Kunti Bora, a simple woman from Nagaon formed 22 self help groups encompassing hundreds of women in 6 districts of Assam. Lalthanzami from Mizoram, a victim of domestic violence, set up a piggery project to help other violence affected women of her region. Prosper Marak, from Meghalaya brought together the youths of Garo Hills to stop illegal coal mining and deforestation. These are but a few names in a long list of extraordinary people who lead silent crusades for positive change in North East India.
To further the cause of such changemakers, a campaign has been launched on 17th February, which begins from North East India, but reaches outwards on a global scale.
Foundation for Social Transformation (FST), a non-profit organisation of North East India, announces the launch of its North East Rising Campaign. This campaign is an effort by FST to re-energize the spirit of giving in the region for the development and peace of the region. It is an initiative to garner people’s support from the region as well as around the world by crowdfunding financial support for 7 grassroot changemakers from North East India. “Community giving is an age old tradition in North East where the community has always pitched in with whatever they can to support those in their community who are facing a calamity or hard times for any reason. North East Rising Campaign is a novel way to re-energise this custom in an organised manner. ” said Gayatri Buragohain, Executive Director of FST. FST will choose 7 grassroot changemakers from 7 states and provide them financial support as well as capacity building needed in their work for one year.
North East is a colourful mosaic of rich natural and human resources, and unique social and cultural practices of a variety of indigenous communities. However, owing to the challenges of being regarded as a frontier region and to the decades of conflict that the region has faced, North East has suffered immense loss of resources and lagged behind from the rest of India in many development indices. Through its work over the last 6 years, FST has met many amazing grassroot changemakers who have been working selflessly for their community with the little means that they have. FST believes that through a little financial support, the work of such changemakers can be scaled up by many folds and they will emerge as the new leaders of the North East who will be pioneers of peace building too.
FST is convinced that people’s support in a very small way can amplify the results and bring positive change for the region. Since its beginning in 2008, FST has given grants to 54 partners from all the 7 sister states of North East. To join this movement log on to www.northeastrising.org. Mail FST at fstnortheast@gmail.com for any questions or call 9435553373.
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