‘PSO opens a new window to the world they are catering for’

PSO has a new member on its International Advisory Board (IAB). Ms. Vasanti Rao, from India replaces Ms. Sheela Patel. She was introduced to PSO by Alfonso Gumucio-Dagron, also a board member. She joined because Gumucio-Dagron told her that PSO is doing important work and that she would be the perfect person to provide the organization with the Asian perspective on development work.

Experience

Ms. Vasanti has more than 20 years of experience in the development field. A social psychology and management post-graduate, she specialises in studies on media habits and on behavioural patterns of children and women. 'My interest and passion is in improving the quality of life of women and children; the most effected by poverty and inequitable societies. I also work at changing regressive social norms and policy that effect them. Therefore, my work is quite multidisciplinary in nature including poverty, labour, gender, health, education, structural reforms and environment as all of these factors directly impact lives of women and children in our communities.' 

Research

She also has experience in designing, conducting and monitoring both qualitative and quantitative research. Ms. Vasanti is the director of CMS, an independent, non-profit and multi-disciplinary organisation in India, dedicated to research-driven initiatives. And what happens to the outcome of these researches? 'We use research for policy advocacy, capacity development and enabling better program initiatives. We also use the media as an important instrument to bring attention to the issues highlighted in our research. We also try to share our research in various fora including film festivals and through entertainment education. Civil society is another critical sector that we work with; including their capacities and knowledge generation.'

The new board member has a 5 year mandate and she intends to spend this time very well. ‘PSO is in a state of transition,’ she says. ‘I can help in guiding and providing the Asian perspective in developing the new format that the organization is working on. To give PSO the ground realities, new thinking and trends in the development sector; from bottom up.’

Outside world

Ms. Vasanti, who joined the board at the beginning of this year, participated in the annual meeting of IAB in The Hague that was held from January 25-29, 2010. How does she feel about her first IAB meeting? ‘By having international people in their organizational system, PSO opens a new window to the world they are catering for. IAB gives a perspective of the outside world, a view from the South. And that is very important.’

The meeting of the IAB was Vasanti’s first encounter with PSO. It was an experience she wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon. ‘I have been impressed by their work and their passion. As a southern player, I had never realized that they are so passionate about what they are doing. It’s an eye-opener for me.'