Celebration Of Empowerment

Change Maker: Facilitators
Change Maker: Facilitators
Sreekala L.
Changanasseri WE Center
“I believe in this project, and think it is a good opportunity for women to find a source of income to lead a happy and peaceful life.
Along with this job skill course, they also learn so many other things that will be very useful throughout their lives.
I really feel that my life was changed through this course and in my experience as a facilitator, especially because of the LEE sessions.
I have been able to motivate my students to conduct some activities in the community such as awareness campaigns and street
plays on the issues of alcoholism, mobile phone misuse, and child sexual abuse.
These issues are very important to me and close to my heart. My husband is addicted to alcohol and is creating many problems at
home. Before the WE Project, I used to bear the brunt of his drunken abuse, but now I stand up for myself. I am only able to do this
because of gaining confidence by attending the course. I have even found the courage to file a case against him! By sharing my story
with my students during the LEE sessions, I have been able to help many others like me by giving them confidence, awareness, and
motivation to overcome this abuse.
Before she became the Changanasseri facilitator, Sreekala was a WE student herself. When the facilitator before her wasn’t fulfilling her duties,
AMMACHI Labs had no choice but to look for a replacement. Fortunately we didn’t have to look too far. The choice was clear, Sreekala, a student
leader from the third batch, believed in the project and the potential women hold in transforming society. It’s precisely this attitude that has led to
the center’s successful execution of LEE in the Community activities. Having overcome challenges in her own life, Sreekala is an inspiration to her
students who are also just beginning their own transformations, and is leading by example through her new work with
the Mahila Samajam women’s groups (a popular women’ s rights network in South India).
What I have been able to bring out most of all is better leadership qualities. I have become an active member (the secretary) in one
of the WE Project Self Help Groups in Changanassery, and was recently elected as the president of Mahila Samajam,
a women’s group that is very active in promoting women’s rights. Last month, I inaugurated three new Mahila Samajam groups
locally, on my own initiative.”
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