INDIA
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- By ICUUW Staff
In-Country Partner
In December 2014, a formal agreement of collaboration was signed between ICUUW and Seng Kynthei, the Women’s Wing of the Unitarian Union of North East India (SKUUNEI), laying the foundation of a productive exchange.
Navchetna Drug Prevention Program (2024)
The Navchetna (in Hindi: “a new consciousness”) drug prevention program - developed by the Government of India and adapted to the Khasi society - provides an opportunity for appropriately-aged life skills and drug education for school children, as well as guidance for a healthy life. The evidence-based training modules are culturally appropriate to the Khasi society, helping Unitarian children and adolescents develop life skills to face the various problems they encounter in their lives. This program has been made possible by ICUUW members contributing to a Faithify campaign. Please read the first report of the program: Training Khasi Children in Life Skills ...and Drug Education: Navchetna
COVID-RELIEF (2020-2022)
In the fall of 2020, ICUUW raised funds to provide COVID-19 awareness programs and care packages for Unitarian families in North East India, stimulate behavioral change toward stigma and discrimination of infected individuals, and address mental health impacts of the pandemic. Awareness programs also included community education and mobilization to prevent teenage pregnancies and early marriages during the health crisis. Please read the following reports:
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The first awareness program in January 2021 COVID-19 First Training in North East India
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The online awareness program in August 2021 Khasi Women Drive COVID-19 Prevention Programs
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The Ri Bhoi Circle awareness program in February 2022 Seng Kynthei Ri Bhoi Circle Addresses Vaccinations, Health, and Early Marriage
Leadership Development (2015-16)
In 2015-16, with the support of ICUUW through a UU Funding Program grant, Seng Kynthei implemented six leadership development training sessions for 30 women in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, with several follow-up trainings. Each session focused on a different topic: gender roles, gender equity, women’s rights; leadership skills; communication skills and effective communication; sexual and reproductive health; violence against women; and economic empowerment and business entrepreneurship. A handbook in Khasi (with resources and materials) has been prepared by Seng Kynthei.
Positive change attributed to the leadership development trainings is already palpable. Many women have stepped into leadership roles in their churches and communities, working alongside men at the village level.
Violence Awareness and Prevention (Ongoing)
Despite being matrilineal – where title, inheritance, residence after marriage and succession are traced through female line – the Khasi society is one in which women and girls face violence in every form and at different levels. Patriarchal beliefs of male dominance and unequal gender relations lie at the root of gender-based violence. Violence against women is a growing concern: it is “a multi-dimensional problem that requires a comprehensive prevention strategy,” as our Khasi sisters define it.
Seng Kynthei, under the leadership of ICUUW board member Elgiva Dora Shullai and longtime ICUUW member Dr. Rica Lamar, has implemented violence against women programs in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25). Approximately 900 schoolchildren, youth, and adults have taken part of these trainings in the last six years.
These one-day workshops, carried out in several UU communities, provide a channel to address the issue and encourage participants to stand up and speak out against men’s violence against women. The events involve speakers and interactive group work focusing on issues such as the role of women in the Khasi matrilineal society, gender roles, gender-based violence, use and misuse of power, gender equity, women’s legal rights and the various government laws that are already in place to protect, prevent, and curb violence. Participants are also acquainted with the White Ribbon Campaign: men are asked to wear white ribbons as a symbol of their opposition to violence against women, as well as pledge together to report incidences, be vigilant, and commit to ending violence.
A significant change attributed to the awareness campaigns is that rape cases are starting to be reported. Women are finally daring to break their silence and take their cases to the authorities.
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- By Elgiva Dora Shullai, India
ICUUW members contributed to a Faithify campaign to support drug education in the Khasi Hills. Navchetna, Hindi for “a new consciousness”, describes the aim of the program.
A Master Trainer’s Program was held at the Unitarian Church of Madan Laban in Shillong, Meghalaya, India on 24 February 2024. This Training program was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Rica Lamar and Mr. Anthony Syiemiong as Resource Persons. Nineteen participants, as well as members who were just listening in (Fishbowl observation), received training in conducting age-appropriate life skills and drug awareness programs for youngsters from 6th class/grade through 11th.
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- By Bahunshisha Mukhim, Executive Member, Seng Kynthei Unitarian Union, North East India and Project Team Leader, Ri Bhoi Circle
On December 11, 2021, under the leadership of project team leader Mrs. D. Bahunshisha Mukhim, the Seng Kynthei, Seng Kynphamlang, Ri Bhoi Circle conducted a COVID-19 awareness program in Nongthymmai, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, India.
The day-long program addressed the following topics: (1) Covid-Appropriate Behaviors (2) Vaccination Hesitancy (3) Women & Adolescent Health and (4) Early Marriage in the Community.
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- By Dr. Creamlimon Nongbri, Secretary Seng Kynthei Unitarian Union, North East India
UPDATE to the report below: The Seng Kynthei – Seng Kynphamlang, Ri Bhoi Circle, under the leadership of Mrs. Bahunshisha Mukhim, had planned for two COVID-19 Awareness Programmes on November 23 and December 11, 2021, including information on menstrual hygiene management. The two events, scheduled to take place in Nongthymmai Kyrdem and in Umtyrnga (Ri Bhoi District), had to be postponed due to COVID restrictions.
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- By Elgiva Dora Shullai, India
ICUUW's Faithify crowdfunding effort to provide Covid relief for Unitarian communities in North East India, in partnership with Seng Kynthei Women’s Wing of North East India, was met with success. The funds raised will provide financial and food aid to the most vulnerable, mental health support, COVID-19 education and prevention, as well as advocacy to reduce coronavirus-related stigmas.
In addition, the project will address teenage pregnancy and child marriage, exacerbated by the prolonged government-imposed lockdown.
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- By Creamlimon Nongbri, Secretary, Seng Kynthei, Unitarian Union, North East India
On 20 December 2020, the Seng Kynthei Women’s Wing of the Unitarian Union of North East India (UUNEI) celebrated its 40th anniversary – in place of its Biennial Conference – at the Unitarian Church of Jowai. The event was organized by the local women’s association, under the leadership of Kong Tippor Shullai, Secretary of the Seng Kynthei Jowai Church.
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- By Major Elgiva Dora Shullai, India
From November 2019 to January 2020, Seng Kynthei – the Women’s Wing of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India – organized a variety of violence awareness and prevention programs involving over 600 schoolchildren, youth, and adults in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.