Connecting Trust commemorates International Women’s Day 2025 with ‘‘Care for the Caregivers – Listening to the Voices of Women’’ Initiative

Pune (Voice news service):– Connecting Trust, a Pune-based NGO specializing in emotional health and suicide prevention, has announced a special initiative titled ‘Care for the Caregivers – Listening to the Voices of Women’ to commemorate International Women’s Day 2025. The program offers structured listening circles for female workers from institutions that serve women and children, providing a safe space for emotional expression and community building.
Founded in 2005 by Arnavaz Damania and concerned citizens, The Connecting Trust has spent two decades creating mindful, non-judgmental listening spaces for individuals and communities facing emotional challenges. The organization particularly focuses on high-risk communities, families affected by suicide, suicide attempt survivors, and individuals in stressful vocations.
The Care for the Caregivers initiative consists of two main components: Listening Circles The four-week program brought together women from NGOs working with women and children, caregivers working in homes, and hospital staff in Pune city. Participants will attend weekly sessions throughout March at the Connecting Trust office in Camp, Pune. Trained volunteers will facilitate these circles in Hindi and Marathi, focusing primarily on participants feelings and emotions rather than workplace narratives.
Seminar: Listening to the Voices of Women A special seminar will feature women leaders, each a powerful voice for women and
women’s issues that are not heard enough that deeply impacts the mental health of women. The seminar will bring women leaders from diverse fields including legal, research, media, and marginalized communities. This seminar will feature industry stalwarts like Meher Pudumjee (Chairperson – Thermax Limited ), and also Adv. Archana More (Trustee, Samajvadi Mahila Sabha (Maharashtra)), Barkha Bajaj (Founder Director- AKS Foundation & Clinical Director- Unalome Therapy) , Corina B. Manuel (Editor-in-chief Pune Times Mirror & Civic Mirror), Kadambari Shaikh (Transgender Social Activist, Actor, Model, Make-up artist & Dancer) and Sr Lucy Kurien (Founder – Maher NGO) The event will include a panel discussion with these women leaders from diverse fields including legal, research, media, and marginalized communities. Faculty and students from Psychology and Social Work departments, women’s groups, police representatives, and NGO staff are expected to attend.
In our experience, those who care for others often neglect their own emotional well-being, says Arnavaz Damania, Founder & Managing Trustee of The Connecting Trust. These listening circles provide female caregivers with a confidential space where they can express themselves freely and feel genuinely heard, perhaps for the first time. When we empower women to prioritize their emotional health, we strengthen not only individuals but entire communities. This Women’s Day, we’re honouring caregivers by caring for them.
The Connecting Trust emphasizes that listening circles offer numerous benefits for women, including empowerment, connection, validation, personal growth, stress relief, and community building. By providing a structured environment where participants take turns
speaking while others actively listen without interrupting or offering advice, these circles
create opportunities for authentic self-expression and emotional support.