Amplifying Community Voices: Two Days of Reflection, Strategy, and Renewed Commitment at the ACV Workshop

The Amplifying Community Voices (ACV) Consortium—supported by the Oak Foundation and led by eight grassroots organizations including Mukti—held a two-day review and planning workshop from April 28–29, 2025. The event brought together field mobilisers, community leaders, and key stakeholders working on child protection, gender-based violence, climate action, and community-led governance.

The workshop marked a milestone in the ACV journey that began in 2019 during the Oak Foundation’s initial mapping phase. Since then, the consortium has expanded to 8 Gram Panchayats and 157 community groups, reaching over 1 lakh people across the Sundarbans. This workshop offered a space to reflect, identify challenges, celebrate achievements, and envision the path ahead.

Day 1: Reflection and Thematic Dialogue

The event began with a light-hearted team-building activity where participants observed changes in each other—setting the tone for active engagement.

The ACV timeline was revisited, tracing its evolution from early field visits and community mobilization to crisis response during COVID-19 and Cyclone Amphan. These disruptions catalyzed deeper trust-building and participatory tools such as PVCA, social mapping, and vulnerability analysis.

Thematic breakout groups—Child Protection, Gender-Based Violence, Climate Adaptive Livelihoods, Climate Action, and Community-Led Governance—discussed their field experiences. Powerful narratives emerged: children challenging taboos, women negotiating with Panchayat leaders, and farmers adopting nature-based practices.

Key achievements included:

• 25,000+ mangroves planted (85% survival rate)
• 770 integrated farming units
• 600+ nutritional gardens
• A seed bank preserving indigenous crops
• 660+ women leading Women’s Day efforts
• Action against 35 gender-based violence
• 400+ adolescents in child rights campaigns
• 11 climate clubs promoting youth advocacy

Day 2: Challenges and Strategy

The second day focused on unpacking challenges and designing strategies. Groups shared obstacles—ranging from social resistance to dropout of community members.

In gender sessions, silence and pushback were addressed through “solidarity circles” and peer-led dialogues. Women’s Day efforts faced household opposition, countered by collective support.

Child protection teams navigated family resistance and menstrual taboos using safe spaces, storytelling, and engaging gatekeepers like mothers-in-law and teachers.

Climate livelihood groups tackled organic farming stereotypes, poor market access, and post-harvest issues through training, value chain development, and advocacy for indigenous seeds.

Shared Principles and the Road Ahead

The workshop reinforced the values that anchor ACV:

• Participation: From planning to police-sanctioned events, community ownership was evident
• Inclusion: Boys supporting girls in sports and plastic bans showed meaningful solidarity
• Sustainability: From poison-free farming to embankment restoration
• Governance: Every voice matters—from children to elderly farmers
• Rights-based Approach: Advocacy and rights awareness are now foundational

The event closed with renewed commitment to deepen community engagement through 2025—strengthening child leadership, activating local child protection structures, and refining policies for grassroots relevance.