Qualifications:

Bachelor of Fisheries science, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, 2020
Master of Social work, Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2025

Email: shanija@dakshin.org

Profile: Over the past few years, Shanija has been exploring diverse communities and domains across India as part of her ongoing learning journey. Her curiosity about people, systems, and their relationships with the environment has taken her across rural, tribal, and coastal regions.

Along the way, she has also been part of learning spaces and networks across India and beyond, and through the LedBy Fellowship, she continues to build her professional capacity. Her experiences include working closely with Adivasi communities in Odisha on localised health and nutrition interventions rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, and with farmers in Kerala on community-led water conservation and climate-resilient practices. She has also engaged with organisations focusing on youth leadership and social transformation. These experiences have deepened her understanding of how local knowledge and collective action can bring positive change in communities.

Shanija joined Dakshin Foundation’s SeaChange Programme to integrate her background in fisheries and social work while learning from coastal and island communities. Her work reflects a deep interest in bridging ecological and social well-being through inclusive, community-centered approaches.

Outside of work, she enjoys slow travel, going on photowalks, and having deeper conversations. Lately, she has been exploring what leisure looks like for women and how they, including herself, create space for joy and rest in everyday life.