23. May 2025    3403

In 90’s, in the heart of rural Bangladesh, the idea of having a single family toilet at home was nearly unthinkable for many families. A personal latrine just for one household? A deep tubewell for a community? These were seen as luxuries - something you might dream about, but not expect.

  23. May 2025    2190

In March 2025, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the Nepal International Theatre Festival (NITFest), a unique workshop titled "Breaking Menstrual Stigma" unfolded at Mandala Theatre in Kathmandu. Facilitated by myself, Theresa Hübscher, alongside Malin Freytag and Saraswoti Chaudhary, the workshop employed Theatre of the Oppressed techniques to explore the myths, taboos, and realities of menstrual health in Nepal.

  21. October 2024    2128

Gender equality is a sustainable development goal, a fundamental human right, and often a pillar of international development. Why then, do we see inconsistency in what it means to design and implement programmes that have gendered elements? 

  21. March 2024    4266

In September 2023, fueled by a shared vision to create a meaningful global impact, five visionary women embarked on a journey that led to the establishment of the "South Asia Young Women in Water" (SAYWiW) platform. This initiative was born out of a casual meeting, which evolved into a powerful force for change in the realm of water management in South Asia. SAYWiW stands as a beacon of empowerment for women water professionals, acknowledging their often-overlooked contributions to driving tangible change in the region. Despite encountering obstacles, these trailblazers persistently pioneer research and innovation, surpassing global counterparts and shaping the future of water management.

  5. March 2024    3361

Suryabarti (Surya) Majhi is a Project Engineer in Odisha Water Supply & Sewerage Board.  She joined the department as a young assistant executive engineer in 2016 before which she worked in various government agencies. She calls herself an “engineer by mistake” because she wanted to study English- literature before she decided to study engineering. As a project engineer, Surya held the key to ensuring effective implementation of the state's Faecal sludge management. This has earned her a spot on the sanitation hall of change on the NFSSM alliance portal.

  31. October 2023    1485

This article was originally published on The News Minute on 28th May 2023, and has been republished/repurposed here with permission. Read the original article here. 

As women, shame enters our being in many ways — when an older man leers at our barely-sprouted breasts, when we are body-shamed or slut-shamed, and sometimes even when our brilliance dazzles. The fault, we’re told, is always ours. For most of us, shame is an all-too-familiar companion, and all that differs are our coping mechanisms. But perhaps nothing shames us as much, as persistently, and for as long as the fact that we menstruate. 

  6. October 2023    1097

My name is Amutha Palaniandi. I am a mason from Trichy in India, working in the construction of toilets and containment structures. I started my career as a helper in construction in 2006, and after 6 years decided to transition into masonry.