Mahei Centre
A free skilling and economic generation centre for women, queer and trans*
Our History
A collaborative project by Matai Society and The Chinky Homo Project (TCHP), it was conceptualised as an economic response to COVID 19. Mahei Centre today, is a free skilling and economic generation centre for women, queer and trans* persons in Bishnupur district, Manipur, India started in 2019.
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Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and uplift marginalized and low-income communities.
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The Goals
To create an opportunity for women, queer and trans* persons in the region to access livelihood, build and strengthened livelihood skills and through it, achieve economic independence and greater agency in their community.
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Approach
Participatory, non-hierarchical and local centric.
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Our Value
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01 || Local leadership
We believe in local leadership that understand local struggles and aspirations. Community movements shaped by local leaders also inspire wider participation of locals.
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02 || Collaboration
Collaboration at local levels as well as with regional and global communities are crucial in building solidarity, creating equitable opportunities and inclusive learning.
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03 || Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity within women, queer and trans spectrum is often overlooked and therefore inclusion of the diverse identities are crucial in the community work.
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Meet The Team
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Haobijam Dianarose
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Meghajit Sharma Shijagurumayum
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Moirangthem Rohana
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Kumam Davidson Singh
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Wangkhem Jackson
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Pavel Sagolshem
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Funding and Partnership
01 || Wantok Grant, 2019-2020
The Wantok Grant is for Mutual Aid initiatives led by women and non-binary human rights activists. The grant aims to support the activists and the communities build trusted
relationships and strengthen their own webs of safety, protection and care through COVID responses for the wider communities that go beyond their immediate communities
of activists and their families and that contribute to structural changes towards better public and social services to their communities.
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02 || Kalama Mutual Aid, 2021-2022
Kalama Mutual Aid is a collective that aims to cultivate community solidarity and fight economic inequality at the root by normalizing consistent redistribution and political
education.
Though its “Pride Month Fundraiser for Mahei Centre” Kalama raised 1,25,000 INR in 2022 to help the Centre continue its work during post COVID period.
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03 || Kolkata Direct Aid Program
Sangath (iHEAR) and Mahei Centre through the Kolkata Direct Aid Program: 2023-24, a small grants program from the Australian Consulate-General in Kolkata that supports
development projects in India, implement a one year aim to strengthen the capacity of Mahei Centre.
The project creates a cohort of individuals who can provide peer mental health support, and skill-training to build psychological and economic resilience in the queer-trans
community in Manipur besides sustaining the work done through the centre.
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TESTIMONIES
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“The Centre is addressing the need for economic empowerment in ways that respect individual agency and advance locally appropriate solutions, rather than an externally driven “one size fits all” approach”. Its “non-hierarchical structure” and “solidarity & allyship among women, trans* and queer persons” is well remarkable.” Solidarity for Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHII)
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02 ||
“The friendships, sharings and support here mean a lot to us. The kind of space and the conversations we have are very different from elsewhere. I have realised that being friends with trans* persons and gay guys is not only completely okay but also actually very light-hearted. We have learnt to accept and support each other.” Pushpa – former lead trainer at Mahei Centre
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“I am able to see myself as trainer/teacher which is a big thing for a transwoman like me in my locality where transwomen are mostly seen as drug abusers or HIV positive persons. This is a big achievement for me which has been possible because of my works in Mahei Centre, Matai Society and my own struggle. Mahei Centre has provided the right space for me that has given me respect and visibility.” Rohana – co-founder Mahei Centre.
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News:
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