Sunil Arav

Background

About Sunil Arav

Sunil has been a champion of human rights and equality since his early youth- it has been an integral part of his personality though initially, he was not aware of the social sector jargon or developmental terminology, he firmly believed in equality especially gender equality and the right to choice. When he grew up his process of bringing change in society started from ‘Me to We’-from self to family and finally to other members of society. His basic belief in personal freedom, dignity, and right to choice would often find expression during his informal discussions with friends, acquaintances, and relatives- be in a discussion with his mother on the issue of domestic violence faced by a female relative and his justification why he should intervene, his advocacy for admitting his cousin in university when the family was against co-education, his opposition of ragging especially of females in college or counter-arguments on personal comments made by family and acquaintances on dressing norms for girls. An excellent singer and actor, community mobilization through theatre and gender training are his forte. Sunil believes that the process of social transformation is a gradual process requiring empathy with the targeted audience and not sympathy. Due to his natural empathy with women and girls, his sound understanding of issues and problems they face in their lives and his knack of building good rapport easily, he has emerged as a successful trainer and social change maker. He shares that due to these skills he is able to break barriers in communication that normally a male trainer might face with female trainees especially when facilitating on sensitive issues and socially hushed up topics like menstruation and sexual and health rights of females. Presently Sunil is leading Breakthrough, Uttar Pradesh on community mobilization issues and is actively contributing to empowering 4 lac adolescents across 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh where its Adolescent Empowerment Project is in operation.