Asia
Across six* countries in Asia, AJWS supports grassroots social change organizations fighting for the human rights of their communities. From feminist activists working to advance gender equality in India to Indigenous communities protecting their lands in Thailand — AJWS grantees work to build more equitable and just societies. *Two countries have been omitted to protect the security of our staff and grantees working in regions of intense political instability.
Supporting a persecuted Sri Lankan community through crisis after crisis
The Sri Lankan economic crisis that began in 2019 was so severe that, at one…
Activists Up Close: Meet Samreen, Who’s Empowering Women in India to Find Work and Follow Their Dreams
Samreen grew up Lucknow, India, in a household where her mother wasn’t allowed to do…
Alpa’s Journey: Becoming a rickshaw driver and challenging gender roles in India
For most of her life, 20-year-old Meriya Alpa Ramjibhai grew up doing what was expected…
Village vs. Coal Mine: Defending a sacred forest in Thailand
In the verdant, mountainous Omkoi district of Thailand, the Indigenous Karen community is gripped in…
Learning about technology, learning about themselves: Women build their own lives in India
Sadbhavana Trust’s Leadership, Gender and Technology program combines leadership training with digital and technical skills…
Activists Up Close: Meet Pisey, who’s Leading the Movement for Marriage Equality in Cambodia
Ly Pisey grew up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where LGBTQI+ people are alienated and pushed…
Quality education in India: A dream worth fighting for
Grassroots journalist Neeraj Gurjar reports on a workshop where 60 local girls gathered to network…
Kicking Harassment off the Bus: Indian Bus Drivers Learn to Stand Up for Female Passengers
Sanjay Jagtap has spent the past 25 years of his life as a public bus…
We Want Respect & Rights, Not Sympathy and Charity: Celebrating International Women’s Day in India
Pooja Gurjar is a young woman from Rajasthan. She was married off at the age…
From Victimization to Victory: An Indian judge rules against LGBTQI+ persecution
Earlier this year in Tamil Nadu, India, an LGBTQI+ couple battled homophobia in court—and won—making…
Thailand’s Transgender Trailblazer: Fighting for Trans Rights in ‘Paradise’
“You may have heard that Thailand is a paradise for transgender people. We have the…
An Oasis for the Queer Women’s Movement in Thailand’s Deep South
LGBTQI Thai people face discrimination and assaults on their basic human dignity. But one Thai…