By Sneha-Knowledge Hub
Workshop Overview
On June 24th, Sneha, Monisha, and Vidya from Keystone Foundation conducted a workshop on gender and climate change at the Additional Collector’s Office in Ooty. The session was designed for Self-Help Group (SHG) women and Panchayat Level Federation members from Ooty, Gudalur, and Kotagiri. A total of 50 women participated in the program.
Opening Activity: “Who Am I?”
The workshop began with an interactive “Who am I?” activity, where each woman introduced herself by sharing her name, occupation, and where she comes from. This helped break the ice and set a welcoming tone for the session.
Who Am I activity
Understanding Climate Change and Its Impacts on Women
Vidya then screened a short video on climate change, helping participants understand the broader context. Following the video, she led a discussion on the gendered impacts of climate change, especially how it affects women’s daily lives and livelihoods. The participants actively engaged, answering questions and sharing their observations.
Climate Change Impact on Women’s Health
Monisha then spoke about the health and physical issues women face due to climate change. She discussed the challenges of working in cold weather, the burden of household chores, and the importance of adopting a nutritionally balanced diet. She encouraged the participants to spread awareness within their communities.
Interactive Group Work: Body Mapping Exercise
Next, the women were divided into four groups to participate in a “Body Mapping” activity. Each group drew a female figure on a chart and marked areas representing physical, mental, and health problems that women commonly face. This activity helped participants visualize and reflect on the various challenges they encounter, especially about changing climatic conditions.
Body Mapping Exercise
Some of the feedback from SHG members:
- Recognizing gendered impacts: “We realized that as women, we are more vulnerable to climate change due to our roles and responsibilities in the household and community. This workshop helped us understand how to address these challenges.”
- Empowerment through body mapping: “The body mapping activity was eye-opening. It helped us visualize the physical and mental challenges we face as women. We feel empowered to take action and support each other in our communities.”
- Share learnings with family and community members: “We will share what we learned with our families and communities, especially with other women, to create a ripple effect.”
- Adopt climate-resilient practices: “We will try to adopt more climate-resilient practices in our daily lives, such as conserving water and reducing waste.”
Photo credit by: Sneha
