Dr. Rennie Joyy, a former banker and corporate lawyer with a doctorate in corporate governance, traded the corporate world for a life dedicated to social change. In 2015, she founded Aalekh Foundation, a non-profit committed to empowering women and children in India. Aligned with the G20's global goals, the foundation tackles critical issues such as education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
In an insightful interview with TheCSRUniverse, Dr. Joyy shares the inspiring journey of transforming lives through Aalekh Foundation. She explains how her business expertise and commitment to social change have shaped its success. The conversation further explores the foundation’s key initiatives, the challenges faced, and its vision for making a meaningful difference in India.
Scroll down to read the full interview.
Q&A
Q. How does Aalekh Foundation integrate the G20 goals into its initiatives focused on women's and children's welfare and empowerment?
A. Aalekh Foundation integrates the G20 goals into its initiatives by focusing on youth skilling, promoting equality, and empowering women. The foundation also prioritises healthcare and environmental sustainability, actively working on climate advocacy and water rejuvenation. These efforts align with the G20's emphasis on inclusive growth, gender equality, health, and environmental protection, ensuring comprehensive development and empowerment for women and children.
Q. What challenges have you encountered while implementing sustainable projects with Aalekh Foundation, and can you share a defining moment or achievement during your tenure that you are particularly proud of?
A. While implementing sustainable projects at Aalekh Foundation, we have encountered challenges such as securing funds, engaging community participation, and navigating regulatory hurdles. A defining moment for me was taking over the second phase of the Ram Talab water body rejuvenation project. Within a few months, the return of flora, fauna, and water birds to the area marked a significant achievement, showcasing the impact of our efforts on the local ecosystem and community.
Q. Can you share examples of impactful sustainable projects facilitated by Aalekh Foundation, particularly those addressing environmental sustainability and climate change resilience?
A. Aalekh Foundation has facilitated impactful and sustainable projects, such as the water rejuvenation of a lake in Delhi under the DDA, resulting in significant ecological improvement. Additionally, on World Environment Day, we launched a drive encouraging communities to plant and nurture trees throughout the year. This initiative has seen enthusiastic participation from Delhi University colleges, RWAs, and corporates. Furthermore, we have been actively advising on renewable energy solutions to enhance climate change resilience.
Q. What role do vocational training opportunities play in empowering women through your initiatives? How do you ensure these programs are sustainable and impactful in the long term?
A. Vocational training opportunities play a crucial role in empowering women through our initiatives by providing them with the skills and confidence needed for economic independence. We ensure these programs are sustainable and impactful in the long term by partnering with industry experts, continuously updating the curriculum to match market demands, and providing ongoing support and mentorship to the participants. This approach ensures that women not only gain employment but also have the tools to thrive in their chosen careers.
Q. Aalekh Foundation emphasizes promoting women's health and reproductive rights. How do you navigate cultural sensitivities and ensure widespread acceptance and participation in these initiatives?
A. Aalekh Foundation promotes women's health and reproductive rights by working closely with health consultants and doctors to ensure accurate and culturally sensitive information. We conduct small workshops within communities to facilitate open discussions and build trust. This approach helps us navigate cultural sensitivities and ensures widespread acceptance and participation in our initiatives.
Q. Could you elaborate on how the foundation provides pro bono legal aid and its impact on disadvantaged communities?
A. Aalekh Foundation provides pro bono legal aid by advising and representing disadvantaged individuals, particularly poor women and marginalized communities, through our team of legal volunteers. Cases referred to us by communities are handled with dedicated legal support, ensuring representation in court. This service has a profound impact, empowering individuals to seek justice and uphold their rights.
Q. With your expertise in corporate law and international development, how does Aalekh Foundation collaborate with industry leaders to enhance its programs and outreach? Could you provide examples of successful partnerships that have significantly contributed to Aalekh Foundation's impact and reach?
A. With my expertise in corporate law and international development, Aalekh Foundation collaborates with industry leaders to enhance its programs and outreach. For instance, we partnered with a water rejuvenation tech company, Bint Technology, for the Ram Talab project. Additionally, we joined forces with Risaya Education to launch a course in Audio Engineering in the Northeast. We also coordinated with the Confederation of Indian Textiles on women empowerment projects in the textile industry, recognizing outstanding contributions during Bharat Tex 2024. These partnerships have significantly amplified our impact and reach.
Q. How does the Aalekh Foundation engage with communities to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of its programs? Can you describe your community engagement methods and share a success story illustrating their impact?
A. Aalekh Foundation engages with communities to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of its programs through continuous dialogue and collaboration with local organizations. We conduct surveys, focus group discussions, and community meetings to understand needs and gather feedback.
For example, in Nagaland, we partnered with a local forum that understands the region's demographic and cultural aspects to design a sound audio vocational course. This collaboration ensured the course was tailored to the community's needs, leading to high participation and success rates. Another success story includes our tree-planting drive, where we mobilized Delhi University colleges, RWAs, and corporates, resulting in widespread community engagement and environmental impact.
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of the Aalekh Foundation? How do you envision scaling your impact and reaching more communities?
A. Our aspirations for the future of the Aalekh Foundation include expanding our initiatives to reach more communities and deepening the impact of our projects on society through continually innovating the execution approach. We aim to scale our impact by forging new partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing our vocational training programs, and increasing community engagement efforts. Additionally, we envision leveraging technology to streamline our operations and outreach, ensuring sustainable growth and greater empowerment for the communities we serve.
We are also excited to announce an upcoming event in October to showcase the artisans, textiles, music, and culinary legacy of the Northeast and Kerala. This event aims to uplift communities, create job opportunities, and upscale local productions, further contributing to our mission of sustainable development and empowerment.
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