Akshuna Bakshi started an NGO, SHE, with the idea of empowering women. In a conversation with Arjita Mishra, she tells her that the increase in the number of crimes against women prompted her to start a festival. It helps women open up about the issues faced by them due to gender stereotyping prevalent in the society
At the age of 25, she founded an NGO and has provided a platform to over 400 women to stand up on their own feet. Akshuna Bakshi, founder of SHE — an NGO working for women empowerment, also works to promote the cause of women rights, women safety and girl child education. She works with women organisations around the world and strives to bring them together through innovative means.
Bakshi organised a festival called SHE which showcased some integral but often ignored women topics like financial independence, body shaming, beauty biases prevailing in society, issues of rape, victim blaming and women safety through ‘she says corner’ and She’s Against Rape India (SARI).The festival also gave a platform to over 70 talented designers and women entrepreneurs from India to showcase their exquisite products.
How was this year’s festival different from the last oneIJ
The USP of this edition was that other than the core women issues, the festival also showcased some integral but often ignored women topics like financial independence, body shaming, women hygiene and gender attitudes prevailing in the society through some entertaining but thoughtful activities like games, workshops, performances and activity corners. Plus, one of the biggest issues of rape, victim blaming and women safety was also highlighted through the ‘She says Corner’ and a ‘live Saree Weaving’ exercise organised by She’s Against Rape India (SARI), was a special attraction where messages on women empowerment contributed by the festival audience were stitched together to form a unique SHE saree of solidarity. The festival was also more stylish than ever as there was a special luxury designer segment hosted at Emporio to reach out to a bigger target audience of women clientele.
What inspired to start an NGO for women at such a young ageIJ
The growing crime against women in the city bothered me and the other members of SHE a lot and then Nirbhaya was the last straw. We thought instead of cribbing, updating facebook statuses and blaming the government, we need to stand up and do something about the problems women face. That’s how SHE started. We initially started out as a women festival SHE and post its success were approached by a number of women who loved the whole concept of SHE and encouraged us to do more editions and, if possible, work more extensively. Hence, we decided to extend the same concept and establish an NGO which uses innovative methods to solve such issues at the ground level.
Being an entrepreneur, how do you manage to look after the NGOIJ
SHE through its festivals and workshops adopts creative ways to attract public attention to women and gender issues as we feel that the conventional and plain methods of lectures and speeches are unable to strike a chord with the audience. Plus, it gives a platform to a number of women entrepreneurs and new but niche brands to showcase their designs and products to the public.We hope that through such methods, we can encourage more women to stand up for their rights, financial and social freedom.
What were the activities that you organised at the festivalIJ
Some of the activities at this year’s festival were free to rape whistle distribution and a live saree weaving activity by She’s against Rape saw many write messages on women safety and empowerment on patches of satin which were stitched together to form a beautiful saree of solidarity. We had a special quiz on gender attitudes by Rhea and Smarth, a menswear brand who rewarded the perfect men (who believe in equality) with their bespoke goodies. The aim was to ask simple questions with deep underlying meanings like Who Should CookIJ, Will you as a man take leave to look after the kids if your wife has an urgent meetingIJ Who should wear pink or redIJ to couples and men and find out gender attitudes and stereotypes prevailing in the society. In addition to this, we had a quiz and activity on financial freedom of women by Rupeewiz, flash mobs on women fitness and performances by city’s independent artists like Minakshi Mazumdar, The Ocean band and a street play on women empowerment by the enthusiastic students of the dramatics society of lady Sri Ram College were also organised.
How long did it take for you to organise this eventIJ
It took us about two-three months to put the event together.
The activities that you organised at the festival, how would that help women in enhancing their personalityIJ
The activities at the event aim to help women open up about the issues faced by them as well as get both men and women to raise voice against the gender stereotyping prevalent in the society. By adopting games and activities as a means, we try to drive some important messages to the women attending the festival.