India’s foremost digital content and networking platform for women, Her Circle, celebrates its 310-million reach on its 2nd anniversary by launching an inclusive initiative

On International Women’s Day this year, Mrs Nita M Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation launched The Her Circle, EveryBODY Project to celebrate body positivity and encourage the acceptance of all, irrespective of size, age, colour, religion, neurodiversity, or physicality. The movement aims to create a circle of kindness and non-judgemental acceptance. Her Circle was founded and launched by Mrs Ambani in 2021 to create a safe, inclusive, growth-oriented digital haven for women. On its second anniversary, the platform has become India’s largest digital platform for women with a phenomenal overall reach of 310 million. Driving the prime objective of inclusivity, Mrs Ambani has invited every individual to come forward, be a part of this initiative and make a difference.

On the occasion of the launch of the Her Circle EveryBODY Project, Mrs Nita M Ambani said, “Her Circle is about sisterhood, but also about solidarity. A solidarity that is based on equality, inclusion, and respect for all. And that is the core of our new project - the Her Circle Everybody Project. We have all seen the kind of trolling that happens on social media. They pass opinions without knowing the battles people are fighting. There are medical issues, there are genetic factors people can be going through. And yet they are subjected to trolling and humiliation. It can be so damaging, especially for young minds. I hope our initiative can address this in some way and give people the confidence and freedom to be who they are.”

In addition to the launch of the initiative, Mrs Ambani celebrated the second anniversary of Her Circle by featuring on its anniversary-special digital cover and giving an exclusive interview.

Mrs Nita M. Ambani congratulated the users of Her Circle with a special message “Congratulations to the entire team and the millions of women who form Her Circle! We started out as an idea. And we hope to make it a movement for all women! We launched Her Circle in the middle of the pandemic, still in lockdown. And we’ve come a long way in the last two years. But this is just the beginning!”

Her Circle’s second-year milestones cover goals across digital usage and networking. With more than 2,20,000 registered women users mostly entrepreneurs, we are constantly encouraging women to collaborate professionally and socially to rise together. Through The Her Circle EveryBODY Project, which will be a year-long initiative, Her Circle aims to promote diverse body sizes and appearances through real-life stories and short films of women in the world of social media – women who have challenged the unrealistic beauty standards and toxic norms that expect you to be of a certain size, colour and shape and turned it around to succeed, embrace their uniqueness and be the change and influence in the digital space. At the forefront of driving our founder, Mrs Nita M Ambani’s vision of a body-positive world, Her Circle will be encouraging women to put themselves first and build a larger circle of kindness and wellness.

How does Her Circle work?

Her Circle, founded by Mrs Nita M Ambani, is designed as a one-stop destination to provide women-related content that is engaging, and upliftment-oriented even as it connects women to each other through a social platform. She can engage as she watches vibrant videos, and reads articles with solution-oriented life strategies covering living, wellness, finance, work, personality development, community service, beauty, fashion, entertainment, creative selfexpression and active participation in public life through women-led NGOs and other organisations.

Users can toggle between their language of choice—English and Hindi currently—by a simple language selection option. The Hindi content is unique and original, customized for the user.

The platform provides women with answers from Reliance’s esteemed panel of experts on health, wellness, education, entrepreneurship, finance, philanthropy, mentorship and leadership. The section on upskilling and jobs will help her find new professional skills as well as get job opportunities suited to her profile. She can grow and learn through masterclasses from the best in the business or avail complimentary digital courses.

Private, Personalised, Safe: while the content, from videos to articles, is open to all, the social networking part of the platform is only for women. The social connect will provide her with a safe, women-only forum to make new friends with shared interests or ask questions from peers without hesitation. Her Circle also has an exclusive and personal space for women to ask questions to medical and finance experts in a confidential chatroom.

Her Good Habit App: In addition to providing useful and uplifting content, social networking and expert advice in a safe and personalised environment, Her Circle also provides trackers to enable users to inculcate and sustain the right habits in the space of fitness, period tracking, fertility & pregnancy guide and finance tracking.

Her Circle is a desktop and mobile-responsive website and is available as a free app on Google Play Store and iOS App Store.

Lastly, participation in Her Circle is entirely free for its registered users.

• Drishti has carried out over 20,500 free corneal transplants
• Marathi fortnightly Drishti’s second Braille newspaper after its international Hindi edition
• Over 1.75 lakh people in vulnerable communities reached through multiple interventions

The holistic vision care programme, Reliance Foundation Drishti, completed two decades of service, marking the milestone with the launch of a Braille newspaper in Marathi. Under the Drishti initiative, over 20,500 free corneal transplants have been performed and vision care provided to over 1.75 lakh people.

“It fills us with joy that Reliance Foundation Drishti has completed 20 years. What started as a dream of bringing light, happiness, and self-sufficiency in the lives of the visually impaired has become a movement today,” said Mrs Nita M. Ambani, Founder-Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. “In the coming decades, we remain committed to doing all that we can to support our visually impaired communities to lead fuller lives of dignity and independence. As another step in this direction, we are delighted to launch the Braille Drishti newspaper in Marathi, in addition to Hindi, to reach a wider audience and have a greater impact.”

Initiated in 2003, Reliance Foundation Drishti promotes awareness, protects sight and promotes inclusivity for the visually impaired. It organises eye screening camps across India and provides spectacles for refractive errors, facilitates cataract removal and corneal transplants to restore or improve vision. The transplants are done in association with the National Association for the Blind, Sankara Eye Foundation and Aravind Eye Care.

Through this initiative, India’s only fortnightly international Braille newspaper in Hindi, and now in Marathi, was launched in 2012. Produced in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind, with Shri Swagat Thorat, noted editor and writer as the paper’s Chief Editor, the Drishti newspaper covers news and updates from the world of sports, business, education, current affairs and entertainment. The newspaper also features recipes and reader contributions like poems and articles. At the start of every year, a Braille table calendar is distributed to readers of the paper, which has a readership of 24,000 across 16 countries including India. The newspaper’s Marathi Braille edition will now reach more audiences.

To create awareness about eye donation, Drishti internally conducts annual essay writing and art competitions amongst children and grandchildren of its employees.

Gangaram Sadanande, a 24-year-old from Latur in Maharashtra, one of the many people whose vision was restored through Reliance Foundation Drishti, was born with near blindness in both eyes and had to drop out of school. Until he underwent corneal transplant procedures, he was dependent on his mother for his daily activities. He can now see clearly and earns a living by driving an auto rickshaw.

Reliance Foundation Drishti works in close collaboration with organisations like Sunrise Candles to support entrepreneurial efforts of those with visual impairment by procuring products like diyas and other gifting objects from such enterprises to promote inclusivity.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) have joined hands to host a two days’ workshop in Kolkata starting today.

A first of its kind, the RFYS - AIFF Women Match Official Workshop has over 30 female officials, gaining key on-field and classroom training across the 2 days, by AIFF Officials. The referees participating in the workshop are registered under the AIFF from 6 different centers like Shillong, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Aizawal, Hyderabad and Kharagpur.

The workshop is being led by Trevor Kettle (Chief Refereeing Officer) & Maria Rebello (Course Director & Referees Committee Member) on behalf of the AIFF.

AIFF Chief Refereeing Officer, Mr. Trevor Kettle, said, “RFYS, beyond players and coaches, fully recognises the positive contribution that referees bring to the game of football. RFYS's forward thinking attitude and inclusiveness has provided exciting opportunities for aspiring female referees across a number of competitions and the country. AIFF's Referee Department, in partnership with RFYS, is delighted to provide those dedicated female match officials an opportunity to upskill and receive training reserved for Professional Match Officials. The future for female referees is bright and the federation feels that women match officials with ambition, drive and dedication will operate at the professional level in the coming years.”

Speaking about the workshop, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports Spokesperson said, "Reliance Foundation is committed towards ensuring more participation of girl and women athletes in India. We work extensively towards creating programmes which would provide them maximum opportunities to learn and showcase their expertise. The RFYS-AIFF Women Match Officials Workshop is yet another step in that direction to ensure that the women officials in India undergo the requisite upskilling and training to enhance their participation in the football ecosystem. We are pleased to partner with the All India Football Federation for this workshop and hope that we are able to grow the number of women officials in national and international football matches.”

Reliance Foundation has worked extensively towards the growth of women in football by providing them multiple opportunities to showcase their talent. While the 2022-23 season of the RFYS Football Championship saw a massive participation from young girls across the country, what stood out was the numerous female coaches, match officials and team staff as part of the tournament.

Since inception, RFYS has impacted 9 million children, from more than 10,000 schools and colleges, in 26 states and union territories and has supported the football coaching ecosystem by up-skilling 750+ coaches with RFYS sponsored D License coaching certification in association with AIFF. During the pandemic, RFYS conducted virtual sessions on fitness, nutrition, well-being of athletes which were attended by over 11,000+ coaches/athletes and hosted digital Coach education workshops with The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) providing certification to over 400+ coaches including women.

About Reliance Foundation Sports: Reliance Foundation celebrates the spirit of sports – joy, health, grit, determination, winning and losing. And works to ensure that more and more children and youth from all sections of society can play sports and, in the process, build a fitter, stronger and more active India. Our initiatives have touched the lives of over 21.5 million young people since 2013 across the country from 13,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career/glory in sports. We are especially committed to ensuring more presence and success of girl and women athletes in India and design our programs in a manner that offers them maximum opportunities. At Reliance Foundation, we hope to be the wind beneath the wings of Indian sportspersons and help them reach their true potential.

For more information on the tournament, athletes, institutions, and special initiatives please follow us on www.rfyouthsports.com

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~The Cultural Centre opens with a musical, a costume art exhibition, a visual art show and a special craft exposition- showcasing India’s diverse heritage~

India’s first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, opens on Friday, March 31, 2023, with an exquisite showcase of the best of India across music, theatre, fine arts and crafts to audiences from India and the world. The Centre will mark another definitive step in strengthening India’s cultural infrastructure and bringing to fruition the best of India and the world in the sphere of arts.

The launch programming features a specially curated art and craft exposition called ‘Swadesh’ along with three blockbuster shows – a musical theatrical called ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’; a costume art exhibition called ‘India in Fashion’ and a visual art show called ‘Sangam/Confluence’. Together, the programming is and exploration into the diversity of India’s cultural traditions and their impact on the world, while also showcasing the diversity of spaces at the Cultural Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Nita Ambani said, “Bringing this Cultural Centre to life has been a sacred journey. We were keen to create a space for both promoting and celebrating our artistic and cultural heritage in cinema and music, in dance and drama, in literature and folklore, in arts and crafts and in science and spirituality. A space where we showcase the best of India to the world and welcome the best of the world to India.”

The Centre will be highly inclusive with free access for children, students, senior citizens, and the differently abled, and will strongly focus on community nurturing programmes including school and college outreach and competitions, awards for Arts teachers, in-residency Guru-shishya programs, art literacy programs for adults, etc.

The launch programming has been imagined to highlight India’s immense cultural impact and provide a platform where the artist meets the audience. The one-of-its-kind art and craft exposition called ‘Swadesh’ celebrates unique and iconic Indian regional artforms including eight stunning crafts that the Reliance Foundation has supported over the years, such as Pichwai, Banarasi weaving, Pattachitra, Sozni embroidery, Blue Pottery, Kal Baffi, Paithani and candles made by the visually impaired.

The three arts showcases carry the theme forward:

1. ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’ -India’s biggest ever musical, with a line-up of exceptional Indian talent, along with a Tony & Emmy awardwinning crew, has been conceived and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. The immersive theatrical experience will premiere inside the Centre’s 2,000-seater Grand Theatre, which also features a world-class stage that is framed by the largest proscenium in India. The marquee production will bring together exceptional Indian talent such as Ajay-Atul (music), Mayuri Upadhya, Vaibhavi Merchant, (choreography) along with 350+ artists including an epic 55-piece live orchestra from Budapest, to showcase India’s cultural journey through history. The visual spectacle will also feature over 1,100 costumes designed by leading fashion designer Manish Malhotra.
2. India in Fashion - Curated by prolific author and costume expert Hamish Bowles and designed by award-winning exhibition designer Patrick Kinmonth along with Rooshad Shroff, this first-of-its-kind exhibition will showcase over 140 pieces of costume documenting India's impact on the global fashionable imagination. The India-inspired pieces have been sourced from some of the biggest museums and unseen personal collections from around the globe. The exhibition’s spectacular set will feature costumes from iconic brands such as Chanel and Dior to key historic pieces dating as far back as the 18th century.
3. Sangam/Confluence - Marking the opening of the Art House - a dedicated space for visual arts, it will feature multiple pieces from 5 Indian and 5 international artists celebrating India’s diverse cultural impulses and traditions. Curated by Jeffrey Deitch and Ranjit Hoskote, the exhibit is inspired by the idea of unions deeply rooted in Indian culture. From the works of internationally acclaimed artists like Anselm Kiefer and Francesco Clemente - whose pieces will be displayed in India for the very first time - to the works of traditional Indian artists like Shantibai, this show is truly a melting pot of unique narratives.

With this, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre invites everyone to a sensory journey of India’s rich cultural history. Audiences can book tickets on nmacc.com or BookMyShow.

About the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre:

The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre is a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary space in the sphere of arts, within the Jio World Centre, located in the heart of Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.

The Cultural Centre is home to three performing arts spaces: the majestic 2,000- seat Grand Theatre, the technologically advanced 250-seat Studio Theatre, and the dynamic 125-seat Cube. It also features the Art House, a four-storey dedicated visual arts space built as per global museum standards with the aim of housing a shifting array of exhibits and installations from the finest artistic talent across India and the world.

Spread across the Centre’s concourses is captivating mix of public art by renowned Indian and global artists, including ‘Kamal Kunj’ – one of the largest Pichwai paintings in India.

Mumbai Indians’ match against Kolkata Knight Riders witnessed over 19,000 girls from all over Mumbai cheering on the players throughout the match, lighting up the stands with their enthusiasm and energy with every boundary and wicket taken by Mumbai Indians, creating a memory that will stay with them as well as the players for years to come.

Speaking during the game, on the special #ESADay dedicated to the girl child, Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, Chairperson, Reliance Foundation and Owner, Mumbai Indians, said, “I am quite overwhelmed. Look at the energy, the excitement and the enthusiasm in the stadium. ESA matches are always special. This year, we have 19,000 girls in the stadium from different NGOs. Many of them are seeing a live cricket match for the first time. It’s a very emotional day for all of us.

“Today’s match is about celebration of women in sports. I wanted to highlight that girls have a right to education and sports. I hope all these girls and those watching on TV have the courage to follow their dreams and achieve whatever they want. That’s the reason why we have called all of them today to just feel inspired and take a lot of courage back home.”

Mrs Ambani added that some of the girls in the stands today could be the superstars of tomorrow. “There might be a Jhulan here or a Harmanpreet here, not just cricket but a superstar in the future from any sport. They can be achievers on the global stage and win accolades for India.”

At the toss, accompanying Suryakumar Yadav, was Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women’s team captain and Mumbai Indians captain in the WPL, who was there to support this special match, a celebration of women in sports. The Mumbai Indians wore a special jersey for the game – the Mumbai Indians WPL jersey, to show their support and make a strong statement, both nationally and internationally and bring to attention the right to education and sports for girls.

Mrs. Ambani, who has been a vocal supporter at the boundary line for MI matches, also joined the girls in the stands, watching the game along with them. The young girls were seen in conversation with her.

Speaking about her interactions, Mrs Ambani said, “It was really special. The girls were so excited and thankful. I just wish them well and may god bless all of them. More power to the girls.”

In addition to Harman, members of the Mumbai Indians women team who won the inaugural WPL season were also in attendance and cheering and celebrating their love for cricket and the support from the girls from all over the stadium.

A pioneering partnership with a global leader in training, to reimagine leadership for school transformation, with the launch of one of its unique programs - ‘Creating an Effective School’

Offered for the first time in India for educators and leaders of K-12 schools

Jio Institute has partnered with the Principals’ Training Center (PTC), headquartered in Florida, USA, to bring to India, its uniquely designed training programs for educators and school leaders in India.

PTC is a leading provider that caters to the unique professional learning needs of practicing and aspiring principals, teachers, heads of departments, counsellors, and board members of schools worldwide. It provides world-class, research-driven, practical training, designed to be put into practice in K-12 schools.

The first PTC program being launched in India is ‘Creating an Effective School’©. It offers the knowledge and skills for school leaders to articulate a vision to design and implement a plan for an effective school focused on student learning and improving outcomes. It addresses the ‘big picture’ of what schools are and how leaders can optimize conditions to maximize learning by focusing on results. All PTC courses utilize simulations, case studies and other practical training strategies. The course content has been tailored to meet the requirements of the Indian context.

“Collaboration between Jio Institute and Principals’ Training Center is a powerful alliance to bring innovative educational practices and training to our schools, that can pave the way for a brighter future of our students”, said Dr G Ravichandran, Provost, Jio Institute. “Our partnership with PTC underscores our commitment to providing world-class education that is responsive to the changing needs of the world,” he added.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Jio Institute and offer the first program ‘Creating an Effective School’ in India," said Bambi Betts, Executive Director at Principals’ Training Center. “Significant research confirms that school leaders CAN have a meaningful impact on student learning. The exciting work ahead is to ensure every single school leader acquires the skills to make that impact.”

The course on ‘Creating an Effective School’ is open to educators and leaders from across all educational boards and schools – international schools, CBSE schools, ICSE schools, and schools affiliated to state education boards. The program will be offered from 22 May to 28 May 2023 (Monday to Sunday). It will be a 7-day residential program at the Jio Institute’s campus in Ulwe (Navi Mumbai). Scholarships will be provided to select candidates based on merit.

The PTC's Certificate of International School Leadership is earned by completing four ‘essential skills’ courses. They are Creating an Effective School; Leadership and Team Dynamics; Instructional Supervision and Evaluation; Curriculum Leadership; Assessment Leadership; and Technology Leadership, among others. Internationally, over 8000 educators and school leaders from around the world have benefitted from the PTC courses.

More information on the program is available on the Jio Institute website: https://www.jioinstitute.edu.in/executive-education/creating-effective-school

About Jio Institute:

Jio Institute is a world-class institution of higher learning, committed to providing students with a transformative education that prepares them for success in a rapidly changing world. The Institute is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence by bringing together global scholars and thought leaders and providing an enriching student experience through world-class education, and a culture of research and innovation. The Institute offers full-time professional postgraduate programs in a variety of fields, including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Media & Marketing, Sports Management, and Journalism. More on: www.jioinstitute.edu.in

About Reliance Foundation:

Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing the India’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Founder and Chairperson Smt. Nita Ambani, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working for the overall wellbeing and enhanced quality of life for all. Reliance Foundation focuses on rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, disaster management, women empowerment, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage and has touched the lives of more than 69.5 million people across India, in more than 54,200 villages and several urban locations. More on: www.reliancefoundation.org

About Principals’ Training Center:

The Principals' Training Center is a well-respected organization in the field of international education that provides high-quality professional development opportunities for educators and school leaders around the world. PTC offers a variety of training programs, workshops, and online courses that focus on leadership development, curriculum design, assessment, and other areas related to education. PTC programs are designed to be interactive, engaging, and relevant to the needs of educators and school leaders in K-12 schools. The model is based in the very best that is known about how adults learn and focuses on the practical skills school leaders need to positively impact learning in the schools they lead. PTC has a team of experienced trainers and facilitators who are experts in their respective fields and have extensive experience in leading K12 schools around the world. More on: www.theptc.org

For further information, please contact:
Tushar Pania Reliance Industries Ltd.
+ 91 9820088536
tushar.pania@ril.com

Five thousand first-year undergraduate students from 27 states and four Union Territories will be awarded the Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships for 2022-23. Selected scholars will receive a grant of up to Rs. 2 lakh and an opportunity to be part of an enabling alumni network.

“By enabling access to education, the Reliance Foundation Scholarships hope to give wings to dreams of young people. This is a diverse group of scholars as they are from varying disciplines of study, from nearly all the states of India and with girls and boys being equally represented. We congratulate every selected scholar and we are confident that they will build a strong future for themselves while contributing to India’s progress,” said Mr. Jagannatha Kumar, CEO, Reliance Foundation.

The Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships are awarded on merit-cum-means basis to students in any stream of study. For this year, selected scholars are from streams including Engineering/Technology, Science, Medicine, Commerce, Arts, Business/Management, Computer Applications, Law, Education, Hospitality, Architecture and other professional degrees. The 5,000 scholars for 2022-23 cycle, of which 51% are girls, were selected from nearly 40,000 applicants studying at over 4,984 educational institutions through a rigorous selection process, which involved an aptitude test, Class 12 marks and other eligibility criteria. Further reflecting the diversity inherent to the programme, this round saw selection of 99 students with disabilities for award of scholarships.

Strengthening its commitment last December, Reliance Foundation had announced it will award 50,000 scholarships over the next 10 years. The award of this round of scholarships takes forward Reliance’s legacy of facilitating access to education for all and nurturing talented students towards building India’s future. Since 1996, the Dhirubhai Ambani Scholarships have been awarded to nearly 13,000 undergraduate scholars on merit-cum-means basis, of which 2,720 scholars were people with disabilities.

Selected scholars will directly receive communication about their selection and further details. Applicants can click here to know the outcome of their applications.

The announcement of the selected Reliance Foundation Postgraduate Scholars for 2022-23 is expected in July. The applications call for the next round of Reliance Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships (2023-24) will be made in the coming months.

Reliance Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today the grant winners of Round Two of the WomenConnect Challenge India, which aims to close the gender digital divide in India and enable women to fully participate in the global economy.

Seven social sector organizations were selected out of more than 260 applicants for an award of up to INR 1 crore each (approximately $120,000) in grants from Reliance Foundation, to address barriers that limit women’s access to technology. The United States government partnered with Reliance Foundation to reach and support women entrepreneurs, farmers, women-led micro enterprises and collectives, and self-help groups to provide mentoring support from experts and practitioners across India.

The winners were announced on Wednesday at an event ‘Accelerating Digital Inclusion: Bridging the Gender Digital Divide in India’ that brought together key experts and organizations.

Speaking at the event, Veena Reddy, USAID/India Mission Director, said, “The United States recognizes the strategic importance of a connected world. USAID works towards a future where digital technology promotes inclusive growth, fosters resilient and democratic societies, and empowers all, including the most vulnerable. USAID is excited to be building on the success of Round One of the WomenConnect Challenge India. Round Two projects will accelerate progress to bridge the digital gap by expanding access to digital tools, specialized training, and business opportunities.”

Jagannatha Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Foundation, said, “We are committed to working to close the gender digital divide because we believe India’s digital revolution provides immense potential for women led development. We saw this through the innovative approaches to digital inclusion that were incubated in Round One of the WomenConnect Challenge India. We saw women thrive with enhanced livelihood, entrepreneurship and learning opportunities when they were able to access the benefits that digital empowerment provides. Through WomenConnect Challenge India Round Two, Reliance Foundation in partnership with USAID aims to build on the momentum generated, to positively impact over 350,000 women and their communities.”

The winners of Round Two are:

• The Goat Trust, which will build digital skills of community livestock care providers who provide business services to women livestock farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
• M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, which will build capacity of women collectives in postharvest fisheries on a range of ICT technologies and innovations in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry.
• Manjari Foundation, which will train rural women from women collectives on digital literacy, usage of digital services, and promote entrepreneurship opportunities in Rajasthan.
• Digital Empowerment Foundation, which will train and facilitate access to digital connectivity and services for women in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
• Seven Sisters Development Assistance, which will promote use of technology among women self-help groups and adolescent girls from indigent and marginalized families in Assam
• ACCESS Development Services, which will provide app-based training to women entrepreneurs in Rajasthan.
• Yugantar, which will promote financial and digital inclusion through games, videos and other interactive tools in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

During the roundtable, Reliance Foundation and USAID released their first joint publication from WomenConnect Challenge India, titled ‘Women Connected: Strategies for Bridging the Gender Digital Divide in India’ summarizing their learnings. Through Round One of the Challenge, which began in August 2021, 10 organizations implemented solutions in 19 Indian states benefiting over 320,000 women and girls.

The publication highlights the significance of behavioral change campaigns and collaboration with community leaders and family members in promoting digital inclusion. It also reinforces the need to incorporate digital literacy into livelihood programs as a crucial element for bridging the gender digital divide in India. WomenConnect Challenge India is an example of how women's role in the design and development of digital technology guarantees their distinct needs and perspectives are duly considered, especially at grassroots level.

The WomenConnect Challenge is a global call for solutions to improve women’s participation in everyday life by meaningfully changing the ways women access and use technology. Through the collaboration, Reliance Foundation and USAID are supporting new pathways for women and girls in India to engage with technology, counter outdated social norms, and increase their economic independence. Ultimately, closing the gender digital divide will help women improve their lives, the stability of their families, and the resilience of their communities, fostering an inclusive and more equitable future.

To learn more about WomenConnect Challenge India, visit: www.womenconnectindia.com

About the Organizations:

Reliance Foundation: Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, aims to play a catalytic role in addressing India’s development challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. Led by Smt. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation is relentlessly working to facilitate transformative changes for the overall wellbeing and better quality of life for all. Reliance Foundation focuses on rural transformation, education, health, sports for development, women empowerment, disaster management, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage, and has touched the lives of over 69.5 million people across India, in more than 54,200 villages and several urban locations. For more information, please visit www.reliancefoundation.org

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID): USAID, an agency of the United States government and working throughout India, is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID works to help lift lives, build communities, advance democracy, and champions the cause of women empowerment across the globe. USAID's work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity; demonstrates American generosity; and helps countries progress along their development journey. In India, USAID is collaborating with the country’s growing human and financial resources through partnerships that catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship to solve critical local and global development challenges. To learn more, visit http://www.usaid.gov/india

~This initiative focuses on normalizing the conversation around Periods and Championing Female Athlete Wellness, *research has found that 73% of female athletes are not comfortable opening up about menstruation~

Committed to increasing the presence and success of girls and women athletes in India, Reliance Foundation has entered into a partnership with Simply Sport Foundation (SSF) for their pioneering initiative, Simply Periods to focus on awareness regarding menstruation and athlete performance. The focus of the nationwide menstrual program is to help understand the relationship between menstruation & athlete performance, educate the athlete ecosystem and champion the cause of female athlete wellness.

To enhance awareness, Reliance Foundation and SSF have planned a series of workshops to equip athletes and coaches with essential knowledge and tools related to menstruation and its impact on the sport. Further, develop a comprehensive knowledge repository covering topics such as female athlete nutrition, body image issues, psychology, and overall health. These resources will be made accessible through digital channels, to ensure widespread awareness and education.

Olympian & Reliance Foundation scholarship athlete Lovlina Borgohain, “It’s very important to normalize talking about periods. For female athletes along with overall well-being, performance too is connected to menstruation. Much like regular training we need to ensure that we have regular periods as well. It's high time we ended the silence about periods. I am glad Reliance Foundation and Simply Sport Foundation are engaging in conversation around female athletes and menstruation.”

Watch the video of Lovlina on the initiative here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs0U0P6JFVx/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Recognizing the need for a stronger bond between athlete and their coaching and backroom team, a Reliance Foundation Spokesperson said, "We are very happy to partner with Simply Sport Foundation for the Simply Periods initiative, through which we aim to break the silence surrounding menstruation and create a supportive environment for female athletes. At Reliance Foundation, we firmly believe that women are the backbone of our society. This initiative will enable us to support and empower women in sports and pave their way to succeed and bring pride to our nation.”

Ankit Nagori, Founder of Simply Sport Foundation commented, “We are excited about this collaboration with Reliance Foundation, which will enable us to expand the reach of Simply Periods and create a positive impact on the lives of a lot of female athletes. Together I hope we are able to empower athletes and coaches, break down societal barriers, and foster an inclusive sports environment."

Reliance Foundation has a comprehensive vision of empowering women in sports by providing them with the necessary opportunities to thrive and achieve remarkable success on the global stage. As part of this vision, this partnership with Simply Periods aims to address the sensitive issue of menstruation faced by female athletes. Through this initiative, the Sim ply Sport Foundation has already made a positive impact by reaching out to more than 3,000 athletes and coaches. Reliance Foundation seeks to complement its efforts and use its own and partner ecosystem with the ultimate goal of creating a lasting and transformative impact.

Guided by Reliance’s overarching ‘We Care’ philosophy, Reliance Foundation is committed to the empowerment of women and girls in all walks of life from comprehensive initiatives in technology access such as the WomenConnect Challenge India, to capacity building of social sector leaders, such as the WomenLead India Fellowship. From enhancing agency to fostering women’s entrepreneurship, Reliance Foundation aims to drive transformative change, enabling women with tools, skills and support to realise their full potential; to be catalysts of change across the socio-economic fabric of our nation.

*The Breaking Barriers for Women in Sport (2022) by Simply Sport Foundation on menstrual health and awareness of athletes and coaches found: Report Link

1. There is no distinction currently being made in the way and methods being used to train a woman and a male athlete.
2. Communication about the subject is still a problem for both the stakeholders
3. Knowledge about menstruation and its connection with female athlete performance is lacking in both stakeholders.
4. Lack of resources and research is available for athletes and coaches on this subject.
5. Athletes are hesitant to take an off while training and prefer to play through their periods. A lot of them pointed out that an off is looked at upon them as a sign of weakness.

About Reliance Foundation Sports:

Reliance Foundation celebrates the spirit of sports – joy, health, grit, determination, winning and losing. And works to ensure that more and more children and youth from all sections of society are able to play sports and, in the process, build a fitter, stronger and more active India. Our initiatives have touched the lives of over 21.5 million young people since 2013 across the country from 13,000+ schools and colleges, enabling an opportunity for a talented kid anywhere to be able to achieve their dream of a career/glory in sports. We are especially committed to ensuring more presence and success of girl and women athletes in India and design our programmes in a manner that offers them maximum opportunities. At Reliance Foundation, we hope to be the wind beneath the wings of Indian sportspersons and help them reach their true potential.For more information please follow us on www.rfyouthsports.com

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About Simply Sport Foundation:

At Simply Sport, our goal is to empower athletes in sport and life. We are striving to support the grassroots sports ecosystem in India. Sports can be a huge enabler for millions of people in India and we want to play a role as a catalyst in making this happen. Our athlete-centered initiatives are programmed to help individuals from all walks of life. We have categorized our initiatives into - Community sports development, Women in sports, Mental health and Athlete support. Through our initiatives we have impacted more than 5000 athletes across India so far. For more information on our work, please visit our website https://www.simplysport.in/

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Owing to unprecedented public response to watching traditional master craftspersons at work, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has decided to extend Reliance Foundation’s SWADESH exhibition. The exhibition is an experience zone offering visitors a unique journey of watching and interacting with skilled expert artisans from famed traditional art forms such as Pichwai, Tanjore, Pattachitra, weaves from Patola, Venkatgiri, Benaras, Paithan and Kashmir and Blue Pottery from Jaipur among others. Craftspersons at work – on traditional looms making carpets and saris, using vegetable inks and needles to create paintings – while interacting with audience, have created a unique and much appreciated experience for visitors to the Centre. This has elevated the pristine appeal of the craft to a performing arts experience.

“India’s artisans are the pride of our country. Their arts and crafts are integral to our culture. It has been an honour for us at the NMACC to offer them a global platform to showcase their skill and talent, honed and passed down over generations.” said Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. “It gives me the greatest joy to see the attention and appreciation they have received in abundance from our Indian and international guests. I cherished my interactions with them, and it was overwhelming to hear their stories and see their extraordinary passion towards their craft. Swadesh is a celebration of our heritage, and I hope it marks a new beginning of respect, recognition, and sustenance for our artisans.”

When the artists came home to NMACC:

Owing to unprecedented public response to watching traditional master craftspersons at work, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has decided to extend Reliance Foundation’s SWADESH exhibition. The exhibition is an experience zone offering visitors a unique journey of watching and interacting with skilled expert artisans from famed traditional art forms such as Pichwai, Tanjore, Pattachitra, weaves from Patola, Venkatgiri, Benaras, Paithan and Kashmir and Blue Pottery from Jaipur among others. Craftspersons at work – on traditional looms making carpets and saris, using vegetable inks and needles to create paintings – while interacting with audience, have created a unique and much appreciated experience for visitors to the Centre. This has elevated the pristine appeal of the craft to a performing arts experience.

“India’s artisans are the pride of our country. Their arts and crafts are integral to our culture. It has been an honour for us at the NMACC to offer them a global platform to showcase their skill and talent, honed and passed down over generations.” said Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation. “It gives me the greatest joy to see the attention and appreciation they have received in abundance from our Indian and international guests. I cherished my interactions with them, and it was overwhelming to hear their stories and see their extraordinary passion towards their craft. Swadesh is a celebration of our heritage, and I hope it marks a new beginning of respect, recognition, and sustenance for our artisans.”

When the artists came home to NMACC:

Ever since the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre opened to the world, visitors have been appreciating many aspects about the Centre and its offerings. The SWADESH experience zone recreated the traditional artists’ space with beautifully designed stalls for the Cultural Centre audience to not only watch the skilled artisans at work but also buy their any of their works. Originally scheduled as a three-day event till April 2nd, this has now been extended, due to the overwhelming admiration of the artisans visible in the extensive footfalls and daily number of orders placed with the artisans, the entire proceeds of which goes to the artisans themselves.

In the extended exhibition, the additions include Palagai Padam - Tanjore Painting from Tamil Nadu, Venkatagiri Weaves from Andhra Pradesh, Patola Weaves from Gujarat, and Tholu Bommalata Leather Shadow Puppetry from Andhra Pradesh.

Th extravagant gold foil depictions of deities in Tanjore paintings; the fine fabrics with intricate zari patterning of Venkatagiri Weaves, Patola weaves of Gujarat, created by tying and dying warp and weft threads before weaving them together; the Tholu Bommalata Shadow Puppetry from Andhra Pradesh the Indian bobble-head in a mixture of paper and clay; are part of the extended showcase.

Set with Athangudi eco-friendly tiles and a rustic classic South Indian ‘the wooden touch’ décor, the entire space becomes a living breathing experience in itself.

Through the years, Reliance Foundation has given traditional Indian artisans a platform to showcase their talent, and take their work to a wider audience. Endangered art forms get a new lease of life with livelihood opportunities for traditional artists and crafts persons, to ensure their work continues to be viable. The unprecedented success of this effort adds another aspect to the credo of the new Cultural Centre – that of showcasing India’s rich heritage on national and global platforms.

These efforts have helped preserve and protect artforms while providing continued employment opportunities to artisans. SWADESH is yet another step in that direction as part of this long-standing commitment to artisans.