On 26 October 2016, Don Bosco Yuva Marg Ramanagara conducted training on gender equality for 120 SHG members at Shyanuboganahalli village, Chennapattana taluk. Programme was inaugurated by Mrs. Ahalya, Anganwadi Supervisor of Chennapatna Taluk, ICDS, Department Women and Child Development. Gram Panchayath members Sathish and Ravi also spoke during the inauguration and aired their views as to how empowerment of women would help the growth of a village. Community leaders Shivalingegowda and Doddamarigowda also participated in the program. They also claimed that their village is a united one and is free from all evils like drinking, drug addiction and took pride in the fact that the younger generation are keeping up to their great life example all with the help of women in the community. Fr. Sonychen Mathew, Director, Don Bosco Yuva Marg and Mr. Muthuraj, Coordinator also addressed the gathering.
Fr. Sonychen began the session with a question ‘who do you think a woman is?’ Women were reluctant to answer but few children who had come for the programme did express their perspective. He exhorted them to feel proud of their self and great contribution to the village and to society at large and thanked them all for the great active participation. Anganwadi worker Rekha was the key person behind arranging the training and she along with the support for the village took great care in organising and bringing together the members. Resource persons were Mrs. Pushpavathi and Mrs. Pushpalatha, the two women social activists at Don Bosco Yuva Marg, Ramangara. They capacitated women about empowerment and gender equality through group activities, games, videos etc. Initially it was a difficult task for the women to understand the concept of gender. The resource person used examples from the village and from her experience to convey the concept to them. The whole training program went on well, the participants were very happy about the training. Women responded saying that this training has given new insights for them and understand their position in the society. They requested for a follow up training on the same topic. Social activists Mr.Lokesh. Mr.Kalleshappa and Mr.Raghupathi the other Social Activists were also present for the program.
