The initiative ‘Empowering Women and Girls as Eco Changemakers’ is implemented in three different districts Khorda, Puri & Sundargarh districts of Odisha. A changing climate affects everyone, but women and girls bear the brunt of environmental, economic, and social shocks the most. However, women and girls are also early adopters of new adaptation techniques and important decision-makers at home about energy conservation and waste disposal. While women are more vulnerable to climate change, they are also effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation. They often have the inherent potential and sense of responsibilities in households and communities, which positions them well to adapt with the changing environmental realities. The intervention ‘Empowering Women & Girls as Eco Changemakers’ taps their unique ability as “drivers of solutions” by building their capacities which focuses on empowering them to integrate climate-smart solutions. It enables women to become climate enables through learning, adopting climate change solutions and demonstrating the impact and spearhead their work in larger communities. The initiative also has included indigenous women utilizing their traditional knowledge and practices in the implementation approach.

This two-year program has reached 21,544 women and adolescent girls in the urban areas of Khorda, coastal communities of Puri, and forest-fringed regions of Sundargarh, with 2,739 trained as Environment Champions. Integrated with Gap Inc.’s Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement (P.A.C.E.) program, it introduces an innovative environmental module, designed to provide actionable knowledge on environmental challenges and promote independent action. By empowering women and girls, HBT aims to make them leaders in the fight against climate change, while also promoting gender equality and stronger communities.