Julianna Joss is one of Profugo’s current field fellows in Wayanad, India. Julianna has been in the field since September 2019 and will be staying for another year. She’s passionate about sustainable development and grassroots community building. Prior to journeying to Wayanad, Julianna told our team she wanted to go to Wayanad because “meaningfully contributing” in regards to sustainability and social justice in “a place like Wayanad would be a dream come true.” She hoped
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Education isn’t just about reading, writing, and learning arithmetic. It’s about developing yourself into a full person – with deepened appreciation, more perspective, and a stronger understanding of the world around you. Profugo’s Fine Arts Skills Training (Profast) in Wayanad, India does just that… and probably more. The Profast program provides middle-school aged students with a chance to practice traditional dance, learn to sing, or play percussion instruments. It’s a fun and interactive experience that
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Statistics show that Indian girls in regards to self-esteem, education, and independence, due to gender roles and sexism, are in a worse place than their male peers. For example, Indian adolescent girls’ self-esteem (Rao et al). The literacy rate for females in India is 65% while the male literacy rate is 82% (Rajput). According to Girls Not Brides, a collection of 1400 organizations committed to ending child marriage, “47% of girls [get married] before 18”
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Profugo actively engages women members of the Wayanad region through many programs, one of which promotes female leadership and autonomy. Corner groups are an important part of Profugo’s social initiatives because it fosters community and avenues for dialogue and feedback. Corner groups allow for families to connect in a way that creates social bonds. These groups are highly decentralized to allow for maximum participation and ensures that change starts from the bottom-up. Furthermore, the decentralization
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Gender equality is a human rights issue with many important ramifications. Investing in women fosters greater representation in many public spheres with additional economic impacts. This empowerment is imperative to breaking down barriers to women’s success and quality of life. Education is one prominent way to invest in women’s advancement. Of the 313 million illiterate people in India, 59 percent are women. Women’s education, especially in rural areas is an important step to eradicating poverty.
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