting gender equality in all aspects of life, including the digital sphere. By harnessing the power of technology and innovation, we can create a world where women and girls can thrive and reach their full potential.

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Suparnaa has been conducting these sessions pro bono since 2014 and is regularly invited by schools, institutes as well as corporates to conduct the session. The Simply Suparnaa © Media Network has been awarded by the UN Women as an SME champion. Woman Endangered is a non-profit trust under the network that promotes Responsible content besides conducting menstrual hygiene as well as awareness sessions on violence against women. The other initiative under the network is SABERA. A one-of-its-kind annual social impact award, and summit highlight ESG best practices & sustainable development initiatives by corporates, nonprofits, and individuals

Voice of Pratigya a local newspaper wrote about the session and shared ‘ महावरी के प्रति जाग रुकता लाने के लिए ऑनलाइन काउंसलिंग की गई’ (Online counselling was done to bring awareness towards Periods).’ ‘बालिकाओं को ग्रामीण क्षेत्र मैं इस दिशा में गलत धारणाओं को छोडने अवं वैज्ञानिक चिंतन पेयदा करने की दिशा मैं अग्रसर किया’ (In the rural area, the girls were encouraged to move beyond misconceptions and start thinking scientifically in this direction).

Let us know if you know of a school/college/community in the remote parts of the country – we would be happy to conduct a session! write to womanendangered@gmail.com or suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com

To support our initiative contribute here.

The post Talking Periods in Chulu, Rajasthan appeared first on Woman Endangered.

Ever since the pandemic, WE adopted the workshop in an online mode through presentation and videos. This was the first session that was conducted in person post the pandemic. The session was attended by the mothers of the children studying in Voice of Slum (VOS).

VOS provides a bridge between introducing children of the slums to a formal system of education. They accept children of all age groups and after a couple of years of orientation help them get admitted to mainstream schools or vocational courses. The session was clubbed with the parent-teacher meeting.

The 2-hour interactive session encouraged the mothers to share their doubts and experiences creating an open and safe space for an exchange of knowledge. The topics covered included physiology, the periodic cycle, the common ailments, some yog asanas and home remedies along with information on sustainable menstrual solutions and feminine hygiene. An important aspect of the session is to understand facts beyond mere superstition.

Premium quality Medical grade silicone cups were also distributed to take care of the women’s feminine hygiene for the next 8 to 10 years. The proper usage and care were also demonstrated on a silicone female reproductive organ replica.

To support our initiative contribute here.

The post #LetsTalkPeriod in Voice of Slum appeared first on Woman Endangered.

सबेरा SABERA, which stands for Social And Business Enterprise Responsible Awards, endeavours to acknowledge Purpose beyond Profit. Launched by the UN Women awardee  Simply Suparnaa © Media network, the event has become synonymous with GOOD. A wide spectrum of entries has been received from India’s largest businesses, impactful nonprofits and passionate individuals.

The participants from India’s largest Organizations & most Impactful NGO’s include Anugraha Drishtidaan , Auspice Social , Birlasoft Ltd, , BansiVidya Memorial Trust, Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute, Bharat Aluminium Company, Bharat Petroleum Company Limited, Bharti Foundation, Cancer Awareness Prevention and Early Detection Trust, Children’s LoveCastles Trust, Dabur India Ltd, DGTRA Consultancy Pvt Ltd., E-Waste Social Private Limited, Ecohoy, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Ltd., IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute Foundation, Ingenuity Edulabs LLP., Jyoti Bahuudesiya Sevabhavi Sanstha, Kamalnayan Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, Keshav Sita Memorial Foundation Trust, Kimberly Clark, Maruti Suzuki, ONGC Foundation, Oorjan Cleantech, S M Sehgal Foundation, Samarpan Foundation, Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, Sankalp Jyoti, Sarathi Development Foundation, Save the Children SBI General Insurance Company Limited, Sterlite Technologies Limited, Sun Pharma Community Healthcare Society, Sustainable Advancements, Swades Foundation, TIEEDI Forest Garden, Udyama, WAY2WORLD, We will still rise, WinPE Development Forum and WNS Global Services amidst others.

सबेरा SABERA 2021 has partnered with United Nations Global Compact Network India as SDG partner, ShethePeople.TV as digital-media partner, and eShe as magazine partner to amplify content on traditional and new-age media platforms. Amazon India has come on board as a Gift Partner to felicitate the eminent jury members and speakers. MG Motors India Pvt Ltd., which work diligently to promote gender diversity, will be the ESG partner this year.

सबेरा SABERA aims to be the tripartite bridge between the three sectors of corporate India, civil and nonprofit sectors. The jury has senior representatives from these sectors and has already rigorously screened the entries as part of the jury process and has arrived at a shortlist.

Jury Chair, Renu Sud Karnad, MD, HDFC Bank Ltd, shared her sentiments on chairing the jury and said, “SABERA has been doing a commendable job by bringing to the fore and recognizing achievements by individuals, corporates, and communities working towards a better sustainable future. These selfless do-gooders by virtue of their perseverance and conviction deserve to be celebrated as role models for society at large. I am honoured to be the JURY CHAIR for the 2020-21 awards and I am convinced that the awardees this year will inspire many more to follow in their footsteps.”

The jury includes noted personalities such as Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee (IAS), popularly known as the father of CSR in India; Uday Varma (IAS), Former Secretary Ministry of I&B and MSME; Suhela Khan, Country Program Manager, WeEmpower Asia UN Women; Ananta Raghuvanshi, Founder Director, NARDECO MAHI GOI; Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India; Richard Rekhy, Board, KPMG Dubai; Shaili Chopra, Founder, SheThePeople.TV; Mathew Cherian, Chair CARE India and Geeta Goel, Country Director, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

The awards will be held virtually on December 9th, 2021. The high-impact speakers at the Summit preceding the awards will include Padma Shri Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte, a couple that is the epitome of a purpose beyond profit. As professional doctors, they have dedicated their lives to healing the indigenous tribes in the remote part of our country. Dr Bibek Debroy, chair, an economic advisory council to the Prime Minister, has been a constant supporter of the event since its inception and will continue to be the Guest of Honor for the fourth consecutive year.

Since year one, the award ceremonies have been anchored by girls from marginalized sectors of society who have emancipated themselves and their communities through education. This year, too, the face of सबेरा SABERA will be a teenage girl from the remote village of Uttarakhand.

An annual event that seeks to initiate a transformative journey for the nation by highlighting ESG and SDG aligned best practices, सबेरा SABERA award categories are based on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as environment, education, enablement, health and wellbeing, agriculture and rural development, and diversity and inclusion. The entity awards will evaluate ESG best practices of Responsible Businesses and Promising Responsible Businesses (minimum three years and maximum ten years in operation). The organizational and individual categories include Social Enterprise, Not for Profit, Social Leader, Promising Social Leader (under 30 years), Change Maker, as well as Lifetime Achievement awards. Benchmarks for the awards were set by the jury based on qualitative and quantitative measures for impact, sustainability and scalability.

About  Simply Suparnaa © Media network
Simply Suparnaa © Media network is an award-winning organization that consciously works towards creating a positive narrative away from sensationalism by creating and distributing Responsible content. The founder Suparnaa Chadda uses her versatile experience of over two decades in the Indian media to curate सबेरा SABERA that Recognizes GOOD across civil, corporate and development sectors. Amidst others, the Network stands for enabling gender sensitivity and conducts menstrual hygiene sessions distributing sustainable feminine hygiene products in urban slums through the nonprofit womanendangered.org. The network also awards entities & Individuals working around ESG & SDG principles. It also provides a platform for marginalized girls or women who have taken a career break to get back into the mainstream. The network strongly believes that leadership and spirituality are interconnected and have the potential to bring about a larger change in society. It has been awarded by the UN Women WEP Awards 2021 as an SME Community Champion.

The post सबेरा SABERA 2021 Awards Participants & Partners unveiled appeared first on Woman Endangered.

The Network consciously works towards creating a positive narrative away from sensationalism. सबेरा SABERA, is a one-of-its-kind annual social impact award and summit which highlights SDG & ESG aligned work across the country. Amidst others, the network stands for causes enabling gender sensitivity as promoted by Woman Endangered. An initiative to affect behavioural change and enhance gender equity. With a keen spiritual bent, I am training in Shaktism under my Spiritual Mentor, Shree Umeshwar Shrivastav, and have also formally studied the Sankhya Shastra under his tutelage. I strongly believe that leadership and spirituality are interconnected and have the potential to bring a larger change in society.

From engaging with girls from economically weaker sections, daughters of sex workers, rag pickers, launderers or gardeners to employing women who have had to take a career break. From documenting steps in the unfortunate incident of Rape as explained by the Super Cop Chhaya Sharma who busted Nirbhaya’s perpetrators to conducting menstrual hygiene sessions in slums and offices. And of course, acknowledging Gender equitable campaigns and companies across the country. I remain grateful for your support and belief in my work. I have had help from different corners of the industry and as I receive this acknowledgement – I thank you from the bottom of my heart for it wouldn’t have been possible without your direct support or the warmth of your blessings.

Yours Sincerely,

Suparnaa Chadda

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Kanika Mehrotra is a management professional based in Italy, an old colleague, when she recently reached out to conduct an interview with me talking about Life-Changing skills, I was more than happy to engage through this free-flowing conversation. Amidst other things being comfortable with our anatomy and recognizing our own deep-set stereotypes came to the fore as the discussion progressed.

The interview reminded me of the deck that Shiva Kumar had made on women in leadership and we shared on the site here.

Here is a link to the podcast on spotify with the whole recorded interaction.

You could also watch the whole interview here and share your own experiences as a woman in the leadership role that suits you best.

To support our initiative contribute here.

The post Woman and Leadership appeared first on Woman Endangered.

Given the lockdown WE got an opportune time to document some of the outreach done, Gopi Chand School was the venue for one of them. 75 medical-grade silicone cups were distributed to take care of the feminine hygiene of the mothers of the students from the school, sustainably. The menstrual cup lasts for eight to ten years hence a detailed session on the usage and Maintainance of the cup was essential.

The funds to purchase the menstrual cup for gifting were crowdsourced by the journalist Rituparna Chatterjee also popularly known as Masala Bai on Twitter. She is a prominent name in documenting & curating the #Metoo movement in India.

#LetsTalkPeriod with Simply Suparnaa sessions are tailor-made as per the audience and the media used accordingly is also accommodated. What remains constant is the model of the reproductive system to explain the physiology of menstruation. Alongside some home remedies and yoga asanas for addressing common ailments relating to menstruation.

Over the years the feedback from the beneficiary has become the most essential part of any session and so was the case in Gopi Chand school. Finally wrapping up over some cold drinks and hot samosas.

As always a reminder, If you are working with communities that can benefit from these sessions do connect us and we would be happy to conduct a session albeit virtually now given the pandemic. You can write to us at womanendangered@gmail or suparnaa@simplysuparnaa.com and let’s get talking about PERIODS!

To support our initiative contribute here.

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The fervor started with Birlasoft Limited’s request to address their employees of all genders talking about ‘Womanhood: The walks of her life on March 3rd. The session was a part of their employee engagement outreach. The session saw accomplished panelists including a clinical psychologist, Puroitree Majumdar, talking about unconscious biases. Yukti Kapoor Mehndiratta, Founder SBY Academy, and Richa Singh, CEO of Yourdost spoke about breaking the glass ceiling and recognizing unique challenges faced by women respectively. The session was attended by over 70 employees of the listed company. WE spoke about the balance internally that translates to a balance outwardly. The Yin – Yan , Purush – Prakriti or Shiv-Shakti. All propound the importance of balance and equal importance to all genders and the unique strengths that complement each other to make a whole.

Scope, a social impact company based in Helsinki, Finland identified women from across the world that choose to challenge and recognized them on their blog as well as social media platforms. It was a proud moment for me to be featured with 3 other ladies from Kenya doing phenomenal work in Gender inclusion and diversity. Merci Korir is a doctor and health journalist addressing biases in the media, Carol Nag’anga’ is a cervical cancer survivor and runs an initiative for other women cancer survivors and Narima Waka works extensively in 10 countries with women and youth engagement and informing them on the importance of political participation Here is a link to the blog.

Outlook publishers reached out for a panel discussion and I was again humbled to be in the august company of some amazing women. Reena Raju is a heart transplant recipient and continues to be an athlete, now also inspiring and facilitating other transplant recipients. Alka Pande is a well-known art curator, author, and historian. Shikha Sharma is a Co-producer, who among other films has also Co-produced Shakuntala Devi and Toilet Ek prem Katha. Here is a link to the discussion that was moderated by Lachmi Debroy, asst editor Outlook.

There was also a recorded interaction with Smita Kulkarni of stonesoup.in (where WE source our menstrual cups for gifting to marginalised women – this takes care of their feminine hygiene for upto 10 years). The recordings delieated the things we choose to challenge – also the theme for this woman’s day.

And finally, WE took the opportunity to take a menstrual hygiene session enabling the enabler – working with 30 teachers of Arpana trust – imparting them information to choose to challenge a negative mindset around periods. So what did you #Choosetochallenge?

The post Women’s day 2021 appeared first on Woman Endangered.