During the Pandemic is a testament of collaborations based on mutual respect, trust, and solidarity. Anthropologist Dolly Kikon, Sisterhood Network, and Prodigal’s Home came together to campaign against sexual violence in 2014. Among other initiatives, the monograph Life and Dignity (2015) was part of their joint collaboration to address physical and sexual violence in Naga society. Since then, they have sustained the partnership and participated in campaigns to address gender violence in Nagaland.

In 2020, as friends reaching out to support one another during the lockdown in Australia and India, Dolly and Azungla’s conversations centered on the lives of women and children from vulnerable homes in Nagaland. Back home in Nagaland, Ela Sani and Azungla James, along with the organisations they worked for, were involved in rehabilitating women and children from abusive partners. The work was overwhelming and exhausting. Over the months, grassroots organizations faced challenges as the volume of gender violence related cases increased. Besides the psycho-social impact of the pandemic and increased workload on frontline social workers in Nagaland, the everyday trauma and difficulties for victims from violent homes was enormous.

Since the lockdown in India, schools have been shut to reduce the risk of infection. Many vulnerable children from violent homes have been unable to attend online schools due to the prevailing situation at home. They are also unable to afford mobile phones and computers. As a consequence, many children from such homes have dropped out of school during the pandemic. Grassroots organizations like Sisterhood Network and Prodigal’s Home have not only rehabilitated women and children but also provided resources like tuition and support for young persons who are impacted by violence at home.

During the Pandemic stands up with children and women impacted by gender-based violence. It celebrates the lives of vulnerable children, commitment of social workers, care providers, policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and volunteers in Nagaland and beyond.

As social workers like Azung and Ela worked with victims of gender violence, this meant long hours of meetings with lawyers, police, and traditional councils. The lockdown and the absence of school meant children from violent homes, and those rescued and staying in rehabilitation homes were also bored. They started drawing and sketching to keep themselves occupied. This is how the idea of holding an online art exhibition developed. Once the children, guardians, and social workers learnt about the art exhibition project, they were excited. Their art works to be exhibited! Really? Yeah! This was the feeling and the spirit. In the last four months, long emails and conversations between Melbourne and Dimapur kept everyone busy. From organizing volunteers, briefing social workers, seeking permission from the children and guardians, all the way to arranging time and space, crayons, and papers for the children to draw transformed everyone.