Calling Women Leaders in India – Inaugural India Ripple Academy Learning Lab Applications Are Open

Applications for the India Ripple Academy Learning Lab are now open and we’re looking for women environmental leaders who are ready to strengthen and grow their work. If you are a leader in your community in India and working to transform environmental challenges into solutions, WEA invites you to apply to join our Ripple Academy Learning Lab! Environmental solutions could include safe drinking water, sustainable farming, clean cookstoves, seed saving, women’s land ownership and/or stewardship, ecotourism, food security, community disaster preparedness, and climate resilience among others. Applications are due July 31, 2018.

The India Learning Lab will be a 2-month program that includes a 3-day workshop in Rishikesh, September 14-16, and interactive online training. The Lab will support women leaders across India to strengthen their grassroots environmental initiatives and solutions, increasing the impact and sustainability of their vital work. In addition, Learning Lab participants will gain a greater sense of personal resilience and empowerment through connection with other women leaders working on similar initiatives in their region, building a powerful support system that will last long after the Learning Lab is complete. The 2-month journey will include:

• Trainings on project design and management for impact, entrepreneurship, fundraising and marketing strategies, leadership, and special topics on environmental sectors
• Discussion forums to share challenges, solutions, questions, and resources
• Relationship-building with other women leaders, potential mentors, and specialists
• Activities to celebrate participants’ unique cultural traditions (dances, songs, stories)
• Exercises to promote self-care and resilience

As environmental issues intensify, women are often those most impacted by its effects, and are also those best positioned to address these impacts. Therefore, we recognize how crucial it is to invest in women and the solutions they know will work best for their communities. Fewer than 7% of global philanthropic dollars goes directly toward investing in women — despite it being proven as the #1 most effective environmental and social welfare investment. WEA’s work centers women’s leadership, recognizing that the time is now to ensure that women environmental leaders on the frontlines are supported, resourced, and networked. The India Ripple Academy Learning Lab will equip these women leaders with resources and tools to forge high-impact environmental solutions that scale so they can do their work of protecting our earth and empowering communities.  

The Ripple Academy is a partnership of WEA and United Religions Initiative (URI).

Read more about the India Learning Lab and apply here.