The biggest challenge I faced was being a young woman leader,’ says Swati Singh. ‘At 22, when I started Muheem, people dismissed me as inexperienced. Being a woman from a marginalised community added another layer of scepticism, and working on a taboo like menstruation invited criticism and personal attacks.’ Yet, Swati persevered, transforming every obstacle into a stepping stone for positive change. Today, her organisation, Muheem, stands for ‘multidimensional upliftment, humanistic evaluation, and empowerment for the underprivileged’ in and around Varanasi.

Born into a marginalised community, Swati was acutely aware of the pervasive social inequities around her. After earning her master’s in journalism from Banaras Hindu University, she began her career as a freelance journalist. Her powerful articles on social issues earned her recognition, culminating in the Ladli Media Award for a piece on eco-friendly menstruation practices. ‘While my work was recognised in Delhi, the subject of menstruation was still a taboo in my neighbourhood,’ Swati recalls. This stark disparity in societal perspectives became the reason for Muheem. Set up in 2016, it initially focused on raising awareness about menstrual health. However, as Swati delved deeper into the community’s challenges, she realised many issues were interconnected and needed attention, like education, livelihood, lack of healthcare, gender violence, women’s rights and systemic inequities.

The COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point for Muheem. Swati discovered that many social initiatives excluded the most underserved groups, such as the Musahar and Bunkar communities in the area. Muheem shifted its focus to these populations, designing programs that addressed education, livelihoods, and community building. One such initiative is the Pathshala Centre, which empowers Musahar children through education and leadership development. Complementing this is the Sui-Dhaga program, a livelihood-based skill development initiative that teaches sewing skills to women while simultaneously dismantling caste barriers. Women, not only across different Dalit communities but even from upper castes, come together to learn, earn, and build solidarity.

Muheem’s impact doesn’t stop there; it has built a thriving network of women and girls collectives that use sports like kabaddi, kite flying, and cricket to strengthen community bonds and encourage greater mobility for women. These games have led participants to break out of restrictive norms, such as wearing a ‘ghunghat’, and embrace teamwork and leadership. The Muheem Leader Fellowship, developed in collaboration with Teach for India, trains young graduates from marginalised backgrounds, especially the Musahars, to teach and lead community initiatives, creating grassroots change.

However, Swati’s path has been fraught with societal resistance. Her efforts to challenge entrenched norms often drew backlash. She tackled these hurdles creatively, forming a women’s theatre group to address issues like child marriage and domestic violence. Through engaging street plays and informative wall writings, Muheem raises awareness and cultivates a mindset of change within these communities.  One particularly inspiring success story involves a young girl from a village who, defying the pressure of early marriage, chose to join the theatre group — a powerful victory for Swati and Muheem.

Operating across Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Bhadohi, Muheem has touched the lives of over 5,000 women and 6,500 girls. Its dedicated cadre of 450 young women leaders is driving transformation within their respective communities. Muheem’s work has gained international recognition. The United Nations highlighted its initiatives in a Women’s Day video in 2023 and its leadership book in 2024 and invited Swati to be a panellist on both occasions.

Reflecting on her growth, Swati credits The ILSS Emerging Women’s Leadership Program for sharpening her leadership skills and expanding her network. ‘The program helped me understand the nuances of leadership and decision-making,’ she shares. ‘It also showed me the power of solidarity among women leaders.’

Swati’s mission with Muheem goes beyond problem-solving. It is about empowering communities, rewriting narratives, building confidence, and inspiring hope. ‘Change isn’t easy and needs patience,’ she believes, ‘but when communities own their transformation, the impact is deep and lasting.’