Social Media Campaign- Respect Women

MyMitra.com is an online matchmaking startup. I am the co-founder and C.E.O. In the optional essay let me talk about a campaign we are running in India and which I am passionate about.

In wake of the shocking incident of rape of a paramedical student occurred in Delhi (India) on Dec 2012, we at MyMitra.com felt we had to take part and enable change in Indian society. We knew that MyMitra.com has unique strengths that could help society. Our user base is collection of young, well educated men and women from universities around the world. A voice of support from us would definitely add strength to the change sweeping across the country. To this end, we began the “Respect women” campaign- http://www.facebook.com/MyMitra.RespectWomen, aimed at bringing about equal opportunities for women in education and in workplace.

This February 14th, MyMitra.com along with the Goa Institute of Management organized events at the Caculo Mall (Goa), to highlight issues pertaining to women and to raise social awareness amongst people. We began with a flash mob performance. The enchanting display drew a sizable crowd. The video of the event can be viewed at this link (It is a slightly long video- more than 4 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtSe_FLn4GA

Student performers from GIM caught the attention of the Mall Visitors at the Caculo Mall, Panaji Goa on Feb 14-2013.

The flash mob performance set the stage for us to spread important social messages and raise awareness on important issues facing women in society.

Street play performance asking society to stop being blind and open up to real issues of empowerment and equality and inclusion faced by women.

Volunteers performing on the occasion, bringing forward message of hope and change.

We got a large audience at the mall to take notice and spend time thinking on important issues that face us today. While it’s easy to look at the incident at Delhi in isolation, the true picture is a society that consistently discriminates on basis of gender. The “Respect women” campaign questions the daily discrimination that we have institutionalized into the moral fabric of our lives. True equality comes from understanding and respecting the everyday actions of women; creating an environment that nourishes and advances their growth and development in society.

We believe the message was conveyed effectively & we had enthusiastic members from the crowd come over and voice their support for the cause.

Participants and visitors come together to express solidarity with the cause.

We began “Respect women” campaign to highlight pertinent issues related to women. We brought forward issues of gender violence, discrimination and lopsided social justice. We also highlighted stories of hope, success and acts of kindness and justice taken up by society. Throughout our campaign we worked with many NGOs and with young women and men, who have incredible passion and energy. We have come to realize that while changes may not be immediate, the future for India is clear and bright.

Organizing committee team:

Vibin Aravindakshan C.E.O, MyMitra.com

Vinod Aravindakshan- C.M.O, MyMitra.com

Rajat Bhasin- Goa Institute of Management student and MyMitra intern.