FLO Kolkata, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Mansi Agarwal, organised the “36 Hours: Guwahati Offsite” as an immersive engagement aligned with the Women Director Program, Cultural Tourism, Textile/Handloom/Handicraft, Startup Cell/MSME, and Green Tech & Circular Economy. The offsite began with a visit to Maa Kamakhya Temple, setting a reflective and purposeful tone for the new tenure, followed by curated experiences combining cultural immersion, experiential learning, and leadership bonding.
Members engaged with Assam’s cultural ecosystem through regional cuisine, Bihu performances, and interactions with local artisans, gaining exposure to Textile/Handloom/Handicraft sectors, Startup Cell/MSME ecosystems, and the region’s offbeat cultural trails. The experience highlighted the hidden beauty of Assam, positioning it as meaningful Cultural Tourism beyond conventional travel, further enriched by a visit to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
An industry visit to the Emami manufacturing facility provided insights into enterprise operations and business processes, aligning with Startup Cell/MSME exposure. A key highlight was the textile initiative with Yarn Glory, involving procurement of handwoven dupattas crafted by women artisans using Eri (Ahimsa) silk and natural dyes.
Key Takeaways
- Strengthened Women Director Program through deeper leadership alignment, trust-building, and shared vision setting.
- Advanced Cultural Tourism by enabling immersive exploration of Assam’s offbeat and lesser-known cultural landscapes.
- Supported Textile/Handloom/Handicraft through direct engagement with artisans and procurement of handcrafted products.
- Promoted Startup Cell/MSME by providing exposure to regional enterprises and founder-led initiatives like Yarn Glory.
- Integrated Green Tech & Circular Economy through sustainable textile practices, including Ahimsa silk and natural dyeing methods.
- Enabled women artisan empowerment by supporting indigenous livelihoods and preserving traditional craftsmanship.
- Fostered inter-chapter collaboration through active engagement with FLO Guwahati members.
- Encouraged reflection, clarity, and purpose-setting at the start of the new tenure.
- Built stronger member relationships and leadership cohesion through shared experiential learning.
- Set a strategic foundation for multi-initiative, experience-led programming for the year ahead.
Impact & Outcome
The offsite brought together 45 FLO Kolkata members and 15 FLO Guwahati members, creating a collaborative platform of 60 participants and strengthening inter-chapter engagement. The textile initiative led to the procurement of 50 handwoven dupattas, directly supporting women artisans from Northeast India while promoting Textile/Handloom/Handicraft and Green Tech & Circular Economy practices.
By integrating cultural immersion, CSR, and experiential learning, the offsite reinforced the value of initiative-led platforms under the Women Director Program. Interactions with FLO Guwahati enabled inter-chapter collaboration and network building, reinforcing a connected ecosystem. The offsite effectively integrated leadership, culture, and impact, strengthening FLO’s holistic, initiative-led approach under the Women Director Program.