Gender Equity & Social Action (GESA) - Action for Equality
UniCoN is proud to partner with the I Am Woman Rural India Project to deliver the GESA program
The I Am Woman Rural India Project (IAW) is an Australia-based NGO working in India and Nepal through partnerships with local NGOs’ to promote Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and gender equity. They support trained Community Mobilisers in impoverished communities to educate women and girls about safe and dignified menstruation, harmful gender roles, and human rights.
In 2024, they have expanded their focus to include the Gender Equity Social Action (GESA) program in Pokhara, Nepal.
The GESA program aims to tackle the root causes of gender inequality by addressing power imbalances between genders, and challenging restrictive gender roles which damage both boys and girls. GESA utilises a facilitated group approach, equipping young people with knowledge about gender, peer-support, practical skills, and leadership abilities.
Together with trained Mentors, young people explore and challenge the norms that shape their lives, health, and
relationships, and are empowered to take action at individual, family, peer and community levels to build a more gender-equitable society.
Over the next three years, IAW and UniCoN (as the lead NGO partner) will establish more than 30 programs in marginalized communities around the Kaski & Syangja district.
By delivering these programs, UniCoN aims to address the root causes of exclusion, marginalization and gender inequality in Nepal, challenge attitudes which prevent girls from fully exercising and enjoying their human rights and dismantle the barriers which prevent men and boys from becoming allies for gender equality.
GESA was originally developed by the Equal Community Foundation (ECF) in Pune, India. In September, UniCoN was delighted to welcome two ECF facilitators to deliver a five-day mentor training program to 28 community services workers in Pokhara.
Mentor Development Training sessions participants from 9 different organizations practicing GESA activities.
You can read more about the work the IAW does here: https://www.iamwomanruralindia.org/our-story
And more about the work that ECF does here: https://ecf.org.in/
