South Asia:
June 2017 Update

SFL South Asia

MAY & JUNE 2017 UPDATE

The newly appointed Executive Board of South Asia spent the month of May undertaking their Leadership Training at the SFL Academy. At the end of the month, on May 27 and 28, the Executive Board Retreat was held in the beautiful district of Alapuzha in Kerala. The scenic beauty of the place, and the serenity of the sea only added to the super charged Executive Board of 2017-18. The strategic plans for the upcoming year were laid down, keeping in mind the ever growing number of applications for the Local Coordinator Program which we were receiving side by side. Additionally, South Asia decided to take up a mixed structure for the Executive Board this year, which includes Tracks as well as Regional Directors.

The following is a brief description of the roles and responsibilities which have been taken up by the members of the Executive Board:

Executive Board Chairman: Abeed Khader

Chairman Abeed Khader

Regional Directors:

• Delhi – Kunal Kundra
• Hyderabad – Sougandhi Bogupally
• Nepal – Sikshya Bhattarai
• Developing Regions – Dhanya Mallar

Tracks:

• Partnerships and Funding – Gaurab Dahal (Supported by EB Chair)
• Digital Activism – Kiran Nair and Ashank Upadhyay
• Communications – Bhanvi Satija (Supported by Staff)
• Event – Naina Jindal and Ayemen Fatima
• Academics and Research – Avadhoot Potnis, Partha Valluri and Ashank Upadhyay

The month of June was also full of excitement for South Asia. After receiving about 600 applications for the Local Coordinator Program 2017-18, including applications from new regions from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh as well as Sri Lanka; we closed the applications and began interviewing the applicants. After conducting interviews in the first week, a total of 222 applicants were enrolled in the Local Coordinator Academic Training, which has been designed by the new Chairs of Academics and Research keeping the unique South Asian perspective on liberty in mind. The training started off in full swing and will continue throughout the month of June and July, at the end of which the Executive Board will recruit the new Local Coordinators.

Alongside the excitement, the month of June also included interviews for a new Programs Manager for South Asia – and while we are excited to know who it will be, our outgoing Associate Programs Manager Shree Agnihotri, will be dearly missed. Shree’s energy and positivity have been contagious to the Executive Board. Describing her contributions in the past one year as Associate Manager, as “significant” will be an understatement, for her role in the growth of the region has been crucial.