About RWUS

Rural Women Upliftment Society or RWUS is a Not for Profit, Gender just indigenous philanthropic organization founded by the development department of the Independent Church of India (ICI) in the year 1990. With full autonomy in administration and functioning, RWUS seeks to address the issues and concerns of the people without compromising their unique cultural, social and religious practices encompassing gender, Local Capacity for Peace (LCP) and environment as cross-cutting themes.

Our Vision is to empower the people for justice and development, and our Mission is to empower grassroots communities through capacity building, awareness raising, trainings, advocacy and lobby work, networking and alliance building and through support.

Anchored on a mission to empower grassroots communities, RWUS has the following core thematic issues:

• The right to food and food security
• Gender and women in governance
• Capacity building and training (Skill Training  for marginalized women)
• Environment and natural resources
• Clean and renewable energy

RWUS has undertaken several projects to achieve its mission and vision. Some of our recent projects include:

Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiative (APPI)

During the nationwide lockdown at the start of the pandemic last year, most of the programs carried out by RWUS were related to relief distribution. During the year 2020-2021, we implemented the following relief programs:

During the month of May 2021, a total of 368 households in 20 villages were provided with relief items like rice, potatoes, dal, salt, onion, and oil with the help of CBO’s and village level task force.

Second phase relief distribution was carried out again in the month of June 2021 providing health and safety items to 43 Community Quarantine centres, Asha workers, district health workers and police personnel.

Community-based sustainable development and adaptation to climate change

The project involved awareness, capacity building and training for local people and to work towards response to Climate Change adaptation and sustainable development. To achieve this, during the year 2020-2021, the following programs were implemented:

• Awareness programme on climate change and gender program was held at T.Daijang village on 1/12/2020 with 30 participants.
• One day awareness on patriarchy and masculinity at Rengkai Village on 1/12/2020.
• PACDR training for Village Community Plan at Saidan Village on 21/05/2020 attended by 45 participants.
• One day Community Leaders meet on Climate Resilient Village at Saidan on 23/11/2020.

Women First International Fund

The project focuses on empowering women through training and livelihood support. During the last year, the following activities were implemented:

• 120 women’s beneficiaries were supported in weaving traditional shawl under livelihood support.
• 4 school dropout and returnees from metro city due to Covid were given training on beautician.
• 13 dropout girls and returnees were trained in the tailoring sector under livelihood support.
• 9 ladies of Covid-19 returnees were provided chicken (Kuroiler & feed) under start-up capital.
• 12 ladies were financially supported for their second-hand business under start-up supplier.
• 13 ladies were given piglets and its feed.
  1 lady was provided financial support for knitting.

Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Homelighting

The project involves promoting alternative energy to rural households for regular power supply for home lighting and livelihood enhancement. Regarding this as a small step towards combating climate change, RWUS has slowly moved forward in spreading awareness and convincing the community to adopt clean energy. During the last year, a total of 115 systems comprising 40 watts, 100 watts, and 200 watts home lighting were provided.

AYNI (Seed Project)

The project aims to conserve and safeguard the environment with women at the forefront. Women play a pivotal role as a custodian of forest and other vital resources in a traditional tribal society. Thus involving women CBOs and volunteers to promote, campaign, and safeguard the environment constitute the primary goals. Amidst the pandemic, the following activities were organized during the past year:

Consultation with Women CBO’S, CSO’S on save the Khuga River was held 3 times during the month of February & March2020. Altogether, 30 district level women CBOs leaders attended the meeting. The meeting deliberated on the issue of Cleaning the Khuga Rivers and dissemination of awareness among the community living along the Khuga Rivers and different streams in the district.

One day observation of International Day of Action for Rivers and subsequent cleaning drive on March 14, 2020. Hundreds of volunteers from different communities participated.

Radio talk show on ‘’Save Khuga Rivers’’ by indigenous women leader was held in the month of July 2020. Again, as a campaign to safeguard the rivers and streams in the district, a television talk show was organized on 13 August 2020.
Adopting of Saidan Village as Green Model Village. Through this program, emphasis was placed to make the village climate resilient and a hub of promoting green initiatives.

• Women Environment Promotion were supported financially on monthly Honorarium for handicraft &  for selling chicken.
• Self Help group were trained for paper bag making and were provided the materials.
• Psycho Social support program with 25 women and young girls.
• RWUS also provided safety health kit and dry ration to the frontline workers.

At RWUS, we are committed to empowering grassroots communities and promoting sustainable development. Join us today in our mission to uplift and empower rural women and communities.