Manju Kumari

Manju Kumari (she/her) is a passionate and committed Field Facilitator with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), Asia Regional Office, currently based in Godda district, Jharkhand. She plays a critical role in advancing gender equality and inclusive education through school and community-based initiatives. At ICRW, her primary responsibility involves supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality Movement in Schools (GEMS) program across multiple schools in the region.

Her work includes regularly visiting schools to observe and monitor program activities, conducting sensitization sessions, and providing direct support to teachers, peer educators, and adolescent groups. She also helps organize and facilitate training programs for teachers, school management committees, and other stakeholders. Manju liaises actively with block-level education officials and government representatives, advocating for gender-equitable practices within the school system and contributing to capacity-building efforts at the local level.

Prior to her engagement with ICRW, Manju worked with SATHEE, a grassroots organization, where she served as a Master Trainer under the UMANG project. In this role, she was responsible for designing and delivering gender-sensitization trainings for teachers and facilitating peer learning among adolescent mentors. Her experience includes providing continuous handholding support to peer mentors, addressing gender-based challenges in schools, and fostering youth leadership for social change. With her strong community connect, multilingual ability, and hands-on experience, Manju is deeply committed to promoting girls’ education, challenging harmful gender norms, and building a more just and inclusive society from the ground up.