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Pooja Yashodhare
Bengaluru
Bio
Pooja Yashodhare is a sex educator, content creator, and political activist from Karnataka. She graduated from Christ University and has worked with various grassroots organisations on gender and equity issues. Pooja creates sex education content on social media and conducts workshops. She’s an alumnus of the Indian School of Democracy and was involved in the ‘Wake up Karnataka’ civil society movement during the 2023 elections. Passionate about her mother tongue Kannada, she aims to provide resources and opportunities to local people in her state. Currently, she’s focused on making sex education accessible to Karnataka’s youth in their language through her initiative Aayke. She is currently pursuing the prestigeous Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University, she is one of the first set of the Chancellor's Merit Scholars among the most talented bunch of individuals who got selected to the program.
1 year ago
AAYKE - Educational Channel
Created educational content on YouTube and Instagram which got more than 8 Lakh views across platforms. The content was mainly focused on sexual health, rights, and gender sensitization for women. I also advocated for menstrual health and sustainable periods. Advocated for menstrual cups and cloth pads instead of use and throw pads. This was a start-up experience. I started my own team of production, paid for my friends to video shooting, hired a video editor and did content marketing. Started working in March and worked until end of April later got selected to PGD at Ashoka.
1 year ago
Yuva Munnade Campaign
I led Karnataka Yuva Munnade, a youth association as part of my leadership journey in Samvada, we conducted street campaigns, sang songs on road, conducted press conferences, gave interviews in many news reports. we had demanded Youth Empowerment Corporation from the Government, and the Karnataka government had agreed to make a youth budget in the year 2021 in press.
1 year ago
Lokalniti Community Building
As a team of 4, we built a community of youths who were interested in local policies. My role was to create contents that would simplify the concepts of local policy for common citizens. I also outreached for this community and built it to have 69 community members, conducted 12+ research huddles on topics like Civic tech solutions, EV vehicles, Local Government structure etc. and conducted several panel discussions with experts of the pertaining field. We also presented this idea at the 6th National Social Enterprise Challenge at APU.
1 year ago
Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike
I was an active volunteer at BBPV. I have campaigned, visited households in Malleshwaram slums of Bengaluru, conducted twitter campaign. The citizen campaign we did through organizations like Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) and Bus Stories etc. got us a big win of allocation of 500 crores to public transportation to Bangalore Buses, Free bus passes to 8 lakh girl students and organized sector women. Like this I have started, and joined multiple campaigns, and worked with civil society organizations with their advocacy work to make policies.
1 year ago
Investigation of BBMP work
I was curious to know what happens to the waste that is collected from each household in Bangalore. Specially in the area I live in, Mavalli - waste was not segregated at source despite instructing so to all neighbours. Hence I took friends help and thought of tracking the BBMP vehicles and I followed the waste carrying truck and went to Belahalli from Lalbagh west gate one day and saw the waste dumpling place mself. I also recorded video on the way and wanted to report it to BBMP officials, but could not meet them as I did not get permission
1 year ago
Launched Bhootkannadi & Created awareness
problem statement - Lack of online content in the Kannada Language that is designed to help adolescents of age group 13 to 18 in critical thinking to make informed choices Prototype - A social media platform dedicated to educating the general public on public issues, debunking stereotypes, and eradicating social stigma. A humble effort to bring sensible progressive content in the Kannada Language. Created content on the following topics - 1. Waste management - BBMP work 2. Traffic rules 3. Gender in language 4. Uasge of steel straw 5. Namma Bengaluru App for reporting 6. Awereness to stop sui*cide cases among youth 7. How to apply to govt schemes Created 23 videos and spent at least 10 days per video for scripting, on-the-ground investigation, video recording, editing, sharing, etc.
2 years ago
Flood-prone area
Urban Flooding in Bangalore has increased due to rapid urbanization and poor urban planning. Natural Wetlands have been replaced by buildings which aggravate urban flooding during a heavy rainfall.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has identified 209 areas prone to flooding out of which 153 were sensitive and 53 were extremely sensitive.
Click the following link to know more: https://tinyurl.com/2wvv9rjz
2 years ago
Reported a blackspot to BBMP
Made sure that BBMP fix the blackspot on RV road and maintain for 3 days
2 years ago
Tree Mapping
A group of volunteers participated Tree mapping campaign, and mapped 160+ trees across Jayanagar, VV Puram, Basavana gudi in Karnataka.
Trees are invaluable to the ecosystem. They not only provide resources to the people but also help mitigate carbon dioxide which is essential for climate action.
Click on the following link to lean more about the value of trees:
https://tinyurl.com/2sashxsd
Why geotagging trees is important and why should it be made public:
https://tinyurl.com/54p3k8kv
2 years ago
Investigation to understand onground realities of the municipal solid waste management
Interviewed 10+ citizens around basavana Gudi to understand waste segregation behaviour and is currently working on campagns to bring behavioural changes among citizens about SWM to reduce landfill accumalation
2 years ago
Investigation to understand onground realities of the municipal solid waste management
Documentary about the impact of BBMP landfill dumping on nearby villagers
2 years ago
engaged rural girl students on mentrual health
I worked with another SNLA cohort member, and engaged rural girl students in sessions around menstruation
2 years ago
made a video on traffic police regulations
One of the viewers of my video was facing problems while riding his TN car in bangalore, he had to pay bribe to traffic policies unnecessarily. After watching my video - he understood that the traffic police cannot stop any vehicles without any reason just to check the documents. Bhootkannadi video on Traffic rules created awarenenss and saved money and time for the vehicle owners.
2 years ago
Investigated for need of content in local languages
I investigated using a google form the need for content in local languages, which gave users enough material to think critically on and decide for themselves. I got about 65 responses, with a suggestion on topics to make videos on
Bio
Pooja Yashodhare is a sex educator, content creator, and political activist from Karnataka. She graduated from Christ University and has worked with various grassroots organisations on gender and equity issues. Pooja creates sex education content on social media and conducts workshops. She’s an alumnus of the Indian School of Democracy and was involved in the ‘Wake up Karnataka’ civil society movement during the 2023 elections. Passionate about her mother tongue Kannada, she aims to provide resources and opportunities to local people in her state. Currently, she’s focused on making sex education accessible to Karnataka’s youth in their language through her initiative Aayke. She is currently pursuing the prestigeous Young India Fellowship at Ashoka University, she is one of the first set of the Chancellor's Merit Scholars among the most talented bunch of individuals who got selected to the program.
1 year ago
AAYKE - Educational Channel
Created educational content on YouTube and Instagram which got more than 8 Lakh views across platforms. The content was mainly focused on sexual health, rights, and gender sensitization for women. I also advocated for menstrual health and sustainable periods. Advocated for menstrual cups and cloth pads instead of use and throw pads. This was a start-up experience. I started my own team of production, paid for my friends to video shooting, hired a video editor and did content marketing. Started working in March and worked until end of April later got selected to PGD at Ashoka.
1 year ago
Yuva Munnade Campaign
I led Karnataka Yuva Munnade, a youth association as part of my leadership journey in Samvada, we conducted street campaigns, sang songs on road, conducted press conferences, gave interviews in many news reports. we had demanded Youth Empowerment Corporation from the Government, and the Karnataka government had agreed to make a youth budget in the year 2021 in press.
1 year ago
Lokalniti Community Building
As a team of 4, we built a community of youths who were interested in local policies. My role was to create contents that would simplify the concepts of local policy for common citizens. I also outreached for this community and built it to have 69 community members, conducted 12+ research huddles on topics like Civic tech solutions, EV vehicles, Local Government structure etc. and conducted several panel discussions with experts of the pertaining field. We also presented this idea at the 6th National Social Enterprise Challenge at APU.
1 year ago
Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike
I was an active volunteer at BBPV. I have campaigned, visited households in Malleshwaram slums of Bengaluru, conducted twitter campaign. The citizen campaign we did through organizations like Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike (BBPV) and Bus Stories etc. got us a big win of allocation of 500 crores to public transportation to Bangalore Buses, Free bus passes to 8 lakh girl students and organized sector women. Like this I have started, and joined multiple campaigns, and worked with civil society organizations with their advocacy work to make policies.
1 year ago
Investigation of BBMP work
I was curious to know what happens to the waste that is collected from each household in Bangalore. Specially in the area I live in, Mavalli - waste was not segregated at source despite instructing so to all neighbours. Hence I took friends help and thought of tracking the BBMP vehicles and I followed the waste carrying truck and went to Belahalli from Lalbagh west gate one day and saw the waste dumpling place mself. I also recorded video on the way and wanted to report it to BBMP officials, but could not meet them as I did not get permission
1 year ago
Launched Bhootkannadi & Created awareness
problem statement - Lack of online content in the Kannada Language that is designed to help adolescents of age group 13 to 18 in critical thinking to make informed choices Prototype - A social media platform dedicated to educating the general public on public issues, debunking stereotypes, and eradicating social stigma. A humble effort to bring sensible progressive content in the Kannada Language. Created content on the following topics - 1. Waste management - BBMP work 2. Traffic rules 3. Gender in language 4. Uasge of steel straw 5. Namma Bengaluru App for reporting 6. Awereness to stop sui*cide cases among youth 7. How to apply to govt schemes Created 23 videos and spent at least 10 days per video for scripting, on-the-ground investigation, video recording, editing, sharing, etc.
2 years ago
Flood-prone area
Urban Flooding in Bangalore has increased due to rapid urbanization and poor urban planning. Natural Wetlands have been replaced by buildings which aggravate urban flooding during a heavy rainfall.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has identified 209 areas prone to flooding out of which 153 were sensitive and 53 were extremely sensitive.
Click the following link to know more: https://tinyurl.com/2wvv9rjz
2 years ago
Reported a blackspot to BBMP
Made sure that BBMP fix the blackspot on RV road and maintain for 3 days
2 years ago
Tree Mapping
A group of volunteers participated Tree mapping campaign, and mapped 160+ trees across Jayanagar, VV Puram, Basavana gudi in Karnataka.
Trees are invaluable to the ecosystem. They not only provide resources to the people but also help mitigate carbon dioxide which is essential for climate action.
Click on the following link to lean more about the value of trees:
https://tinyurl.com/2sashxsd
Why geotagging trees is important and why should it be made public:
https://tinyurl.com/54p3k8kv
2 years ago
Investigation to understand onground realities of the municipal solid waste management
Interviewed 10+ citizens around basavana Gudi to understand waste segregation behaviour and is currently working on campagns to bring behavioural changes among citizens about SWM to reduce landfill accumalation
2 years ago
Investigation to understand onground realities of the municipal solid waste management
Documentary about the impact of BBMP landfill dumping on nearby villagers
2 years ago
engaged rural girl students on mentrual health
I worked with another SNLA cohort member, and engaged rural girl students in sessions around menstruation
2 years ago
made a video on traffic police regulations
One of the viewers of my video was facing problems while riding his TN car in bangalore, he had to pay bribe to traffic policies unnecessarily. After watching my video - he understood that the traffic police cannot stop any vehicles without any reason just to check the documents. Bhootkannadi video on Traffic rules created awarenenss and saved money and time for the vehicle owners.
2 years ago
Investigated for need of content in local languages
I investigated using a google form the need for content in local languages, which gave users enough material to think critically on and decide for themselves. I got about 65 responses, with a suggestion on topics to make videos on