Intersectionality in Practice

Intersectionality in Practice:
Perspectives and Pathways

18 – 20 August, 2026 at Visthar Bengaluru

Applications are now open for the three-day workshop for civil society leaders and practitioners seeking practical ways to make their organisations and programmes more inclusive.

Despite good intentions, many organisations continue to unintentionally exclude the very communities they seek to support. Policies may appear inclusive, programmes may reach large numbers, and workplaces may value diversity, yet power often remains concentrated in familiar ways.

This workshop introduces participants to intersectionality as a practical framework for understanding and addressing exclusion. Moving beyond seeing intersectionality as simply the overlap of identities, the workshop explores how power, privilege and disadvantage interact in organisational life, programme design and institutional decision-making.

Participants will examine their own organisations, programmes and policies through an intersectional lens, learn practical tools for identifying hidden exclusions, and develop realistic action plans for creating more equitable and inclusive organisations.

The workshop combines conceptual understanding with practical application and is designed for leaders who are committed to strengthening both social justice and organisational effectiveness.

Apply Online

Objectives

Contents/Themes

Facilitators/Resource Persons

Methodology

Course Fee and Registration

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Understand intersectionality as a way of analysing power rather than simply identities.
Recognise how exclusion can occur within organisations despite good intentions.
Apply practical tools to review programmes, policies and organisational culture through an intersectional lens.
Develop an action plan to strengthen inclusion within their own organisation.
Identify at least one concrete organisational change that they will implement after the workshop.

Over three days, the workshop will explore:

Understanding Power and Intersectionality

What intersectionality really means
Understanding power, privilege and exclusion
Indian perspectives on caste, gender, sexuality, religion, disability and class
Learning from lived experiences
Identifying hidden exclusion within organisations

Applying Intersectionality

Designing programmes that reach those most excluded
Reviewing organisational structures and workplace culture
Analysing HR, POSH and other organisational policies
Measuring inclusion through better monitoring, indicators and disaggregated data

Moving from Learning to Action

Working through real organisational case studies
Building solidarity across movements and identities
Developing practical organisational action plans
Planning realistic short-, medium- and long-term changes

Throughout the workshop, participants will be encouraged to apply the learning to their own organisational contexts and explore practical improvements they can begin implementing immediately.

The workshop will be facilitated by Mercy Kappen, Shubha Chacko and Roshen Chandran. The facilitators are experienced practitioners who have worked extensively on gender, caste, sexuality, disability, organisational development and social justice. Drawing from years of engagement with grassroots movements and civil society organisations, the facilitators will combine conceptual clarity with practical experience to create a reflective and engaging learning environment.

The workshop is highly participatory and practice-oriented. Rather than relying primarily on presentations, participants will learn through reflection, discussion and hands-on application.

Methods include:

Interactive exercises and group activities
Reflection on participants’ own lived experiences
Case studies and organisational scenarios
Programme and policy review exercises
Small-group discussions and peer learning
Practical organisational audit tools
Individual action planning and feedback

Participants are encouraged to bring selected organisational documents (such as HR policies, programme documents, monitoring frameworks or recruitment materials) to analyse during the workshop.

Dates: 18–20 August 2026

Venue: Visthar Campus, Bengaluru

Course Fee: ₹1,000 per participant

The registration fee covers all course materials. Accommodation(twin-sharing) and all meals are fully subsidized for selected participants.

Last date for registration: 15 July 2026

Places are limited to ensure a highly interactive learning experience. Early registration is encouraged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend this workshop?

This workshop is designed for NGO leaders, programme managers, HR professionals, trainers, facilitators, and practitioners who are interested in building more inclusive organisations and programmes. It will be especially valuable for those involved in programme design, organisational development, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation, or leadership.

Do I need prior knowledge of intersectionality?

Not at all. The workshop is designed for participants who are curious and open to learning. Whether you are hearing the term for the first time or have been engaging with these ideas for several years, the sessions are structured to support learning at different levels.

How practical is the workshop?

The workshop is highly interactive and practice-oriented. Rather than focusing only on concepts, participants will apply an intersectional lens to real organisational situations, programmes and policies. There will be opportunities to analyse case studies, reflect on lived experiences, and work on practical changes that can be implemented after returning to your organisation.

Should I bring anything to the workshop?

Yes. To make the learning directly relevant to your work, we encourage participants to bring one or two organisational documents such as an HR policy, POSH policy, programme design document, monitoring framework or recruitment advertisement. These will be used during practical review exercises throughout the workshop.

Is this a residential programme?

Yes. The workshop is residential and will be held at the Visthar Campus in Bengaluru. Participants stay on campus, creating opportunities for informal conversations, peer learning and reflection beyond the classroom. Accommodation and meals are provided throughout the programme. Local participants can participate as day scholars too.

What does the course fee include?

The course fee includes participation in all workshop sessions, workshop materials, accommodation on a twin-sharing basis, and all meals and refreshments during the programme. Participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements to and from Visthar.

How do I reach Visthar?

Visthar is located in north Bengaluru and is easily accessible by road from the airport, railway stations and major bus terminals. App-based taxi services such as Ola and Uber are readily available. Registered participants will receive a detailed information booklet with directions, travel suggestions and other practical information before the workshop begins.

As seats are limited, please register before 15 July 2026 to ensure a highly interactive learning experience.

For more details, please write to [email protected]

Intersectionality in Practice