14th February 2016
One Billion Rising Fest
On V-Day, 14th February 2016, more than 100 young boys and girls from diverse backgrounds came together to end Sexual Violence on Public Places!
In collaboration with Navrachna University, Foram Foundation, ActionAid, Medica Mondiale Afghanistan and Germany and MSU, we celebrated mutual love and respect so that everyone can move freely and fearlessly no matter where, when or how! Our event started with a Flashmob, moving from MSU Boys’ Hostel to Saffron Circle. The performance was followed by a street play on the issue of Sexual Violence on Public Places, which was written and rehearsed by students from MS University.
The overwhelming spirit of the participants reached the bystanders and has definitely put a spark in their minds towards the issue of Sexual Violence on Public Places.
9th February 2016
Interactive Preparatory Workshop for OBR Fest 2016
On 9th February 2016, Olakh in association with Navrachna University, Medica Mondiale, ActionAid and Foram Foundation organised an Interactive Preparatory Workshop for the One Billion Rising Fest on 14th February 2016.
More than 90 enthusiastic participants from diverse backgrounds – including our Afghan and German friends from ‘Medica Mondiale’ – were introduced to the issue of Sexual Violence on Public Places as well as the global One Billion Rising campaign.
A highlight of the workshop was the mutual exchange of concerns, experiences and ideas. It underlined the striking need to take action against Sexual Violence on Public Places.
The workshop’s outcome was that often we are silent and ignorant of the everyday occurrence of sexual violence.
In a trustful atmosphere many participants came forward to share personal experiences such as:
“While I was travelling in a Volvo bus an older man was purposely putting his hand in such a way that it was touching me.”
“While travelling in rickshaws, I have seen male travellers touching unknown girls in unpleasant ways.”
“I have seen a girl being kidnapped by boys in a shopping street. The girl was screaming for help but no one paid attention.”
“I was followed by two men and they were trying to touch me. “
Olakh’s Calendar 2016
In solidarity with the global ‘One Billion Rising campaign’, Olakh has come out with its Calendar 2016. The Calendar portrays our vision to make public places free from sexual violence so that every wo_man and girl can move freely and fearlessly no matter where, when and how!
As part of our efforts to create awareness and to initiate people to act, Olakh’s Calendar 2016 was printed. It comprises creative approaches, facts and tips on the issue of sexual violence in public places.
Throughout the participatory design process, involved artists, students, volunteers and many others started to develop a strong sensitivity towards common depictions of wo_men. They ended up in profound discussions about political correctness in their own illustrations.
In order to make the calendar comprehensible for everyone, the content is written in both English and Gujarati.
Contact us to get your personal copy for a contribution of Rs. 100!
17th December 2015: In Solidarity with Nirbhaya Day
Vadodara Premiere of ‘Kajarya’
Imagine the front row of an auditorium: renowned persons of Vadodara, our sisters from the slums, physically challenged women and our third gender friends sitting next to each other without any inhibitions, laughing and applauding together throughout the movie.
We organized the Vadodara Premiere of ‘Kajarya’, a mainstream movie on female infanticide and the social discrimination all Indian wo_men face in their lives. An audience of over 600 people from diverse social and professional backgrounds, among them Madhureeta Anand (Filmmaker ‘Kajarya’), Abha Bhaiya (National Coordinator, OBR) and other inspiring personalities, was present to be part of the ‘Kajarya’ journey.
The audience got a chance to
interact with Madhureeta and other panelists during a subsequent discussion in which well thought questions such as “What is the role of the system towards the issue of female infanticide?” were asked.
With regards to the overwhelmingly positive feedback and our aim to raise awareness for the issues which were brought up in the movie, more than ever we feel that it is important to bring the movie across Gujarat to diverse and marginalized groups, especially reaching out to the poor and uneducated.
10th December 2015: World Human Rights Day
Interactive Installation ‘Walk in Her Shoes’
“I am a university student and in my four years I have seen
what [kind of harassment] certain groups are capable of.”
– Male participant of the public discussion
In cooperation with CSR Connext, we set up the interactive installation “Walk in Her Shoes“ on two locations in Vadodara in order to raise awareness for sexual violence in public places.
The event involved members of the public engaging in a life-size Snakes and Ladders game displaying 
experiences of and tips to tackle sexual violence at public places. A ‘Footstep-Installation’, spread out on the walk, quoted victims of street harassment as well as findings from our Pilot Study on the Perception of Women’s safety in Vadodara, such as
“More than 50% wo_men in Vadodara either avoid going out alone after dark
or change their route while going out in public places.”
The installation generated a much needed public discussion with varied responses: Some participants of the debate created disruption, intentionally destroyed parts of our installation they considered as “obscene” or “untru
e” and even claimed that Olakh is “just trying to give the city a bad name […]. My wife and sister can walk on this street even at 11 pm”. Whereas others – including young and old men – were coming forward to take a stand for us. With gumption some women shared their experiences with the gathered crowd, asserting that “there is no denying that incidents of harassment take place here [in Vadodara] on a regular basis. […] Today I can’t walk alone after 7.30 pm. […] Yes, I AM A VICTIM OF EVE TEASING!”
Incidents and confessions like these reinforce and prove our conviction that even though Gujarat is considered to be one of the safest states to live in India there is still a long way to go to make Vadodara truly safe for wo_men and girls – especially with regards to people’s mind-set.
Nevertheless, it was empowering to see how many Barodians – across gender and age groups – supported our cause.
30th November 2015: South Asian Women’s Day for Peace, Justice, Human Rights and Democracy
‘Light your Lamp of Peace’
“Peace for me is breaking the wall between You and I, Them and Us. 
We need to celebrate our diversity rather than creating new divides.”
– Olakh volunteer
In solidarity with wo_men’s groups across South Asia, 20 young activists came together at the Olakh office to share their vision of a peaceful and just society and their perception of what everyone of us can do to create such a world. Together we pledged for peace since – using Mahatma Gandhi’s words – you have to “be the
change that you wish to see in the world”.
“I promise – Never to abuse, hit, isolate, insult or trivialize any wo_man and girl.Never to remain silent when violence is inflicted on me or others. To intervene wherever and whenever I see or hear about violence being committed.”
– Pledge for Peace, 2015
To pay a tribute to South Asian women feminists we ended the day with the symbolic lighting of candles, put up in a peace sign.
25th November 2015: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Wo_men
Charrette on ‘Proposing Design Ideas to make Public Places free from Sexual Vi
olence’
In November 2015, in cooperation with three colleges from Vadodara, Olakh organised its first Charrette, an intense discussion towards participatory planning and design activity. 50 architect students and our volunteers participated in our Charrette on proposing design ideas to make public places free from sexual violence.
Ironically an incident of street harassment happened to a group of female participants on the day itself. During our site walk the young students had to experience the unpleasant feeling of being sexually harassed in public.
“We were crossing the road and there were guys on bikes and they were shouting
‘Oh oye’ and they were staring and commenting on us.”
This eye-opening incident and following intense group talks about sexual violence underlined the issue and sensitized the numerous participants!
After presenting their fruitful and innovative design solutions, the participants thanked for “a totally different experience!” and the “great exposure”.
The rising interest of institutions across Gujarat and the encouragement from Olakh well-wishers have driven us to continue this work of developing and conducting gender-inclusive Urban Planning and Design modules with colleges and diverse groups across Gujarat.
Photography Competition
A photography competition “Give women’s safety a voice!” inviting entries for a safety exhibition during the seminar.
14th July 2015
Seminar and Workshop
National-level seminar “Reclaiming Public Places – Gender Inclusive Urban Planning and Design” to acknowledge the gravity of the issue of sexual violence in public places and a platform to brainstorm strategies with eminent experts, policy makers, activists, academicians, government representatives and concerned citizens.
Surveys and Focus Group Discussions
Pilot study from April to June 2015 to understand experiences/perceptions of safety and their relation to the physical characteristics of the places along with identifying unsafe spots.
14th November 2014
Walk ‘n’ Paint
A unique Children’s Day event to sensitize Barodians for a safe, secure and violence-free Baroda for children. A collaborative and inclusive event in which specially-abled and abled children participated in wall painting, singing, dancing and raising their voice loud and clear for zero tolerance to sexual violence.
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