Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA

09/05/2026

𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙀𝙒𝘼'𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙪 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚!!

In the villages of Santalpur, there was a time when a girls’ education ended after Class seven. Not because they lacked ability – but because of socio-cultural norms, lack of access to mobility and resources.

When a young girl, Shanu, lost hope after being denied the chance to study further, it deeply affected her and shook the entire community who came together to ensure that her dream did not end there.

Together, Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA members turned grief into collective strength.

In 2011, the SEWA’s members from Santalpur village came together to lay the foundation of “Shanu” initiative that provides supplementary academic support to young girls in the villages – not just as tuition support, but as a movement. A movement to ensure that no daughter would ever have to stop learning.

Today, that movement has reached six villages, supporting girls to complete their 10th and 12th board exams – milestones once thought impossible. Shanu trainers work closely with local schools to identify drop-outs and encourage them to join Shanu classes to complete their schooling as external students.

But Shanu Classes are not only about education.

They are about confidence. Voice. Self-reliance.

Geetaben, a trainer at Shanu shares: “𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘐 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 12𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘌𝘞𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 – 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳… 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴.”

𝘽𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙣, 𝙖 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙁𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙞 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙:“I always wanted to study and become a fashion designer. But due to mobility issues, I could only study till 8th grade. When SEWA started Shanu classes in my village, I enrolled and completed my graduation as an external student. Through SEWA’s other training programs, I also learnt embroidery, designing, Social Media and digital marketing. Today, though I couldn’t get a degree as a fashion designer, I have created my identity as a designer and also have over 80000 followers on Social Media”

At SEWA, education is not charity - it is a right.

And when one girl rises, the whole community moves forward.

✨ Shanu’s dream lives on – in every household where a young girl studies and steps towards self-reliance.

24/04/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗼-𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀!!

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 - 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿.

Across the world, women in the informal economy are facing its harshest impacts—on their work, their incomes, and their everyday survival.

At SEWA, our sisters have made a choice.
They do not wait for solutions to come from outside.

Through our Campaign, they are taking climate action into their own hands - adapting their livelihoods, building resilience, and leading change from the ground up.

At , we have also seen that across countries of the Global South, women’s realities are deeply connected. The struggles of poverty, inequality, and climate vulnerability are not separate - they are interconnected. And when women come together to learn from each other, these shared challenges can become shared solutions.

With this spirit, this February, SEWA welcomed a group of grassroots leaders from Ethiopia and Tanzania – organizations working closely with rural communities and women workers, for an exposure and dialogue programme.

🏠They met SEWA members in their homes and workplaces.
🎧🌍They listened to their experiences—how climate change is affecting agriculture, income, and daily life.
🌱🔆⚡They saw how women are taking small, practical steps—using sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and local innovations.
🤝🏽🌍✨And they witnessed how collective strength—through cooperatives and institutions—turns these small actions into lasting change.

For many of the visiting organizations, this was a shift in perspective. While they have long worked on poverty, livelihoods, and inequality, this exchange helped deepen the connection between climate change and these challenges.

As Anna Sangai from Tanzania shared: "This learning exchange visit is an eye opener for us….” Adding to Anna’s point, Aynalem Ashebir, from Ethiopia said… “SEWA approach to climate resilience is very practical and result-oriented… such visits give us an opportunity to share and exchange such knowledge and strengthen our members lives and livelihoods"

This learning also brought hope.....
That by strengthening climate resilience, communities can also address deeper issues of poverty, livelihoods, and dignity.

Because when women learn from each other - not as beneficiaries, but as leaders .... they do more than exchange knowledge.

They build confidence!!
They build solidarity!!
They build a shared future!!!

This is the power of sister-to-sister learning.
This is Women-led Climate Action !!

21/04/2026

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀: 𝗦𝗘𝗪𝗔'𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗸𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆!!

Financial security is not a luxury—it is a right.

For women in the informal economy, incomes are often uncertain and risks are constant. Illness, accidents, or loss of work can push families into deeper vulnerability. At Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA, we strongly believe that asset creation is the surest way to fight poverty and build resilience of poor informal sector women workers. Therefore, SEWA has been working on facilitating financial inclusion for poor women, ensuring that they have access to savings, credit, and insurance as a foundation for dignity and self-reliance.

In this context, SEWA partnered with LIC for its Vima Sakhi initiative – to enable last mile inclusion of young rural grassroots women in this vision. Across Gujarat, over 5000 young grassroots women came together to learn about insurance and social protection products. From this group, around 200 women stepped forward, trained and certified to become Vima Sakhis – trusted facilitators who now guide families in choosing and accessing the right insurance.

One such grassroots Vima Sakhi from Mehsana district is Mitaben Shrimali, a SEWA member for over 32 years. Over the past 1 year, she has linked over 24 households to various insurance products – thereby building their financial resilience and also earning a dignified livelihood opportunity for herself.

“Every opportunity that SEWA brings for poor rural women like us has helped me learn and grow. Becoming a Vima Sakhi has not only given me an additional source of income, but also renewed my confidence to speak, guide, and serve her community.” – says Meetaben

Today, women like Mitaben are not only securing their own futures—they are helping entire communities build resilience and protection.

When women are organized, trained, and trusted, they lead the way forward.

17/04/2026

09/04/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗮!!

At Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA, we strongly believe that every woman carries knowledge in her hands — and with the right support, it can become a dignified livelihood.

One such support that SEWA offers its members is the Skilling in food processing through "Kamla" - the food processing initiative that strengthens the culinary skills of our members and provides catalytic support in their entrepreneurial journey — from home-based catering to cafes, cloud kitchens, and food enterprises.

Today at Bodakdev, a group of SEWA members from Maharashtra are marking the final phase of their training by running a live kitchen. They are preparing and serving traditional Maharashtrian dishes — bringing together culture, confidence, and enterprise.

This is more than training. This is women moving forward — together — towards ownership and self-reliance.

We invite you to visit Kamla today, experience these flavours, and support women-led enterprises.

30/03/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱....
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺!!

We are proud to share that Payalben Munjpara, a young member of Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA from Bharada village (Dhrangadhra), has been referred in Mann Ki Baat by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trained as a Solar PV Technician through ’s Green Skilling Initiative , Payalben represents the growing leadership of young women in the informal economy who are embracing technology and sustainable livelihoods.

Her work is closely aligned with SEWA’s Swachh Akash (Building Cleaner Skies) campaign, which focuses on climate resilience and promoting clean energy solutions at the grassroots.

This recognition highlights the importance of investing in women-led climate solutions, skilling, and grassroots innovation.

We congratulate Payalben and hope her journey inspires many more young women to take up new opportunities in green livelihoods.

29/03/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!!

At Self Employed Women's Association-SEWA ( ), we have always believed that instead of we developing solutions, if we support solutions conceptualized, designed and implemented by grassroots women themselves, their climate action will naturally, effectively and most economically, bring women centre stage and enable far more significant achievement on the climate front.

One such example is the salt farm workers in Gujarat who are leading a powerful transition — from diesel to solar, from wage earners to energy entrepreneurs.

Together, they are proving that climate action and livelihood security can go hand in hand.

This award by World Economic Forum is recognition that belongs to every SEWA member who has made this shift possible.

Read more about this recognition here: https://shorturl.at/JqSzp

From salt farmers to solar technicians: this project is boosting women's incomes by 600% - while cutting CO2 emissions. India's largest union of poor informal sector women workers, the Employed Women's Association, is spearheading a project in Gujarat that is transforming the lives of its memb...

15/03/2026

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀: 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗮𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!!

For over 50 years, Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) has organized women workers in the informal economy - women whose labour sustains homes, markets, farms, and cities, yet so often remains unseen.

In this podcast listen to the powerful conversation between Food Tank and Reema Nanavaty from that reminds us that poverty is not inevitable - it is a form of violence that must be challenged through collective strength, dignity, and self-reliance.

From home-based workers and street vendors to small farmers and labourers, she speaks of the realities women face at the bottom of supply chains, and of the resilience they continue to build in the face of climate stress, hunger, displacement, and invisibility.

It is also a story of hope.

A story of women organizing, leading climate action, creating green livelihoods, shaping policy, and building what SEWA calls an economy of nurturance - one that brings food, shelter, healthcare, education, and financial services closer to every household.

Listen to Reema Nanavaty’s inspiring conversation and hear why women workers must be recognized not as victims of crisis, but as leaders of change.

Listen to the full podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strikes-on-iran-to-disrupt-supply-chains-an/id1434128568?i=1000753354719

13/03/2026

𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧!!

We had been pinned as Dandelions by Mary Robinson and Project Dandelion in 2022 as launched its Campaign.

This Pin from Project Dandelion recognizes organizations driving systemic impact through women-led climate solutions – and we are honoured to have been pinned.

As the single largest national trade union of poor self-employed women workers from the informal economy, Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) has launched its “Building Cleaner Skies” campaign to build the climate resilience of its over 3.7 million members.

The campaign focuses on spreading awareness and education on Climate Change and its impact on lives and livelihoods of poor women workers, promoting adoption of adaptation and mitigation solutions and bringing voice and visibility to women-led climate action.

On these lines, over the past 4 years, SEWA has pinned thousands of grassroots sisters as Dandelions… poor informal sector women workers who

🌏 Are Least contributors to climate change, yet most disproportionately impacted.
🤝 Have collectively resolved to build a sustainable environment for future generations.
🌱 Are not waiting for help - but taking climate action into their own hands.

Pin the Dandelions in your network and help women climate leaders bloom across the globe

11/03/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗘𝗪𝗔!

Earlier last month Project Dandelion delegation visited Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) , where they witnessed bottom-up women-led climate action and interacted with SEWA members from 20 states each echoing that solutions need not be brought to grassroots - they are already being generated by them.

SEWA members explained how climate change is not just an environmental issue in isolation, but a compounding crisis. Grounding this reality, Mary Robinson said: "Elaben always said that poverty is a form of violence and climate change is intensifying that violence. What struck me most is SEWA’s community-rooted data. It captures lived experience, not just exposure."

’s strength lies in evidence that is precise, and actionable, because it is generated by women whose survival depends on it.

SEWA’s members shared about the Climate Welfare Facility where women save and contribute their own insurance premiums, often through collective savings and peer support.

Charlie Langdale from Humanity Insured captured the significance clearly: “Grassroots expertise is the missing link in global risk systems. When women shape the product, it actually works.”

This is what an equitable partnership looks like - not transfer of solutions, but co-creation of systems.

Emphasizing the significant impact of climate change on mental health, SEWA members shared how they are building a cadre of community-based mental health counsellors to recognise distress and support recovery after climate events.

Jean F. Duff, Women, Faith, & Climate Network reflected: “I have learnt at SEWA that Women are the most effective change agents and will take these lessons to global platforms.”

The message from SEWA's members was clear: 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗼 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽.

Pat Mitchell articulated this with clarity: “What we see here is a model that can travel globally - not because it is theoretical, but because it is tested.”

Susan Hull Walker, Ibu Movement captured SEWA members shift from reactive survival to anticipatory resilience powerfully: “Gandhi’s spinning wheel decentralised power. Today, data and financial tools are doing the same - placing control directly in women’s hands.”

From the charkha to climate sensors, the principle remains unchanged: control over tools determines control over futures.

W𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

The partnership between SEWA and Project Dandelion signals a shift in global climate leadership - towards listening, learning, and investing where solutions are already alive.

A just transition that excludes informal women workers is neither just nor sustainable.

SEWA’s women are not waiting to be included in climate action.

They are already shaping it - quietly, collectively, and with precision.

09/03/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀!

On 20 February 2026, Self Employed Women's Association ( ) members warmly welcomed back a long-time friend – Sec. Hillary Clinton ( ) and H.E. President Dr. Joyce Banda . Their friendship journey with began more than three decades ago, when they first visited SEWA with Ela Ben, listening to the voices of self-employed women workers. This year, Sec Clinton returned to fulfil a promise she made during SEWA’s 50th anniversary.

Today, SEWA has grown from 100,000 members to 3.8 million women across 20 states, showing what women can achieve when they organise, support one another, and lead change together. During her visit, Sec Clinton listened to powerful stories from SEWA sisters.

Pinakini Ben, a waste recycler leader, reminded everyone: “We are warriors of the environment. We keep our cities clean.” Through SEWA’s pioneering heat insurance, she received support during extreme heat—helping her family buy groceries and school uniforms.

Young Mahi, a 13-year-old climate warrior, shared how children under the Green Chali initiative are planting trees, collecting plastic, and protecting nature for future generations.

Across villages and cities, women farmers, vendors, garment workers, and waste recyclers spoke about facing floods, heat waves, and changing weather. Yet their message was clear: they are not only affected by climate change - they are leading the solutions.

From climate insurance protecting nearly 500,000 women workers, to solar technicians climbing rooftops, to women-run recycling centres reducing waste and methane emissions, SEWA sisters continue to show the power of collective action.

As Hillary Ben told the gathering: “SEWA is not giving charity. SEWA is giving opportunity.”

Speaking with warmth and conviction, H.E. President Banda reflected on how SEWA shaped her own leadership journey. She reminded SEWA members that leadership is a “love affair” built on trust, care, and deep connection with people. Looking at the gathering, she said she sees champions and future leaders - among SEWA’s members.

Together, we move forward with the same belief that has guided SEWA since the beginning: when women organise, they do not wait for change — they lead it.

Read detailed report of her visit here: https://www.sewa.org/news/visit-of-hillary-clinton-and-president-banda-20th-and-21st-feb-2026/