INDIA is one of the most forward-thinking countries when it comes to recognising non-binary genders, especially compared to many ‘progressive’ Western nations. Prior to colonial rule, mainstream society and religion accepted hijras, the term commonly used in South Asia to describe intersex or transgender individuals, as normal for centuries. Steps taken India’s constitution, in theory, protects against gender discrimination. Yet, in practise,...

CHANGE leaders do great things, and often that is all we know about them. Here we want to get a different glimpse of the personalities that constitute the development space. Every month we get one leader to answer four questions, not necessarily about their work, but about themselves. This week we catch up with Tejshvi Jain, Founder-Director of ReReeti.  For many,...

By CHIRAG MALKANI ---- BONO, the rockstar and activist, acknowledges the power of celebrity, saying: “It's silly, but it's a kind of currency, and you have to spend it wisely.” That is, if you spend it at all. Yes, there are famous personalities who, like Bono, have aligned themselves to social causes - but are there enough of them, especially in India? News of Shah Rukh...

AS a donor, do you have a preconceived notion of what your giving experience should look like? In today’s culture of instant gratification, many want instant recognition of their gift. While it is heart-warming to see the appreciation of the person you are helping and watch them immediately benefit from warm socks or food, does this type of giving...

LEWIS PUGH, a name you’ve probably never heard, is one of the most important unsung heroes of our planet. Gifted with the ability to raise his natural body heat prior to jumping into freezing waters, he uses his superpower to draw attention to looming environmental crises. At just 17 years old, he began his quest to protect the Earth’s oceans...

CHANGE leaders do great things, and often that is all we know about them. Here we want to get a different glimpse of the personalities that constitute the development space. Every month we get one leader to answer four questions, not necessarily about their work, but about themselves. This week we catch up with Maitreyee Kumar, executive director and...

By AARTI MADHUSUDAN ---- IT was 42 degrees. The sun was beating down with a vengeance at 12 noon. I was late to pick up my son from his playgroup. He was a two and a half year old reluctant nursery goer. I couldn't run any faster from the end of the road where all traffic had stopped due to an...

LetzChange proudly announces a three-month internship programme for willing and deserving candidates who are in search of a sturdy foundation to start building their careers upon. LetzChange is hosting this programme with the aim of nurturing young talent and shaping them into confident individuals who prove to be valuable assets to any organization they work for, in the future. This...

DO you recall those ads where a woman is seen either in the kitchen or doing the laundry? Of course, you do! Ad campaigns for products that have anything to do with household chores inevitably feature, er, women. Be it a dish wash soap or a fairness cream, stereotypical characters are all too familiar - the ads mirror the society we live in. Being one of...

KERALA is known to most of us for its touristy tagline, “God’s own country”. It is a sought after holiday destination to either cruise the backwaters or lounge on the palm tree-lined beaches of the Arabian Sea. However, more notably, in recent years it has made waves in the development arena for its ability to achieve growth and improve...