Partners

Stand for Kashmiri Youth (SKY) Trust

Registered under the Indian Trust Act, SKY Trust is the brainchild of socially motivated Kashmiri youths who have personally faced various mental health stressors due to living in the conflict zone. Currently, they operate in rural areas of Baramulla, Budgam and Bandipora districts.

Recognizing the need for awareness on essential topics like menstruation, mental health, gender-based violence, climate justice etc., they began mobilizing youths, especially young women, to sensitize them about these issues. They started by creating safe spaces in rural areas for women to come together and share their daily life experiences. In this process, they understood the unique stressors the communities face in their area due to various structural determinants. Hence, gradually they initiated sensitization programs covering various topics affecting their lives, such as violence, early marriage, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), mental health, and ways to address them.

They have successfully organized various workshops, seminars, and training programs in collaboration with government agencies and NGOs. Through these efforts, they have raised awareness about critical social issues. SKY Trust's approach is inclusive and community-driven, with active participation from the local populace. Their initiatives have garnered widespread support, making a positive impact on the lives of many individuals, especially young women who face unique challenges in the region. Over the years, they have built a network of 150 young volunteers spread across more than 50 villages who were their beneficiaries before and now act as agents of change in their communities.

Project with MHI:

MHI is partnering with SKY Trust for a project that aims to create an ecosystem to make mental well-being accessible to marginalized communities, especially women, in the districts of Bandipora and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Sixteen young women will be trained on gender rights and mental health. These women will work with their immediate peers and conduct various activities on gender and mental health issues in their respective communities. They will create 'safe spaces' in their communities to help young women share and discuss their challenges and take collective initiatives to mitigate the gender gap and stigma associated with mental health issues. SKY Trust will guide them throughout the year to address issues in their communities.