SUNIL KUMAR KANAUJIA, LUCKNOW

CATEGORY: GENDER EQUALITY

Sunil Kumar Kanaujia is a social worker with deep empathy for women’s issues. He has been a champion of human rights and equality since his early youth. Born in a middle-class family with three siblings, from early years he saw his father participating in household chores traditionally considered as ‘wife’s duty’. When he grew up, the process of bringing change in the society started from self to family, and then to other members of the society. When he first participated in gender trainings and workshops conducted by Breakthrough, he realised his personal beliefs and stand were actually what constitutes such social sector issues as human rights, women empowerment and gender equality. He understood the right approach for speaking up against domestic violence or sexual harassment. He joined Breakthrough as a volunteer in 2008 and contributed in NSS programmes and in the work of other NGOs as a theatre artiste. After formally joining Breakthrough as a trainer in 2010, he has matured as an activist and champion of equality.

As a singer and an actor, community mobilisation through theatre and gender training are his forte.

State head of Breakthrough, UP, Krati Prakash says Sunil has made significant difference by contributing on all issues and programmes Breakthrough has been working on. Presently, Sunil is leading Breakthrough, Uttar Pradesh on community mobilisation issues and is actively contributing in empowering 4 lakh adolescents across seven districts of UP where its adolescent empowerment project is in operation.

Majority of participants in his training programmes have been women and girls who have been motivated and inspired to break their silence and share their concerns and stories.

Nominated by Mohd Nadeem Siddiqui