Thirty women from India and Nepal gathered together to launch The Ripple Academy, a holistic training program for women to work together to protect the environment and unite for peace and justice. This initiative is a partnership between United Religions Initiative and the Women’s Earth Alliance. Divine Shakti Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance are also co-partners and co-sponsors.
With climate change, environmental destruction, and oppressive governments, women are often the most impacted within their communities. However, they are often cut off from the solutions, resources, and networks that they need to address these issues. The aim of the Ripple Academy is to connect the grassroots women leaders in these communities, connecting them together in a network working for environmental protection, women’s empowerment, and peacebuilding, giving them the tools they need to create change in their local communities, such as improved access to WASH, protection of women and girls, environmental projects, improved access to education and livelihoods, and more.
Pujya Swamiji, Sadhvi Bhagawatiji, and Swamini Adityanandaji welcomed the group and shared the work that Parmarth, GIWA, and DSF are doing for interfaith unity, women’s empowerment, improved WASH and more.
Said Pujya Swamiji, “”All over the world, people are wandering around looking for peace. All are looking for peace for themselves, but it seems to me that now the whole work must come together to create happiness and peace for all. It is essential to focus first on the interest of the environment for the benefit of human society.”
Together with Pujya Swamiji and the Parmarth Gurukul Rishikumars, participants planted a rudraksh sapling on the Parmarth premises and took a pledge to work for the environment back in their communities.