From 10–11 September 2026, a two-day conference on inclusion took place in Leh, organised by the Department of Social Work at Eliezer Joldan Memorial College.

The aim of the conference was to bring together professionals from various fields across India to discuss current social issues and explore joint approaches to building inclusive and sustainable communities. The event was attended by 135 participants from 46 different institutions across 18 Indian states, including academics, researchers, social workers, professionals and students. Participants had the opportunity to submit abstracts and present their research projects. A wide range of sessions on various topics were on offer.

We were actively invited, and our staff members Bilquis Fatima and Archo Fatima took part in the event with great interest.
Please read their report:

We ran a stand for Rewa, where we showcased our children’s activities such as craftwork, pottery and painting, and distributed information leaflets about our organisation to participants.

The conference was extremely fruitful. We attended the session on mental health, which was led by renowned scientists who informed us about various aspects of mental health and its significance in daily life.

During the session, one of the academics highlighted an important point: our gut health is directly linked to our mental health. He explained that stress and anxiety can have a negative impact on our digestive system, which underlines the importance of good mental health.

We also attended the session on gender education, during which the academics explained that gender education plays a crucial role in building an inclusive and equitable society.

Bilquis Fatima and Archo Fatima

Overall, it was a very interesting and inspiring training programme that enabled us to exchange ideas and network with colleagues from across India.