August 23, 2025 – Kochi, Kerala: Delegates at the prestigious BUILD Summit 2025, a global platform focused on Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), took home more than just knowledge this year. Each participant received a handcrafted eco-friendly bag, a symbol of sustainability and women’s empowerment, lovingly made by the Shiva Shakthi Self Help Group from Karunagapally, Kerala.

This collective of 15 skilled women artisans was trained by the Center for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality (CWEGE_Amrita). Their craftsmanship, rooted in tradition and purpose, represents the strength of rural women-led enterprises.

Through the Women’s Empowerment Project Store, these artisans are connected to urban markets, enabling sustainable livelihoods and fostering long-term economic resilience. Every bag carries a story of dedication, creativity, and the spirit of empowerment stitched into its fabric.

By choosing ethically made, customized products such as these, organizations not only ensure high-quality conference kits but also contribute to ethical production, environmental sustainability, and women’s empowerment.

The initiative highlights how meaningful collaborations between grassroots talent and global platforms can create impact far beyond the event halls, leaving lasting impressions of empowerment and sustainability.