Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)
Location :Northeast India (Guwahati, Assam)
Organization Description:
SeSTA is an innovative NGO that empowers marginalized women in the remotest rural villages in Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura. For the past decade SeSTA has developed an innovative model of women’s collectives that puts the beneficiaries in the driver’s seat. This wonderful organization focuses on promoting sustainable and inclusive development in rural areas of Northeast India. Its mission is to empower marginalized communities, particularly women, by enhancing their capabilities and improving livelihoods. The organization operates on principles such as equality, transparency, accountability, and respect for women.
Cause/Issue Area:
Institution building, livelihood promotion, local development, financial inclusion, social equity issues
Skilled Volunteer Project Description:
Research funding prospects (foundations and corporates), Develop a fundraising plan, create a grant proposal template
Desired Skills:
Fundraising strategy, planning, research, writing
Background/Comments:
The State of Assam in North East India is home to one of the most beautiful wildlife preserves in India–Kaziranga National Park. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, the park is one of the best places to see the Indian one-horned Rhino. Assam is a cultural gem with amazing tribal festivals featuring ethnic dances, music and food.
From Morry Rao Hermon,Executive Director of SEVA Travelers: I worked closely with SESTA during my recent Fulbright-Nehru Academic & Professional Excellence Award. On my visit to SeSTA’s Bodoland program site I was impressed with the women I met (from the Koch Rajbongshi tribe). Their:
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) bring villagers together to plan and implement development projects collectively, building both economic self-sufficiency and important local institutions.
Livelihoods Interventions use the latest technology to enable women-led SHGs to take their agricultural and entrepreneurial pursuits to the next level, spanning a wide array of ventures from weaving to piggery, bamboo cultivation to System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
Executive Traineeship Program recruits recent college graduates to work in grassroots NGOs in remote villages, filling a human resource gap while professionalizing the development sector.
SeSTA not only has the potential to expand their livelihood interventions in additional villages throughout the North East—they can also continue to play a critical role in training other nonprofits to do the same.