The Penn Collective

The Penn Collective A Non-Partisan Collective determined to redefine the socio-political spaces for women of TN.

Climate change is not gender neutral. To commemorate World Environment Day 2026, the team of staff and the interns led a...
08/06/2026

Climate change is not gender neutral.

To commemorate World Environment Day 2026, the team of staff and the interns led a discussion on the Water crisis, how it disproportionately affects women and girls, violates their basic human rights and juxtaposed it with the new investments for the creation of AI Data centers in the metro cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi that are already water deprived.

The discussion was facilitated after screening two videos that explored the atrocious concept of "Water Wives" in rural Maharashtra and the big billion dollar business and politics behind AI data centres.

It was a moment of collective cognizance and realisation that addressing the climate crisis is urgent and it needs to be done through an intersectional feminist lens with the leadership of women.

"We are either going to have a future where women lead the way to make peace with the earth or we are not going to have a human future at all." - Vandana Shiva

"There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard." — Christine Lagarde The second orientation meeting of...
03/06/2026

"There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard." — Christine Lagarde

The second orientation meeting of Thenkoodu (training women who are willing to contest in local government elections) was conducted in Chennai, with active participation from aspiring candidates across Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts. The session saw strong interest from women determined to drive change in their communities.

The interaction highlighted a growing demand for inclusive leadership and politics rooted in empathy, equality, and public service.

The major highlight of the session was the diversity of participants, from existing party leaders to survivors of bonded labour issue; all meeting at the common point of wanting to claim the tables of decision making and make their voices heard!

To join Thenkoodu, apply through the link in our bio.
If you’d like to help with outreach, connect with us on Instagram.
Know someone who should apply? Nominate her and help spread the word!

Democracy becomes stronger when more women step into politics.The Penn Collective’s flagship initiative, Thenkoodu, is d...
26/05/2026

Democracy becomes stronger when more women step into politics.

The Penn Collective’s flagship initiative, Thenkoodu, is dedicated to empowering and training women aspiring to contest in local body elections.

The first orientation meeting, held in Chengalpattu district, received an encouraging response from passionate women, especially from marginalized communities, determined to bring meaningful change to their communities.

The interaction highlighted a growing aspiration for inclusive leadership and people-centric politics grounded in empathy, equality, and social responsibility. It also reflected fear and inhibitions rooted in the dual oppressive structures of caste and patriarchy.

To be a part of Thenkoodu, apply through the link in our bio.

If you would like to actively contribute to Thenkoodu, connect with us on Instagram.

Nominate women who could benefit from this opportunity and help us amplify the message far and wide! 31st May 2026 is the deadline to apply!

11/05/2026

The Tamil Nadu political scenario has just calmed down following a storm! 🌀

We thought of making the scene much more lighter by reimagining the relationship between the political parties based on Gen Z relationship types. ❤️💔

This is purely for relatability and is intended as a political satire. Not to hurt anyone's sentiments or to take a dig at parties! 🙏🏽💜

If you can think of more such terminologies, comment them! 💬

In this historical election with twists and turns, are there any twists and turns in terms of women's representation in ...
05/05/2026

In this historical election with twists and turns, are there any twists and turns in terms of women's representation in the Tamil Nadu assembly? 🔍

We explore the trend with the help of ECI data. 🔍

A lot of veterans have been defeated and the assembly is set to welcome a lot of new entrants.

Here is an overview of women in the TN assembly 2026!

For a more detailed analysis, stay tuned!


In this historical election with twists and turns, are there any twists and turns in terms of women's representation in ...
04/05/2026

In this historical election with twists and turns, are there any twists and turns in terms of women's representation in the Tamil Nadu assembly? 🔍

We explore the trend with the help of ECI data. 🔍 (available as of the time of posting on 4th May 2026).

A lot of veterans have been defeated and the assembly is set to welcome a lot of new entrants.

Here is an overview of women in the TN assembly 2026!

For more detailed analysis, stay tuned!

(If there are any errors in the numbers, it will be corrected and updated)


Hey folks!! It's been quite sometime since we met, right? We thought it's only fair to keep you all posted on what's bee...
24/04/2026

Hey folks!!

It's been quite sometime since we met, right?

We thought it's only fair to keep you all posted on what's been going on at The Penn Collective, and pick your brains on what else can be done to further our cause this year! 💜

So here we propose a simple Meet & Greet event where we come together, discuss, brainstorm activities and plans, and have fun along the way! :)

See you all on 3rd May 2026 (Sunday) at the Nimmadhi Nam Idam venue at Vadapalani on top of the Diet-In restaurant between 3 PM and 6 PM. 💜

Please register to the event through this link for us to be prepared accordingly: https://forms.gle/MefC5wNrvv6xM5b96 (link in bio)

Spread the word!

Old volunteers, new volunteers, the consistent ones - we welcome you all 💜

Equality can only be achieved when the oppressed gain political power. This political power will be meaningless when it ...
14/04/2026

Equality can only be achieved when the oppressed gain political power. This political power will be meaningless when it comes without political awareness, says Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. 💙

On this birth anniversary, The Penn Collective tries to walk his path, by creating political awareness through political education, and enabling the marginalized to attain political power. ✊🏽

On this special day, we had a special intimate gathering, where we started by reading an excerpt from Dr. Ambedkar's book on collectivising. We shared what Dr. B. R. Ambedkar means to each of us and how we were introduced to Ambedkar and his ideologies. 💙

We chose to celebrate Ambedkar through art and came up with our deeply personal, yet political pieces of art. 💙

Our conviction to continue the journey of equality, feminism, and justice in his path has strengthened. ✊🏽

Jai Bhim! 💙✊🏽

We are hiring interns!We are looking for UG/PG students of Social Work or other allied degrees to work with us. The time...
09/04/2026

We are hiring interns!

We are looking for UG/PG students of Social Work or other allied degrees to work with us. The time period and start date can be discussed on a case to case basis.

Students from across Tamil Nadu are welcome. We are open to summer internships, concurrent field work, etc.

This is your opportunity to build your field exposure, network with professionals, and equip yourself for the meaningful careers that await.

Express your interest by writing a statement of intent and email us. Certificates, letters of recommendation, and many more perks are offered.

For more details, DM us or reach out at 9629020856. To apply, write to us at [email protected]

Spread the word 💙 Let's make a meaningful impact together. ✊🏽

Ms. Subhashini, from The Penn Collective had the opportunity to facilitate a session on "Gender Awareness & Social Sensi...
06/04/2026

Ms. Subhashini, from The Penn Collective had the opportunity to facilitate a session on "Gender Awareness & Social Sensitivity" at the Two-Day Workshop on Legal Literacy organized by the School of Excellence, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, with support from the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.

The space brought together a mix of folk artists from around 15 districts across Tamil Nadu and law students, making the conversations grounded and reflective.

Through discussions, activities, and questions, we unpacked:
- What we think is “natural” vs what is socially constructed
- How gender roles and stereotypes shape everyday lives
- Who benefits from these norms, and who gets restricted
- The many forms of gender-based violence that often go unnoticed

The session was highly interactive, and it was encouraging to see participants engage, question, and challenge long-held beliefs with honesty and openness.

Grateful for the space, the conversations, and the collective willingness to unlearn and rethink.

GenderJustice

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Chennai

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9am - 10pm

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