Edited from articles submitted by Sr. Beena Jose, Province of Southwest India, and Sr. Julia Mary Mathews, Province of Central East India Nepal

International Women’s Day 2026 across the Good Shepherd ministries in India was celebrated through concrete spaces of participation, rights awareness, and measurable empowerment for women and girls in vulnerable contexts. Across Chennai, Bangalore, and Mysuru, the celebration translated the global call— “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”—into lived experiences that strengthened agency, built skills, and fostered collective voice.

On March 7, at the historic Good Shepherd Campus in Chennai, the MOTTUKAL project convened over 300 single women and 50 girl children from six urban slum communities, many of whom navigate the daily realities of economic hardship, social stigma, and limited access to opportunities. This gathering created a rare platform where women could speak, share, and recognize themselves as part of a wider support network. Through structured interactions, awareness inputs, and cultural participation, women moved from isolation toward solidarity, gaining confidence to articulate their rights and aspirations.

At the event, women who completed the St. Mary Euphrasia Tailoring Course, supported by the Catholic Women’s Fellowship, received certification, marking a direct pathway to income generation and home-based enterprise development. Simultaneously, inputs from social activist Shalin Maria Lawrence and other leaders translated abstract ideas of empowerment into actionable knowledge—especially regarding access to government welfare schemes, legal protections, and livelihood opportunities. The release and explanation of the Women’s Day special handbill further contextualized local struggles within global and national realities.

During the event, Mrs. Amala Mary, Community Mobilizer for MOTTUKAL’s Empowerment of Single Women in Urban Slums Project 2026, introduced the project and its key strategies. She spoke of the project’s model of collective empowerment, in which women are encouraged to organize into creditworthy groups, develop leadership, and participate in community-level decision-making – shifting the intervention from individual support to sustained community transformation.

On the same day in Mysuru, the Good Shepherd Convent College demonstrated how empowerment is intentionally cultivated among the next generation. The celebration engaged students actively—boys publicly affirming respect for women through poetry and reflection, and girls embodying the lives of influential women leaders through character presentations. This pedagogical approach moves beyond celebration to early formation of gender consciousness, shaping attitudes that influence future social behavior. The theme “Give to Gain” reinforced reciprocal responsibility—positioning empowerment as both a value and a practice within everyday life.

On March 9, 2026, St. Euphrasia’s Girls High School in Bangalore celebrated International Women’s Day with a vibrant program that honored both global and local women role models. Through song, dance, poetry, and reflections, the school paid tribute to the courage and contributions of women and commemorated St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier as their guiding inspiration. The event highlighted the achievements of the school’s alumnae, including Mrs. Brinda Adige for her continued support.

In Bangalore, the March 14 celebration at St. Michael’s Children’s Home, Navodhini, extended this impact through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach. By bringing together women from Pro-Life groups, cancer care support, skill training centers, and surrounding communities, the program addressed empowerment holistically—linking health, social realities, and economic resilience. Presented by Sr. Anjana, the ‘menstrual hygiene’ awareness session directly responded to a critical yet often neglected health need, while participant-led performances on domestic violence, gender inequality, and family struggles transformed the stage into a space of advocacy and truth-telling. Testimonies, including that of a young girl striving to continue her education, grounded the event in lived realities.

Skill development remained a central outcome here as well: Sr. Mercy awarded certificates to women completing long-term training programs, reinforcing a consistent Good Shepherd strategy—linking awareness with employability and self-reliance.

These International Women’s Day events simultaneously addressed dignity, rights, livelihood, health, and social transformation. Across all locations, the events reached hundreds of marginalized women, many of whom accessed such platforms for the first time. Rooted in the vision of St. Mary Euphrasia, these initiatives demonstrate a clear trajectory: from gathering women, to equipping them, to enabling them to act.

Celebrations across the Good Shepherd mission in India did not simply honor women—they advanced their capacity to shape their own futures.

Discover more about the Good Shepherd mission in Central East India Nepal here and in Southwest India here.