FLO Bangalore– Social Impact Circle conducted a Self-Assessment Workshop for approximately 30 women from Gopahalli and neighbouring villages in Bidadi Taluk on 4th August 2026. The session was designed to encourage women to pause from their demanding daily routines and reflect on different aspects of their lives, including health, relationships, finances, learning, aspirations, interests and personal well-being.
The participants came from diverse backgrounds and several neighbouring villages. Some women walked considerable distances to attend the workshop, demonstrating their enthusiasm and willingness to participate. The session provided an opportunity to engage with the women in an environment that encouraged open reflection and conversation.
A significant insight from the workshop was the way the women perceived and described their own lives. Their responses were predominantly centred around daily labour and responsibilities. Milking cows early in the morning, grazing sheep, working in agricultural fields, cooking, fetching water and managing household responsibilities formed a large part of their daily routines. When encouraged to think about other dimensions of their lives, very few initially spoke about their own health, financial decisions, relationships, hobbies, interests or personal aspirations.
This was an important learning for the facilitators as well. The absence of these areas from their initial responses did not mean that they were unimportant. Rather, the women had rarely been provided with the space or opportunity to think of these aspects as integral parts of their own lives.
The workshop therefore became a meaningful exercise in perspective and self-awareness. It highlighted how social, economic and environmental circumstances shape people’s priorities and influence how they perceive themselves. While conversations around self-care, goals and personal aspirations may be common in urban settings, the priorities of these women are largely shaped by livelihood, family responsibilities and everyday necessities.
The session encouraged 30 participants to recognise that their identity can extend beyond work and responsibility. Also, the initiative achieved a footprint of 1,000. It opened conversations around personal well-being, financial awareness, nutrition, learning and future aspirations. The enthusiastic participation of the women also resulted in requests for future sessions on nutrition, savings and government schemes.
The workshop thus served as an important first step towards continued engagement, learning, peer support and empowerment, while creating greater awareness of the importance of the “self” in their everyday lives.