Women’s Empowerment Programs
Auroville is home to women’s empowerment programs, each with a unique focus. This page features profiles of the many different programs. To learn more or support a a specific program, just scroll down and click the “Learn More” or “Learn More & Donate” buttons next to their profile.
Auroshakthi is a women community organization based around the villages of Auroville. Auroshakthi aims to improve the lives of marginalized women through education, life skills and counseling. The center tries to create a safe space for women to express themselves openly and empower local women as future entrepreneurs.
Contact:
auroshakthiawakening@gmail.com
Established in 1983, AVAG is an NGO committed to integrated grassroots community building with the villages surrounding Auroville in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. AVAG offers an integrated and multifaceted program that promotes solidarity and cooperation, and illuminates issues of gender and caste discrimination, which underlie the traditional social and economic structures of the villages.
Contact: Anbu
Eco Femme is a women-led social enterprise founded in 2010. Eco Femme’s goal is to create environmental and social change through revitalizing menstrual practices that are healthy, environmentally sustainable, culturally responsive and empowering. The Unit produces and sells washable cloth pads, provides menstrual health education and opens dialogue on menstruation all along the way.
Contact: Kathy Walkling
kathy@ecofemme.org
Life Education Centre (LEC) believes that women need more than economic empowerment to realize their true potential. LEC follows a unique model by providing women an environment that blends learning, progressing and earning. It offers opportunities for conscious development of the body, mind and spirit through activities that include yoga, Aviva, group discussions, art, therapy and collective events. LEC is home to the social enterprise SAKHI that enables livelihood for the women through sales of their conscious, hand-made creations.
Contact: Devi Namasivayam
Mirra Women’s Group was started in 2002 as part of AV Arts Services. The aim of Mirra Women’s Group is to bring together women of Auroville, the bio-region, and newcomers through music, art, dance, sports, and education. In response to the pandemic, the Women’s Group has increased their efforts to create a safe space of healing on the physical, mental, and emotional levels.
Contact: Grace
grace@auroville.org.in
The primary goal of WellPaper is to empower local village women with skills to build, manage and maintain self-sustaining units. The women receive training, guidance and support in product development, market and team management, and personal development. All Wellpaper products are hand-made and Eco-friendly, transforming recycled newspaper into art and accessories. Over time, the women’s groups have developed into autonomous units, making their own business decisions towards their goal of financial independence. Today, some of the WELL women are conducting the training workshops themselves to reach other local women and small business units.
Contact: wellpaper@auroville.org.in