Empowering Women in Electric Mobility
Our Hub in Kochi
The Kochi Hub of WE Drive Change is a vibrant network of local women leaders, transport officials and civil society organisations working together to make urban mobility safer and more inclusive. Through data-driven advocacy, community-led solutions, and creative collaboration, the hub empowers women to shape the future of transport in their city.
Publications
Find insights on gender equity in e-mobility.
Building Safer Mobility Systems: Gender Inclusive Approaches from Kochi
Trainings
Future Living Lab Activities
Happening in 2025:
3 possible Demonstrations in Kochi
1. “Safe & Seamless Mobility Corridors” – Demonstration in 3 Neighbourhoods
Objective: Create three fully integrated, women- and community-friendly mobility corridors in key Kochi neighbourhoods (e.g., Fort Kochi, Vyttila, and Vypin).
Features:
• NMT Infrastructure: Marked and safe pedestrian paths, cycle tracks, and docking stations
• Smart Safety Infrastructure: Street lighting, CCTV, AI-supported train crossing alerts (Vathuruthy)
• Signage & Info Panels: Gender-sensitive public transport info
• Wayfinding for Public Toilets & Transport Stops
• Monitoring System: Pre/post data collection to measure changes in perception and usage
Impact: Visibly safer, more accessible environments for women, children, and vulnerable groups across diverse urban contexts.
Happening in 2025: 3 possible Demonstrations in Kochi
“Women on Wheels” Pilot – Training, Vehicles & Ecosystem Support
Objective: Launch and support a cohort of women-driven electric auto rickshaws operating in key zones of Kochi.
Features:
• Driver Training & Certification: Safety, navigation, and customer care
• Vehicle Procurement or Rental Scheme: 10–15 e-autos with branding
• Docking Stations & Charging Access
• Real-Time Tracking via App or QR Codes
• Awareness Campaign: Promote the use of women-driven transport
Impact: Safer transport options for women by women; job creation; changes in social norms; scalable to other cities.
Happening in 2025: 3 possible Demonstrations in Kochi
“Inclusive Mobility Lab” – Community-Led Mobility Innovation Space
Objective: Set up a year-long lab in Kochi that acts as a participatory design studio, testbed, and training hub.
Features:
• Mobility Studio: Co-creation of quick-win prototypes (benches, bus stops, shade zones, etc.)
• Public Design Charettes: Involve CSOs, women, students in iterative problem-solving
• Mobile Demonstration Units: Pop-up exhibitions of safe zone concepts
• Gender Audits & Training Programs
• Digital Storytelling: Capture journeys of women and challenges in public space
Impact: Builds long-term capacity in Kochi for inclusive urban design, while piloting scalable small interventions.
Opportunity Pathways
At WE DRIVE CHANGE we collaborates with local companies, government agencies, universities, and NGOs to provide training, internships, and fast-track employment pathways. We advocate for policy changes to improve women's employment conditions and create clear career pathways to ensure more women enter and thrive in the mobility sector. Additionally, we address challenges like part-time work, gender bias, and caregiving responsibilities.
Partnership with CSO
NGO working in the field of rehabilitation of persons with physical and mental challenges.
Partnership with CSO
Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development
An independent non-profit that advocates for and promotes social inclusion of migrants in India.
Partnership with CSO
Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies
An independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, promoting policy and action-oriented research, consultancy and training programmes.
Partnership with CSO
Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC)
An umbrella organization for residents' associations in Ernakulam district, Kerala.
Partnership with CSO
Ernakulam Jilla Auto Drivers Cooperative Society (EJADCS)
They supports the integration of auto-rickshaws into Kochi’s public transport system to ensure affordable and seamless last-mile connectivity.
Partnership with CSO
Ente Kochi Unite Charitable Trust
The motive is Education & Literacy, Health & Family Welfare, Human Rights, Women's Development & Empowerment, Youth Affairs, Any Other, Skill Development.
Partnership with CSO
She Cycling
Empowers women in Kochi by teaching them how to cycle. The initiative aims to increase women's mobility, independence, and confidence while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation.
Partnership with CSO
An enthusiastic group of people who have taken up running as a group for a healthy and positive life.
Partnership with CSO
Partnership with CSO
A body established by the Kerala government to ensure justice and equality for transgender individuals in the state.
Partnership with CSO
Partnership with CSO
Partnership with CSO
Sacred Heart College - NSS Unit
One of the best NSS (National Service Scheme) units, provides a vast ground for preparing and training students for delivering community services.
Partnership with CSO
A non-profit organization committed to nurturing a society based on peace, justice, reconciliation, and respect for life.
Partnership with CSO
A not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that strives to channelize the power of productive youth engagement on various fronts to facilitate Youth-Led Development.
Partnership with CSO
Goshree Action Council
Refers to the Ernakulam-Vypin Bridges Action Council, a citizen's group.
Partnership with CSO
Swaraksha
An initiative towards Child Empowerment, upholding Child Rights, Safety and Protection, and against Child Sexual Abuse.
Collaborations
Discover how WE DRIVE CHANGE is making an impact around the world. In Kochi, we are starting to collaborate with the Kochi Metro and local companies to offer training for women, explore job opportunities and expand our data knowledge to better inform inclusive mobility solutions.
Projects
Discover our projects in Kigali, each dedicated to advancing e-mobility and empowering women. From providing job opportunities to trainings and demonstration projects, these initiatives aim to drive sustainable development and gender equity in the electric mobility sector.
MobiliseHER Project
Focus: MobiliseHER focuses on making urban transport safer and more inclusive for women and marginalised groups.
Activities: The project works with local governments and civil society to collect data, run workshops and co-create solutions.
Goal: It aims to reduce gender-based barriers in mobility and support equitable access to public space.
Urban Pathways Project
Focus: Urban Pathways supports low-carbon urban development in mobility, energy and waste.
Activities: The project works with cities to develop action plans, pilot projects and policy advice.
Goal: It aims to improve urban services while reducing emissions and supporting the SDGs.
Advocate and Influence
Explore our comprehensive factsheets and policy briefs, designed to inform and engage stakeholders on the important role of women in the e-mobility sector. Discover statistics demonstrating how e-mobility can elevate wages, insights on empowering women through inclusive design, and recommendations for regulatory adaptations to enhance women's participation in this transformative field.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.