Omega Resilience Awards

????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ????????????????????, ????????????????????, ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????, ???????????? ??? During our recent ORA Fellowship meeting, we had the profound opportunity to visit ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????? located in the Albertine region of Uganda. This visit was not just an eye-opener but a heart-opener, as we engaged with the incredible ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????—indigenous groups whose stories of resilience and resistance are nothing short of inspiring. These communities are courageously combating the illegal repossession of their land, a struggle intensified by the presence of big oil companies seeking to mine crude oil in the region. Despite these challenges, the Banyoro and Bakiga are standing firm, advocating for their rights, and protecting their ancestral lands. Their determination is a testament to the power of unity and grassroots activism. But their efforts don’t stop there. ?? In the face of climate change, these communities are pioneering innovative ????????-???????????????? ?????????????????? to promote green economic solutions. From ???????????? ???????????????????? to solar-powered dryers for farm products, they are leading the way in sustainable living. These initiatives are not just about survival—they are about empowerment, resilience, and creating a future where local communities thrive despite adversity. As we reflect on this experience, we are reminded of the critical role indigenous communities play in environmental conservation and climate action. Their knowledge, practices, and voices are essential in the global fight against climate change. This is why events like ??????30 set to be held in Brazil, are so important. With a focus on indigenous peoples, COP30 will be a pivotal moment to amplify their voices and ensure their inclusion in climate solutions. Let’s stand in solidarity with the Banyoro, Bakiga, and all indigenous communities worldwide. ?? Their stories remind us that resilience is not just about surviving challenges but about transforming them into opportunities for growth and empowerment. #IndigenousRights #ClimateAction #COP30 #Sustainability #Resilience #GreenEconomy #CommunityEmpowerment #ORA Fellowship #Uganda #AlbertineRegion #ClimateJustice #AgroCulture #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #Biogas #LandRights #Solidarity Omega Resilience Awards Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Health of Mother Earth Foundation Together, we can support and amplify the voices of those on the frontlines of climate change and land rights. ????

In the aftermath of catastrophic crises in Africa, such as the floods from Storm Daniel in Libya and the ongoing Sudan conflict, a silent crisis unfolds. Women and girls find themselves internally displaced, facing the harsh intersection of climate disaster and civil unrest. Yet, amidst these challenges, dignity kits have emerged as vital lifelines that offer both physical and psychological support. They serve as emergency supplies and tools of empowerment, helping with self-care and resilience as they navigate unprecedented times. Learn more on how Tatenda Jane Dzvarai- BA, BSS (Hons), MPhil, an ORA Africa 2023 Fellow is empowering women in Libya and Sudan: https://lnkd.in/gSDU8ccv #DignityKits #Polycrisis #Resilience #Empowerment Mark Valentine Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Health of Mother Earth Foundation Nnimmo Bassey Engr. OduduAbasi Asuquo Commonweal

On International Data Privacy Day, ORA India Fellow, Srinivas Kodali tells us that ‘privacy is dignity’. As a civic hacker who is also part of citizen communities, Srinivas?imagines different futures for technology that can bring social change and freedoms for society. Manisha Gupta Rachel Thomas Divya Nissi Swati Awasthy Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Omega Resilience Awards Kalpana Viswanath pooja sood Arunkumar H G Divya Varma jacinta kerketta Ritesh Gohiya #dataprivacy??#citizendata??#hacktivist?#ORAfellowship?#polycrisis

We're excited to contribute in the year-end edition of the Alliance magazine. The theme, The New Economy, is centered around narratives of sustainability and justice in increasingly uncertain times.?Featured in this edition is our piece on the polycrisis that talks about pathways for philanthropy to champion resilience. The article is based on our research report, Rays of Light: Navigating the Polycrisis and Philanthropy in India.?The research uncovers lessons of hope and resilience from India, applicable to Majority World contexts. The publication is out today! We are grateful to our key collaborators, Omega Resilience Awards and Start Up! for supporting this research journey, and creating space for narratives of hope and resilience. ? Anushka Dias | Ami Misra ? Link to the full report: https://lnkd.in/d8uvTxgd #Philanthropy #Dasra #AllianceMagazine #Polycrisis #India #Publication

Solidarity, interconnectedness, and collective imagination: these themes held the ORA India cohort two Fellows together as they traveled into the rainforests of the Western Ghats for their retreat. The ORA Fellows were hosted for five memorable days in the village of Dombekoppa by the SARA Centre. SARA is an inspiring community-owned space of art and ecology set up by ORA Fellow Arun Kumar. From treks in the rarest of rare, primeval freshwater forest swamps?to walks through organic farms, the ORA India Fellows engaged in immersive conversations on the interconnections between personal, community, and ecological resilience. They spoke with progressive farmers, local intellectuals, and cultural icons of the region on creativity, sustainability, and staying grounded. The five days were filled with poetry, music, and film screenings, leading to silence, laughs, tears, and warm embraces. Thank you, team SARA, for your warmth, hospitality, and unparalleled cuisine. Photo courtesy: the ORA India Fellows and SARA Centre Omega Resilience Awards Arunkumar H G Srinivas Kodali Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli Divya Varma jacinta kerketta Ritesh Gohiya Manisha Gupta Swati Awasthy Divya Nissi Rachel Thomas Anisha George Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Oren Slozberg Kalpana Viswanath pooja sood Khoj International Artists Association Sushmit Ghosh Pradip Saha Commonweal SHEDO Sansthan SARA(Sustainable Alternatives for Rural Accord) Work Fair and Free #ora #orafellowship #orafellows #polycrisis #resilience #fellowship

Story boards of growth. Time traveling into the future of our ideas. Conversations with grassroots public intellectuals. Circles of friendship by the forest. The ORA Fellows retreat at the SARA Centre in the Western Ghats belt led to deep discussions on resilience, imagination, and creative life force. We spoke of interconnections between resilient leaders, communities, and environments. The Fellows spoke of the imagination that will be needed to generate grassroots narratives, ground-up knowledge, and innovation to address the polycrisis. Fellows also got to create their journey maps and strategy pathways for their models. Start Up! is the India anchor for the Omega Resilience Awards (ORA) - an initiative of Commonweal, Bolinas. Manisha Gupta Omega Resilience Awards Srinivas Kodali Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli Divya Varma jacinta kerketta Ritesh Gohiya Swati Awasthy Rachel Thomas Anisha George Divya Nissi Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Oren Slozberg Kalpana Viswanath pooja sood Khoj International Artists Association Sushmit Ghosh Pradip Saha Commonweal SHEDO Sansthan SARA(Sustainable Alternatives for Rural Accord) Work Fair and Free Arunkumar H G #fellowship #oraindia #orafellowship #community #polycrisis #imagination #collaboration

Applications are now open for the Omega Resilience Awards – Africa (ORA – A) Fellowship Programme for the 2025 cohort. Applications are invited from visionaries, activists, academics, artists, IT specialists, communicators, organisers and public intellectuals involved in movements or struggles that highlight opportunities for creating a more resilient world and future in the face of the global polycrisis. Application Deadline: 15th February 2025 https://lnkd.in/dH--QK_5 Omega Resilience Awards

We are stepping into the new year emboldened by the power and energy of the partnerships we forged last year. In 2025, we hope to foster new partners while continuing to deepen our circle of existing friends. Atiya Bose Aangan Trust Pavitra Mohan EnAble India Shanti Raghavan Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Kalpana Viswanath Safetipin Mukti Bosco Healing Fields Foundation Manisha Ghule Kalike an initiative of Tata Trusts Talash Society Omega Resilience Awards Manisha Gupta Divya Nissi Anisha George Rachel Thomas Swati Awasthy #partnership #collaboration

What does ‘resilience’ mean for communities who find themselves in the hotbeds of the polycrisis? Can there be a dark side to resilience? What words, idioms, and connotations do local languages hold for the term resilience? Who is best placed to build narratives of community resilience? How do art, literature, and poetry speak of resilience? These were the themes of a free-flowing, generative conversation at the ORA Ideas Adda. ORA India Fellows, Advisors, Research Partners, and the ORA team met at the beautiful Khoj Studio for an immersive conversation on Narratives of Resilience, moderated masterfully by Gouran Dhawan Lall. We were moved to tears, listened deeply, and laughed with joy. The intimate and immersive conversation was the perfect grounding before opening up to the large and public ORA Ideas Festival. Click on the pictures to experience the energy and camaraderie of the ORA Ideas Adda (The mural of ORA Fellows was designed by our design partner Studio Eksaat) Omega Resilience Awards Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava Nandini Velho Sarika Panda Bhatt She/Her Farmer Samir Bordoloi Ruhani Kaur Shweta Bhattad gram art project Arunkumar H G Srinivas Kodali Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli Divya Varma jacinta kerketta Ritesh Gohiya Manisha Gupta Swati Awasthy Divya Nissi Rachel Thomas Anisha George Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Oren Slozberg Kalpana Viswanath pooja sood Khoj International Artists Association Pranshu Singhal Sushmit Ghosh Pradip Saha Studio Eksaat Ami Misra Anushka Dias Neichute Doulo Neikule Doulo Samira Gupta Dhritiman Deb Pillai #conversation #adda #resilience #grassroots #narratives #communities #polycrisis #oraindia #exhibition

Thank you, friends, partners, and mentors, for your participation, enthusiasm, and appreciation for the ORA Ideas Festival. All of us at ORA (Omega Resilience Awards) India are overwhelmed by your response to the festival. We couldn’t have asked for a better and more engaged audience. Khoj - the beautiful venue - was packed and bustling with your energy and warmth. It was a joy to witness nonprofit leaders, funders, artists, filmmakers, journalists, students, dancers, musicians, and academicians engage with and celebrate the work of the 14 amazing ORA India Fellows. Stay tuned for more posts on the ORA Ideas Festival. For now, we wish to convey our heart-filled gratitude to each one of you who came and made the Festival so special! Omega Resilience Awards Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava Nandini Velho Sarika Panda Bhatt She/Her Farmer Samir Bordoloi Ruhani Kaur Shweta Bhattad gram art project Arunkumar H G Srinivas Kodali Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli Divya Varma jacinta kerketta Ritesh Gohiya Manisha Gupta Swati Awasthy Divya Nissi Rachel Thomas Anisha George Mark Valentine Andrea Frey Susan Grelock Yusem Stanley Wu Oren Slozberg Kalpana Viswanath pooja sood Khoj International Artists Association Pranshu Singhal Sushmit Ghosh Pradip Saha Studio Eksaat Ami Misra Anushka Dias Neichute Doulo Neikule Doulo #gratitude #resilience #grassroots #narratives #communities #polycrisis #oraindia #exhibition