The Ensuring Social Protection (ESP) project successfully organised a two-day Regional Workshop on Right to Work, at Navajyothis Renewal Centre in Kozhikode, Kerala, bringing together 49 participants from Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The workshop was attended by members of the ESP National Team, State Teams, and staff from partner organisations, creating a valuable platform for learning, collaboration, and regional networking.
The workshop commenced with a warm welcome by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ, National Director, who set the tone for two days of collaborative learning and shared purpose. Throughout the workshop, he remained actively engaged with participants, making everyone feel welcomed, valued, and connected, fostering a spirit of unity that carried through the programme.
An interactive ice-breaker marked the beginning of the workshop, where participants paired with someone from another state, got to know each other, and introduced their partners to the group. The activity was enthusiastically received and helped build meaningful connections across organisations and states.
The first day focused on the evolving Right to Work framework, including discussions on the transition from MGNREGA to the VB-GRAM-G framework, implementation challenges, and state-level experiences. Participants also explored findings from the National Study on Primary Health Centres (PHCs), highlighting critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and services. The day concluded with a session on the Child Safeguarding Policy, which emphasised the importance of creating safe and accountable environments for children and vulnerable communities.
The evening featured a vibrant cultural programme where participants from Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh presented traditional dances and songs in their regional languages. The performances celebrated cultural diversity while strengthening friendships and fostering a deeper sense of unity among participants.
The second day centred on strengthening advocacy skills through sessions on strategic advocacy, lobbying, and drafting effective representations, memorandums, and briefing notes. Following the lunch break, participants were introduced to the newly launched ESP Website and the new ESP visual identity. The session demonstrated the platform’s features and encouraged partner organisations to contribute stories and updates from the field.
The workshop concluded with a collaborative planning exercise, where each state team developed action plans outlining priorities, timelines, and strategies for strengthening Right to Work initiatives over the coming months. The plans were presented in a plenary session, encouraging cross-learning and future collaboration.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Rahul Singh, National Coordinator, whose technical sessions drew upon extensive field experience. He also presented the National Study on PHCs, the result of months of dedicated research and analysis. Sr. Ruby Mary Kujur, Program Officer, coordinated the overall programme and logistics, while the Kerala host team—Fr. Shin K. F., State Coordinator, and Mr. Arun Raj, State Level Trainer—played a pivotal role in planning and executing the event. Their tireless efforts in coordinating accommodation, hospitality, participant support, and venue management ensured the workshop ran smoothly from start to finish.
Ms. Aleena Biju, Associate Program Officer, presented the ESP website, introduced the new ESP logo, and explained the process for sharing field stories. She, alongside Mr. Abhijith V. K. of AADI, Attappady, also documented the workshop and provided technical support throughout the event, ensuring that the proceedings were comprehensively recorded.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ, who thanked all participants and partner organisations for their active engagement and encouraged them to carry forward the learnings into their work. The Regional Workshop successfully combined technical learning, practical skill-building, collaborative planning, and cultural exchange, further strengthening cooperation among partner organisations working towards securing the rights and entitlements of vulnerable communities.