Our Inspiration and Icon
“Ordinary women can trigger extraordinary changes. My vision is to create an ecosystem that empowers women at grassroot enabling to move from margin to mainstream, transforming not only their lives but their community, their villages and society โ for the betterโ
ย
– Prema Gopalan.
Ms. Prema Gopalan established Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in 1998. She was a firm believer in the power of women to shift boundaries and mindsets.
Little did she know, she was setting in motion a movement that would spread across India. A movement that is inspiring rural women to step out of their homes, shrug off archaic notions of self, & carve new identities as entrepreneurs, farmers, & community leaders.
โSakhisโ as she lovingly called these women, are impacting every facet of their society today. With a strong vision of a developed community, they are battling issues of agriculture, water, health, nutrition, & civic leadership, to create thriving models of development.
Premaโs intrinsic belief in women’s leadership garnered worldwide interest & acknowledgment. In a glittering career spanning three decades, she received several national & international awards. She was the recipient of the 2021 Women Transforming India Award, NITI Aayogโs flagship initiative.
Prema leaves behind an immense legacy. She also leaves behind women leaders who embody her work, her values, & her spirit.
Late Mr. Nadarajan V.C. was a dedicated management consultant and a guiding force in the fields of rural finance, livelihoods, and enterprise since 1992. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and TNAU Coimbatore, he brought together deep academic insight and on-ground experience to his work.
Early in his career, he served as an officer with Indian Overseas Bank and as a development professional with PRADAN, New Delhi. Also he was the Board Member of the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Tamil Nadu, which is committed to build community institutions around traditional wisdom to empower the poor and vulnerable communities for sustainable development.
He was a valued Board Member of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), where his wisdom and strategic thinking left a lasting impact. His loss is deeply felt, and his contributions will continue to inspire us.
He was a dedicated management consultant & a guiding force in the fields of rural finance, livelihoods, & enterprise since 1992. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad & TNAU Coimbatore, he brought together deep academic insight & on-ground experience to his work.
Early in his career, he served as an officer with Indian Overseas Bank and as a development professional with PRADAN, New Delhi. Also he was the Board Member of the Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Tamil Nadu, which is committed to build community institutions around traditional wisdom to empower the poor & vulnerable communities for sustainable development. Over the years, he became a trusted advisor to national & international development organizations as well as grassroots NGOs, offering his expertise in project & program management focused on rural transformation.
He was a valued Board Member of Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), where his wisdom & strategic thinking left a lasting impact. His loss is deeply felt, & his contributions will continue to inspire us.
Our Key Sectors
Our Initiatives
Key Awards Received By SSP
2024 : Community Excellence / Saksham Samudaya Award from the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) recognizes outstanding contributions towards community empowerment and development.
2022 : Global Center on Adaptation (GCA)โs Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2022 at COP27. SSP is one of the four organisations recognised for their work in leading climate change adaptation for vulnerable local communities.
2021 : NITI Aayogโs Women Transforming India Award
2018 : Social Entrepreneur of the Year India Award, awarded by Jubilant Bhartia Foundation and Schwab Foundation (WEF)
2017 : Winner of the Equator Prize declared by the UNDP from 806 nominations from 120 countries for its women led climate resilient agro-ecological farming model
Awards Received by Grassroots Women Leaders
Global Local Adaptation (CGA)โs
โLocal
Adaptation Award for
Capacity & Knowledge
(for the
Women Led Climate Resilient
Farming Model)โ at COP27
Awards Received by Grassroots Women Leaders
Global Local Adaptation (CGA)โs
โLocal
Adaptation Award for
Capacity & Knowledge
(for the
Women Led Climate Resilient
Farming Model)โ at COP27
Women Taking The Leads
SSP and IDBI Join Hands to Support Wayanad Landslide Victims
Visit by Heike Roschanski, India Desk Officer, Misereor on 18th November 2024, to Kumbhari village, Solapur District, Maharashtra
Our Women Leaders
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ: ๐๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ In Bhada village of Latur district, Maharashtra, Asmita Patilโs journey โฆ
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐: ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ In Kottathara village of Wayanad district, Kerala, Karthyayani Amma represents the quiet โฆ
๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก Bhagyashri grew up in poverty with dreams that were bigger than her circumstances. Married at โฆ
The organisation is committed to promote sustainable community development by
repositioning women as change makers and fostering collective leadership.
