Destination Nawalgarh: Where Sustainability Meets Community Enterprise
Abstract
Destination Nawalgarh project addresses maternal mortality and women’s economic opportunity by proposing a doula pathway and craft-based empowerment that combines health, culture, and sustainable community impact. This project was developed in close collaboration with local community partners in Nawalgarh, India, including Podar College and women employed within the local tourism and hospitality sector.
Community partners identified two pressing needs: improved maternal support to address high maternal mortality rates and increased, sustainable economic opportunities for women. Through conversations with faculty at Podar College, healthcare professionals, and local women, the team worked to understand existing maternal health gaps, cultural considerations around childbirth, and workforce limitations. Based on this input, students co-developed a proposed doula or birth companion pathway with Podar College that aligns with local education structures and creates employable roles for women while supporting expectant mothers with culturally appropriate care. Additionally, the project explored opportunities to expand women’s economic agency; this initiative responds directly to women’s interest in income diversification, skills recognition, and peer mentorship.
The value of this project to the community lies in its community-informed, sustainable approach. Rather than imposing external solutions, the initiatives build on existing institutions, skills, and cultural strengths, offering scalable models that support maternal health, women’s empowerment, and long-term economic resilience within the broader community.
Start Time
15-4-2026 10:40 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 11:00 AM
Room Number
Reece Museum
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Community Engagement Showcase
Destination Nawalgarh: Where Sustainability Meets Community Enterprise
Reece Museum
Destination Nawalgarh project addresses maternal mortality and women’s economic opportunity by proposing a doula pathway and craft-based empowerment that combines health, culture, and sustainable community impact. This project was developed in close collaboration with local community partners in Nawalgarh, India, including Podar College and women employed within the local tourism and hospitality sector.
Community partners identified two pressing needs: improved maternal support to address high maternal mortality rates and increased, sustainable economic opportunities for women. Through conversations with faculty at Podar College, healthcare professionals, and local women, the team worked to understand existing maternal health gaps, cultural considerations around childbirth, and workforce limitations. Based on this input, students co-developed a proposed doula or birth companion pathway with Podar College that aligns with local education structures and creates employable roles for women while supporting expectant mothers with culturally appropriate care. Additionally, the project explored opportunities to expand women’s economic agency; this initiative responds directly to women’s interest in income diversification, skills recognition, and peer mentorship.
The value of this project to the community lies in its community-informed, sustainable approach. Rather than imposing external solutions, the initiatives build on existing institutions, skills, and cultural strengths, offering scalable models that support maternal health, women’s empowerment, and long-term economic resilience within the broader community.
