Urmila Chanam, Founder and Director

An anthropologist by education, she is a social worker with thirteen years experience in water-sanitation-hygiene, rural development, public health and HIV/AIDS program and working with marginalised communities: transgender/sexual minority groups, drug users, female sex workers, children living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, farmers, women and child, and people in the villages with international organizations like United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Family Health International (FHI360), Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS), Manipur Legislators HIV/AIDS Forum, International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD)- Northeast Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP),

Umesh Kumar, Co-Founder and Director

With a background in teaching and education, he holds the dual charge of Managing Trustee of Model Governance Foundation (MGF) and member of the governing body of Alexis Society under which many national conferences and consultations are organised in India centred around youth engagement and youth leadership. He is also a real estate businessman, an enthusiast traveller and a proactive visionary involved in International Youth Forum for Policy Change and Development, Model Indian Governance, a village movement (गाँव चलें हम), Indian Law Conclave, Indian Leadership Summit, Let's Do It India Chapter (A mission for Clean India and green India), Samvad and Global Ethics and Values Convention. He is based in New Delhi.

Nujo John, Program Head, Men Take Lead Ride

An electronic engineer and MBA by education, he is an education consultant based in Bengaluru, Karnataka with experience of working with several companies like ACT Broadband, The Gate Academy, Bangalorestudy.com, Wayzon Digital and freelancing. Nujo is a member of India Bull Riders (IBR), a pan India bullet bikers club, a lover of adventure, enthusiast traveller and a staunch humanitarian contributing support and help to different social causes and relief operations during natural calamities. Men Take Lead Ride was his brain child where rights of menstruating girls/women joined hands with the world of bikes, rallies and men.

Binapani Ningombam, Communications Head

A software developer based in New Delhi with eight years experience in different domains like retail, insurance and government using different technologies, she is currently working with Infogain Pvt. Ltd in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. MCA by qualification under the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), her role involves end to end analysis of the client’s requirement, giving suggestions and ideas, estimating efforts and chartering timelines, implementation and meeting client’s needs. For Breaking the Silence, Binapani has been the sole designer and host of our website and web-based communication of all our programs and milestones. She is also a gifted singer.

Silvia Rimai, Imphal and Ukhrul District Coordinator

A Masters in Political Science from Manipur University, Silvia was involved in student union work during her college and university days and has been a pro-active youth ambassador in Tangkhul Church in Imphal and Ukhrul districts organising events like seminars and competitions at city and district levels and participating in educational and relief related initiatives. Silvia coordinates our outreach in two districts in Manipur in schools and education institutions and the community, be it the church, women groups or the village development authority since 2015 when Breaking the Silence began its work on ground.

Agui Kamei, Noney and Tamenglong District Coordinator

A trained pharmacist with experience of running a medical store for almost a decade in Noney district bazaar, Agui Kamei is also one of the well known broadcasting journalists in the state of Manipur. A correspondent of All India Radio, Doordarshan Kendra Imphal and The People’s Chronicle, he carries the gigantic responsibility of relaying news and developments from the most isolated hill regions in the state. He has been a part of Breaking the Silence family since 2018 coordinating outreach and advocacy on MHM in two districts of Manipur.

Sharon Mather, Advisor

A professional writer, editor and photographer, Sharon co-founded the Voices of Women Worldwide (VOWW) to provide a platform for women to voice their positive voices in the quest for gender equality worldwide. Women write, connect to each other, debate on some very controversial topics including female genital mutiliation, child marriage in India, rape, war atrocities but the main objective of VOWW is to find solutions to take women forward, empower all women where they can join in the future as equals and respected citizens of the world. Sharon has been a valuable asset to us in research and knowledge sharing on gender, women collectives, MHM and family planning.

Laimayum Bashanta Sharma, Advisor

Publisher of The Morning Bell, an upcoming English newspaper in Manipur, he is also an enterpreneur and film producer based in Imphal. A visionary and a global citizen who travels around the world seeking innovations and best practices to replicate in Manipur and facilitate development of youth and community, he is an advocate of zero waste, his enterpreneurship is based on manufacture of biodegradable bags to replace polythene bags. MA, LL.B and post graduate in Journalism and Mass Communications, he has been our advisor and supporter since 2015.