About
First Name:
Last Name:
Title and Organization:
Bio:
Shannon Dona Massar identifies as an Indigenous woman with roots in the Khasi, Monpa and Adi tribes of North East India. With a Master in Social Work from SNDT Women�s University - Mumbai, Shannon has more than 15 years of experience with a focus on indigenous human rights and child welfare. Shannon spent years in the field fighting for child rights and victims of human trafficking while working with renowned Mumbai-based
non-profits like Justice and Care and Save the Children India. In 2011, she decided to return to Shillong to pursue her dream of working for her communities and started her work with the State Child Protection Society (ICPS) and also taught at Martin Luther Christian University. With her heart set on building community-driven interventions, Shannon co-founded Faith Foundation, an organization dedicated to gender justice and children�s rights in Meghalaya. As its Director, she oversees its operations and has successfully expanded its reach, impacting 11000 children through partnerships with local schools and communities. In recognition of its deep commitment to community-based transformation, Faith Foundation was the 2023 recipient of the Global Fund for Children Dignity Award. Since 2014, Shannon has travelled internationally to participate in programmes like the Global Leadership School for indigenous women on Human Rights at the United Nations and Columbia University, further consolidating her commitment to global indigenous causes. She worked with international bodies such as the International Indigenous Women�s Forum and the UNFAO. Shannon has also shared her insights at various fora, including the �Heart of Her Nation Gathering� of the �Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples.�
Fellowship Program
Class
