By Fr Bento D'Souza & Ms Ankita Shelke for BIS Mumbai

Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra organised a CSO Review Meeting cum Refresher Training under the WELEAD – Women Empowerment and Leadership for Effective Administration and Development project on July 2, 2026. The programme brought together representatives from six partner Civil Society Organisations for a day of reflection, learning, sharing and renewed commitment towards strengthening women’s leadership at the grassroots level.

The WElead project focuses on empowering women to participate more actively in local governance, community development and decision-making processes. Through capacity-building efforts, leadership training, field engagement and networking among CSOs, the project aims to create a stronger platform for women, especially from rural and marginalised communities, to understand their rights, voice their concerns and contribute meaningfully to development processes.

The review meeting provided an opportunity for the participating CSOs to reflect on the progress made so far under the project. Representatives shared updates from their respective field areas, discussed the impact of ongoing activities and highlighted the challenges faced while working with communities. The discussions allowed participants to learn from each other’s experiences and understand different approaches used across project locations.

Along with the review, the refresher training helped participants revisit key concepts related to women’s empowerment, leadership, effective administration and community mobilisation. Such refresher sessions are important as they help field teams remain aligned with the larger vision of the project while strengthening their practical understanding of implementation. The training encouraged participants to view leadership not only as a position of authority, but as a process of participation, confidence-building, accountability and collective action.

The session also created space for open dialogue among the participants. Through group discussions, interactions and sharing of field experiences, the CSO representatives reflected on how women can be supported to take stronger roles in Gram Sabhas, local committees and community-level decision-making spaces. Participants also discussed the importance of documentation, follow-up, communication and coordination in making the project more effective and sustainable.

The presence of representatives from different partner organisations added richness to the meeting. Each participant brought their own field realities, learnings and insights, making the session more grounded and meaningful. The exchange of experiences helped strengthen the network of CSOs working together under the WElead project and reinforced the importance of collaboration in community development.

Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra believes that empowering women requires continuous engagement, training and support. Review meetings and refresher trainings are therefore not just administrative exercises, but important spaces for learning, motivation and collective growth. They help the team pause, reflect, assess progress and move ahead with greater clarity.

The programme is being implemented by Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra with the support of Don Bosco Mondo and BMZ. Through the WELEAD project, BGVK continues to work towards building leadership among women and strengthening civil society efforts for inclusive and participatory development.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to continue working together for women’s leadership, stronger communities and effective grassroots development.