Program Manager, Bal Kalyan Sangh Shivani Priya is a lawyer and a Program Manager at Bal Kalyan Sangh, where she works to protect the rights of children in Jharkhand, focusing on issues like unsafe migration and trafficking. She is a passionate advocate for the rights of girls and women who have been victims of trafficking, believing in the importance of … Read More
Ajay Kumar
Co-Founder and Secretary, Pratigya Ajay Kumar is the Co-Founder and Secretary of Pratigya and has demonstrated strong leadership and dedication to social causes. With over 16 years of experience in the social sector and 20 years in academia, he has spearheaded impactful campaigns against child trafficking and child marriage in Jharkhand, while also building capacity on gender-responsive approaches in government … Read More
Sanjeev Kumar Bhagat
Director, Lok Kalyan Seva Kendra Sanjeev Kumar Bhagat is a dedicated social activist for sustainable development. He currently serves as a Director at Lok Kalyan Seva Kendra where he advocates for the fundamental rights of marginalized communities. Sanjeev has a postgraduate degree in science and his work has been recognized by the local community for sustainable development in the social … Read More
Kaleshwar Mandal
Advocacy Coordinator, Society for Advancement in Tribes, Health, Education and Environment (SATHEE) Kaleshwar Mandal is the Advocacy Coordinator at the Society for Advancement in Tribes, Health, Education and Environment (SATHEE) where he works on tribal self-governance and improving the rights of children. Kaleshwar focuses on advocacy with local systems, CBOs and policy makers and is dedicated to grounding policy and … Read More
Ghulam Murtaza Ansari
Project Coordinator, Society for Participatory Action Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Ghulam Murtaza Ansari is the Project Coordinator at Society for Participatory Action Research and Knowledge (SPARK), where he focuses on domestic workers’ issues, trafficking, and gender-based violence. Ghulam has completed his MBA. Rise Up Cohort: Jharkhand, India 2024
Strengthening a Global Movement Through Connection
In order to help advance the global movement for gender equity and justice, we prioritize building and maintaining strong connections among the 800+ Rise Up Leaders around the world. Rise Up’s Leadership & Advocacy Accelerator training program is followed by opportunities for local leaders to come together in-person to nurture meaningful connections, share their advocacy progress, and discover new perspectives … Read More
15 Stories of Global Impact to Inspire
If you want to know the heart of Rise Up’s story, look no further than our global network of visionary local leaders and organizations. This year, in honor of Rise Up’s 15th anniversary, we had the opportunity to reflect on and share the stories of 15 awe-inspiring leaders who have committed their lives to creating change. You can find these … Read More
Commemorating Pride with Progress
Rise Up is celebrating Pride this month by shining a spotlight on dedicated Rise Up Leaders who are advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and protections in countries around the world. The Pride movement, catalyzed by the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, serves as a celebration of diversity and a call to action for the ongoing fight to advance equity … Read More
RU Leader Arely Westley Wins Prestigious Human Rights Award
Rise Up Leader Arely Westley received this year’s Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. For more than 40 years, the prestigious award has been given to outstanding activists and organizations all over the world. The award “identifies and honors those who embody Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s belief that the power of individual moral courage can overcome injustice.” Arely was recognized … Read More
What does it mean to travel differently?
By: Dr. Denise Raquel Dunning, Rise Up Founder & Executive Director I recently spent a week in Guatemala with Rise Up’s Leadership Council on a trip led by Jodi Morris, a longtime supporter and Council member. This annual trip is an immersive opportunity for current and prospective Leadership Council members to see Rise Up’s work in Guatemala first-hand. I lived … Read More
