Empowering Women and Girls as Eco-Changemakers

The initiative ‘Empowering Women and Girls as Eco Changemakers’ is implemented in three different districts Khorda, Puri & Sundargarh districts of Odisha. A changing climate affects everyone, but women and girls bear the brunt of environmental, economic, and social shocks the most. However, women and girls are also early adopters of new adaptation techniques and important decision-makers at home about energy conservation and waste disposal. While women are more vulnerable to climate change, they are also effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation. They often have the inherent potential and sense of responsibilities in households and communities, which positions them well to adapt with the changing environmental realities. The intervention ‘Empowering Women & Girls as Eco Changemakers’ taps their unique ability as “drivers of solutions” by building their capacities which focuses on empowering them to integrate climate-smart solutions. It enables women to become climate enables through learning, adopting climate change solutions and demonstrating the impact and spearhead their work in larger communities. The initiative also has included indigenous women utilizing their traditional knowledge and practices in the implementation approach.

This two-year program has reached 21,544 women and adolescent girls in the urban areas of Khorda, coastal communities of Puri, and forest-fringed regions of Sundargarh, with 2,739 trained as Environment Champions. Integrated with Gap Inc.’s Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) program, it introduces an innovative environmental module, designed to provide actionable knowledge on environmental challenges and promote independent action. By empowering women and girls, HBT aims to make them leaders in the fight against climate change, while also promoting gender equality and stronger communities.

Impact

  • 21544 women and girls trained through the P.A.C.E. Environment program
  • 48 schools and 118 communities reached out
  • 20 Women Eco Clubs and 12 School Eco Clubs established
  • 196 women eco club members and 102 adolescent girls capacitated as eco club members.
  • 2739 Eco Changemakers evolved
  • 3 tons of plastic waste managed at the Pana Yatra in Deulapada village, Krushanaprasad block, Puri.
  • 7 communities in Bhubaneswar—Durgamadhaba Sahi, Godam Sahi, Saradhapali, Sankareswara, Tulasi Basti, Gopala Sahi, and Neheru Basti—developed as Climate-Smart Communities
  • 5 Climate Resilient Village Development Plans (CRVDP) prepared in Nuagaon, Baghamunda, Bankijala, Chandikhol, and Satapadagada villages of Puri.
  • 7 Eco Smart Schools launched with 140 adolescent girls participating as young eco changemakers.
  • 1306 Nutri-gardens promoted across communities.
  • 1794 compost pits developed in Bhubaneswar, Astaranga, Bramhagiri, Krushnaprasad, and Sundargarh.
  • 8 Energy audits conducted by women and girls in their communities and schools.
  • 176 women adopted sustainable harvesting practices for medicinal plant products, resulting in the sale of 800 kg of Harida and 650 kg of Bahada to Dabur India. 
  • 29 women farmers of various SHGs adopted organic floriculture practices (primarily sunflower and marigold) in Astaranga block, Puri.
  • 1602 women farmers adopted the SRI method for Kharif paddy cultivation in the Chilika landscape under the ECRICC program.
  • 16 women entrepreneurs integrated eco-friendly practices
  • 650 trees planted by women Eco Changemakers to combat coastal erosion
  • 92 fisherman families supported through climate resilient fish farming activities 
  • 11 SHGs identified for ornamental fishery interventions
  • 35 eco club members cleaned local areas and promoted nutri-gardens in Bhubaneswar
  • 70 kg of plastic, glass & tin waste collected by 15 eco-changemakers
  • 1,500 women & girls connected on Instagram for the #ecochangemaker campaign 
  • 5,000 women & girls promoted eco-tourism at Keutijangha village
  • 162 saplings planted by girls in schools & community lands
  • 350 eco-changemakers led public outreach on eco-friendly practices
  • 31 women exhibited products made from reused waste
  • 2,500 children from 50 schools participated in climate change activities
  • 20 women trainees from 2 SHGs conducted a beach clean-up at Beleswar Beach
  • 500 meters of coastline cleaned & 55 trees planted by women P.A.C.E. trainees in Keutajanga village
  • 800 female cotton farmers supported through “Climate-Resilient Cotton Production” program
  • 185 Villages of Chilika Landscape reaching out to 41085 Households (32 GPs) through ECRICC