By Janet Preethi G | Project Leader
VOICE Trust | International Day of Rural Women & World Food Day 2026
One community. 82 women. 17 traditional food creations. And a bigger vision for the future of rural women.
Location: Ayyikudi Village, Manachanallur Block, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, India
Event dates: October 15–16, 2026
Women reached: 82
Traditional food competition participants: 17
What Happens When Rural Women Get the Opportunity to Be Heard?
A woman may know how to feed her family on a limited budget, preserve traditional recipes, support her household and contribute to her community. She may also have the skills to start a small business or lead a community initiative.
But does she always have access to the information, confidence and opportunities she needs to turn those skills into a stronger future?
In Ayyikudi village in Tamil Nadu, VOICE Trust brought 82 rural women together for a day of learning, sharing and celebrating their potential. The programme was not simply about attending a meeting. It was about recognizing the knowledge women already possess and exploring how that knowledge can open doors to greater financial security, entrepreneurship and independence.
On October 15, 2026, in observance of the International Day of Rural Women, women gathered to discuss everyday challenges and practical ways to strengthen their lives and livelihoods.
For VOICE Trust, this is where sustainable community development begins: by listening to women, valuing their experience and helping them discover new possibilities.
Five Conversations That Matter in a Woman's Everyday Life
The programme focused on five themes that connect directly with women's choices, security and aspirations.
1. Rural life: Recognizing the power of women in their communities
Women discussed their roles in family wellbeing, agriculture and village development. The session encouraged them to recognize that their knowledge and participation are essential to stronger rural communities.
2. Financial awareness: Making every rupee count
Managing a household budget, building savings and planning for unexpected expenses can make a meaningful difference to a family's financial security. Participants explored the importance of financial discipline and informed decision-making.
3. Digital safety: Protecting families from online fraud
Digital services can offer convenience, but online scams can place hard-earned savings at risk. The programme highlighted the importance of recognizing suspicious messages and fraudulent offers and safeguarding personal and banking information.
4. Entrepreneurship: Turning skills into income opportunities
Traditional knowledge, local ingredients and practical skills can become starting points for small businesses. Women were encouraged to explore entrepreneurship and value-added products as possible pathways towards additional income.
5. Personal identity: Seeing possibilities beyond daily responsibilities
Women were encouraged to recognize their strengths, build self-confidence and pursue their aspirations. The discussion emphasized their right to participate in household decisions, community leadership and economic activities.
These conversations addressed a fundamental question: what could change if rural women had more opportunities to learn, make informed decisions and put their skills to work?
VOICE Trust believes that the answer lies in sustained community support, practical learning and opportunities that women can build upon.
A Celebration That Brought Traditional Food to the Centre
The following day, October 16, marked World Food Day. VOICE Trust incorporated the celebration into its community programme through a traditional food festival and competition held on October 15.
The event turned the spotlight towards something familiar in every household: food, and the knowledge behind preparing it.
Seventeen women participated in the competition, presenting traditional dishes made with ingredients and recipes rooted in local food culture.
The spread included sesame seed balls, green gram balls, nine-grain kozhukattai, ragi puttu, foxtail millet puttu, drumstick leaf soup, Karuppu Kavuni black rice payasam, pulse-based adai, green gram payasam, coriander pakoda, neer urundai and coconut candy.
Yet the most valuable part of the competition was not simply the food on display. Participants also explained their ingredients, preparation methods and perceived health benefits to the judges, sharing knowledge that has been preserved through generations.
Each dish offered an opportunity to appreciate traditional ingredients, dietary diversity and the role of local food knowledge in rural life.
The celebration also opened up an important possibility. Could the skills women use in their kitchens help them develop small food enterprises in the future?
With appropriate training in food hygiene, costing, packaging and marketing, traditional recipes may offer opportunities for women to develop locally rooted products and explore additional sources of income. This is a potential next step, not an outcome already achieved by the event.
Two first prizes, two second prizes and two third prizes were awarded. All remaining participants received consolation prizes, recognizing the enthusiasm and effort they brought to the celebration.
By connecting the International Day of Rural Women with World Food Day, VOICE Trust highlighted the links between women's empowerment, traditional knowledge, nutrition awareness and sustainable livelihoods.
The Women Behind the Event
The programme was led by Mrs. A. Jecintha, Managing Trustee of VOICE Trust and Ms. Janet Preethi, Chief Administrative Officer of VOICE Trust, under the supervision of Mr. Gregory, Administrator of the organization.
The special guest, Ms. P. Anita David, social entrepreneur, writer, motivational speaker and founder of Thilagam Welfare Trust, joined the programme to contribute her experience in social entrepreneurship and women's development.
Other participants included Ms. Rukkiyabi, former councillor of Ayyikudi; Ms. Dhanalakshmi, PLF President; Ms. Kalaichelvi, Group Leader; Ms. Deepa, PLF Accountant; Ms. Suganya, CST; Ms. K. Usha, P&C CRP; and Ms. B. Lakshmi, former Panchayat President.
VOICE Trust coordinators Ms. Kavitha and Ms. Victoria coordinated the event.
The participation of community leaders and self-help group representatives helped create a space for rural women to come together, exchange knowledge and engage with issues affecting their everyday lives.
From One Community Gathering to 150 Women with New Opportunities
The event reached 82 rural women, and 17 women participated in the traditional food competition. These are the immediate, measurable results of this particular programme.
But a gathering is only one step. Knowledge becomes more valuable when women have opportunities to apply it.
Our next goal is to reach 100 rural women through follow-up learning and livelihood activities.
With donor support, VOICE Trust aims to build on this community engagement through practical sessions focused on:
Household budgeting, savings and financial decision-making.
Recognizing online scams and improving digital safety.
Exploring small businesses and women-led entrepreneurship.
Understanding food hygiene, product costing and marketing for traditional food products.
Strengthening self-help group participation, confidence and community leadership.
The proposed activities will be developed according to local needs and available funding. Their progress can be measured through participation records, training completion and follow-up assessments, with livelihood outcomes tracked as the programme develops.
Our ambition is not merely to count the women who attend. It is to create opportunities for women to use what they learn in their homes, businesses and communities.
Your Donation Can Help Take the Next Step
For a rural woman, access to practical information can help her make better-informed decisions. Access to skills training may help her explore a new source of income. A supportive community can give her the confidence to pursue opportunities she might otherwise never consider.
Your donation can help VOICE Trust create more of these opportunities.
Here is how you could support our proposed initiative for 100 rural women. These are illustrative donation amounts; actual programme costs and the number of participants supported by each contribution will depend on the approved budget.
Donate $10 to help provide learning materials and financial-awareness resources.
Donate $25 to help support digital-safety education and online fraud awareness.
Donate $50 to help provide entrepreneurship learning resources and guidance for women exploring small businesses.
Donate $100 to help support a community learning session covering financial awareness, digital safety and livelihood opportunities.
Donate $250 to help contribute towards a series of training and follow-up activities for rural women.
Every contribution will help support programme expenses such as educational materials, resource-person support, local coordination and practical learning activities, subject to available funds and the final programme budget.
Will You Help Us Reach the Next 100 Women?
We invite you to stand with rural women in Tamil Nadu as they build their knowledge, confidence and livelihood opportunities.
Make a donation today through GlobalGiving:
https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/3825/voice-trust/
Your support can help VOICE Trust extend community-based learning to more women, preserve traditional food knowledge and explore new pathways towards economic independence.
A single event can start a conversation. Continued support can help turn that conversation into action.
Help rural women turn their skills into opportunities—and their opportunities into a stronger future.
About VOICE Trust
VOICE Trust (A Voice for the Oppressed through Integrated Community Emancipation) is a nonprofit organization established in 1985 in Tamil Nadu, India. Over 42 years of community service, the organization has worked in natural farming, environmental protection, women's empowerment, children's welfare, youth development, disability inclusion and disaster relief.
Our vision is to facilitate nature-centric interventions for ecological, environmental and economic wellbeing. We believe sustainable development must support people's dignity and livelihoods while protecting the natural resources on which communities depend.
Through grassroots engagement and locally driven initiatives, VOICE Trust continues to work towards stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities.
Website:www.voice-trust.org
Email:connect@voice-trust.org
VOICE Trust — Sustainability. Empowerment. Transformation.
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