Women Literacy Class "Meri Pehchaan"--First Milestone

Women Literacy Class "Meri Pehchaan" is really going good and interesting too.
A Journey of 4 months...made us reach upto e first milestone......
[Here "SHE" means each woman in the class]

She was very silent and shy to join the class. She fought, she had arguements with her mother in law, sister in law and husband to attend the class. She burnt her curry on Chulha while writing her homework. The initial days started somewhere in this way. She had interest to read English and know how to write her name in English and Hindi. But she did not ask any time what does she want. She did not know what she want. She was not interested to hear me on the Women Empowerment. It was all rubbish for her.
Days passed with Letters in Hindi and English then came the days of Math countings and addition and deletion. She became regular and her interest was clear to read a news paper or do the calculation in her shop or do the signature at her workplace.
One day she came and told me " Didi ek baat kahun, apko dhanyawad mujhe sign karna sikhane k liye. Aaj jab maine apne company main tankhwa le rahi thi to maine sign kia aur mere supervisor ne kaha, are tumhe sign karna ata hai fir tumne angutha kyun lagaya pichle baar..? to maine kaha pehle nahin ata tha ab sikh gayi hoon aur is kagaj par kya likha hai wo bhi padh sakti hoon, to unhone sabasi di mujhe. "
One day I was telling a story and she said its my story I have never thought who I am always been the Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother of someone, I dint have my own Identification. I have never said to someone that my name is "------" and not "---- ki maa or ---- ki biwi"Though I do double of the work my husband do but always heard "Mere liye thode hi kar rahi hai, chod de kaam".
She asked me Didi why dont we get the recognition at this age, why dont we have our own identification? What can we do on our own either we dont have scope or we dont have permission???
I had no answer for these questions...So still searching on....
Now she shares her personal and health problems too.. She asks to teach how save money...
She waits for the Saturday n Sunday now....to see the beautiful "akshars" on board.

Annual Day at Om Foundation

A great day it was.. It was the day of Annual Function at Om Foundation School. Both the students and teachers were very excited. Started with the Saraswati Vandana, and then samll kids performances and then play and dance and Instrumental play and speech and prize distribution. The unique thing marked was the participation of each and every student in the school.

The students from AID-Prayas tooo participated in many programs. The cute little Abju was just looking like a fairy in Pink Frock. Usha was nowhere from looking like a girl. Ajay as usual cute n smiley. Hridaya was filled was so much happiness like he has got something very precious in his life. Jia was looking pretty with her smiley dance.

The other student of Om Foundation like the Drummer was an allrounder in studies games and music and dance...Eyes were filled with tears of happiness that the kids are in a safe hand. Their future will be brightened by the wonderfull teachers and mentors.

Finally the "Pakodey" time was started and as usual a nice taste from the kitchen of Om Foundation.

Bal Sabha: An Experience sharing by a volunteer

On a Sunday evening away from the glistening weekend in a upward metro city I spend some time with children singing and dancing enacting and screaming in a beautifully decorated and tidy room with their Banner flashing "Teacher's DAy Balsabha" inside the lanes of a marganilized community right at the heart of the same city. Its pleasing to see the self confidence build up in these children and it reinstates the faith that giving right and equal opportunities to children from impoverished socio-economic communities gives them the platform to lead a diginified life and they are very much at par with the children from privileged segments of society its just the difference of economics here.

The childrens program was well planned and their performances were amazing. The play which depicts the importance of education in life and linking it to exploitation in the hands of contractors and middle man was a very well thought idea by the children and shows their power to connect to problems surrounding their lives.The flavours of their songs, dances and their surprises for us were a fun filled moment to cherish.

A welcoming Gesture from their families who invited us for "aftaar" - the evening feast on the holy month of fasting during Ramadan was delightining too. The way their families give due importance to education of their children as an essential part of their up bringing is surely laudable. Its mainly the financial circumstances of these families that they cannot afford to provide good school education to their children. When this small gap between their desire for their kids education and their own constraints seems impossible for them to fulfil that social groups like Prayas help to bridge those gaps.And the difference is reflected in the lives of the children and their families.

Such was an afternoon of seeing human hands carying for innocent lives.

Akanksha

Schedule of the classes

Just to update everyone about the schedule of the classes, and the respective class owners. New volunteers can look for volunteering opportunities at any of the aspects.

Senior batch

Owner: Nakul( 9810722449)

Teacher: Kulwinder Madam

Days: Monday- Friday

Timing: 3.30- 5.30 PM

Eureka Batch

Owner: Charu (9958363035)

Teacher: Kulwinder madam

Days: Monday- Friday

Timing: 3.30 PM- 5.30 PM

Junior Batch

Owner: Anvita( 9971546756)

Teacher: Jyoti Madam

Days: Monday- Friday

Timing: 5.30-7.30PM

Fresher Batch

Owner: Charu(9958363035)

Teacher: Jyoti Madam

Days: Monday-Friday

Timing: 5.30-7.30PM

ACTIVITY CLASSES

Senior and Eureka Batch

Days: Saturday and Sunday

Volunteers: Nakul, Charu, Arnav

Timing: 5-7 PM

Junior and Fresher Batch

Days: Sunday
Volunteers: Anvita and Garima

Timing: 5.30-7 PM

Women's classes

Owner: Linkan(9971150656)

Days: Saturday and Sunday

Timing: 6.30-7.30PM

Govt. School Library Initiative

Owner: Anand(9868883583)

Nitka(9999233133)

Days: Saturday

Timing: 8.00-9.30AM

Nuturing Independence this Independece day.

In the past, each year I used to celebrate Independence Day either at my school or at home watching parade on T.V listening to Patriotic bollywood movie songs. This Year Independence Day was different because I came out of my comfort zone to celebrate it with kids from Naya bans Basti.

I walked through a small alley towards a group of people where I saw three categories of people. First the kids who were holding tricolour Flags waving them proudly, second the proud parents who were looking at their kids and third a group of volunteers who were organising things in the background.

A small tent was erected in front of the one room school building which was decked with tricolours and other student made ornaments. The decoration was done by the kids themselves.

The volunteers most of them working professional have worked for past 5 years to bring the kids to the school and that showed in the way kids mingled up comfortably with them. As soon as I appear on the scene I was surrounded by kids eager to know my name while some of them just hugged me.

The programme started with national song “Jan Gan Man” with everyone joining the Chorus. This was followed by Saraswati Vandana and many other patriotic songs. It’s rare to see all children actively participating in stage performances but I saw, for each item a different set of students were on the stage even for compering each time a new smiling face came up. This left me wondering about the amount of effort that had gone behind it.

As the programme proceeded I was astonished to hear English Patriotic songs sung by students. They were as confident as singing if it is in their mother tongue. For next hour and half this colourful music continued to fill the air through the borrowed Masjid PA system.

After that it was the prize distribution ceremony where outstanding students were rewarded and there were also awards for overall personality improvement. The award ceremony ended with Chief Guest who was a Principal of Nai Disha(one of the school where these kids study) highlighting the importance of education.

The next phase was the most touching part of the whole event. A few parents were invited to speak about how their kids have improved since they have joined the school. One of them explained how he was critical about sending his girl to the school and now how proud he is, when his girl stood first in the class. There was another who said that his daughter was not able to speak to anyone and now after a year of schooling she is very confident and even speaks with visiting officer which even her parents fear to do. The third lady came to tears while thanking the volunteers for providing the opportunity to her kids which otherwise would have been impossible.

While being an eyewitness to the whole event, at the back of my mind I was thinking that this is what Independence means to people which most of us take for granted. These kids will remember this Independence Day and many more to come as steps towards their independence.

Then came the sweet distribution part where I assumed the responsibility of distributing Ladoos(Since this was kind of thing that can be done without preparation). I saw faces lit up when I handed laddoo’s to the kids and a beautiful smile crossed each lips in the anticipation.

It’s been a long time since I have sung “Jan gun Man” and other patriotic songs in loud voice. This experience jolted lots of childhood memories within and evoked patriotic feelings. This truly was a different Independence day that I have celebrated till now.

Gurinder

Desh ki aazaadi ne di humein
Azadi har sawal ko suljhane ki
Azadi niraksharta k andhere ko mitane ki
Azadi rang,jaat,dharm k bhed bhao ko hatane ki
Ae desh tujhe naman..

Freedom gave us wing to fly and make our dreams come true ,freedom gave us rights to enlighten our nation with the light of education and awareness. Thanks to all the martyrs of our motherland to give us life of freedom. We the AID-Prayas family cordially invite you on the eve of Independence Day celebration on 15th August 2010

Venue : - AID-Prayas new center Nayabans, Sector 16, NOIDA.Timing : - 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

We would allow you a glimpse of the events we would be celebrating on Independence Day at AID-PRAYAS:-

• Welcoming by Kids
• National Anthem
• I – Day introduction speech
• Prize Distribution
• Patriotic songs
• Poem recitation
• Cultural Song
• Saraswati Vandana
• Theme based Play
• Experience sharing by Parents & honourable Guests
• Vote of Thanks
• Refreshment(Laddoos)
  

We invite u to join us on Sunday Aug 15th @ New Center, Sector 16, NOIDA for Independence Day celebration at AID-Prayas.

Warm Regards,
Prayas Team

Teach a Woman, Teach a Family

Blue Haze…
The night looms larger
As she lights the chulha
The daily chores as always , remain pending..
She an ordinary housewife, her husband a farmer..

Blue haze settles down in a full moon light,
She oils the lamp, looking out for the glimpse of the retreating husband, If she might..
She briskly tidies the cosy little house
Shooing away a scurrying mouse!

Her husband returns exhausted from all day’s labour
Washes hands and sits down for a meal to savour..
She has already put her little children to sleep.
The husband quietly takes a peep!!
The day is done, another life’s battle won.

She quickly finishes her food,
Humming a folk song or two..
She is an ordinary woman but has no time to brood..
Life has set a challenge, she has accepted it too!

She quietly opens the box of steel
To take out a slate and few battered notebooks, sharpens her pencils
Strong and independent, that’s what they make her feel

She has to attend a night school
She hurries and crosses the village’s pool

This is a woman who knows her value,
Unlike celebs, and painted faced women,
She doesn’t bigmouths women’s liberty
Content with her life , taking it all as good omen
But she sails thru life, merrily past the Blue Haze,
It thins as she cuts across it , a farmer’s wife!
This lovely life and her small world shine through her face

AID- Prayas female literacy classes finally managed to come out of the gestation period, all thanks to the efforts of Linkan Subudhi and Charu. But why female literacy only? Because its mothers who transform a house into a home! The community has realized the value of education, from the flourishing changes in their children who attend quality schools. You enter the community, and often women approach you -- “ मैडम जी हमारे बच्चे को ले लो अपनी क्लास में... इसको पढ़ना बहुत अच्छा लगता है “ .. It is often heartening to see this rise in awareness level. So the Prayas team finally decided to harness the awareness by targeting the females within the community. After ladies in the community displayed interest in family planning sessions, our team came up with the female literacy classes. The name “ Meri pehchaan” was thought of by women from within the community . Ulterior reasons for these classes were to increase the faith in education, to target dedicated families, to empower females. Teenage girls cannot attend schools due to social stigmas, few women who have already passed the age of learning, but still brim with eagerness, will be facilitated by these classes. The classes kick started with 100% attendance. Nagma, one of our students in these classes signed the application proudly saying, now she can write her name! Prayas volunteers dream of the day, when the community will rise, realize and become self sustainable.
Lately Prayas volunteers like Pulkit, Aakanksha are getting involved into numerous other activities apart from quality education, like health front, less smoke chulhas. With varied efforts from our volunteers, there seems to be a lot of buzz in and around AID-Prayas.
We have also come up with our new centers within the community, and have begun with our intervention in the Govt School. A small quiz/play session was organized by volunteers like Nitka, Darshan, Anuradha, for students of the govt school to get an insight into the level of children IQ in the school. We thought upon the possibilities of utilizing the new laid out Right to Education in our framework, and going by it, we would be intervening to standardize the library in the Govt School.
Learning from the past, looking ahead

Anvita Shukla

क्या तुझे पता है की हम गणतन्त्र दिवस क्यू मनाते है?

We do not find opportunities to celebrate; it’s just that the right reasons and right people collided for yet another eventful afternoon, on 26 Jan 2010.
Prayas’ new centre had been bustling with activity from past two three weeks. Reason being the approaching republic day, and we had planned a small celebration within the community for the same. The focus idea was to reach out to more people in the community, and also giving the community members an insight to the growth of the child, post enrollment in Prayas. The show was hosted and presented by the children themselves. From patriotic songs to one act plays, to individual speech, we had it all. Where the evergreen patriotic songs talked about the efforts of freedom fighters, the mono act plays talked about the reason why we celebrate the republic day, and highlighted a very essential issue of “Child marriage”. It has been the because of the combined efforts of children and volunteers that we have been able to come up with a pool of students, impeccably clean, and are able to face the crowd and stage, and talk in English.
Our children always work as a catalyst for our spirits. Seeing them putting extra hours after the regular school hours, to prepare for the Republic Day celebrations made us work with all the more zeal! No wonder our teacher Mrs. Khare could not deny children to join the choir and sing (though those extra kids had not prepared for the song, just heard and memorized them watching the elders in their batch perform!!). Seefat and Parveena almost knocked off the microphone, thanks to their enthusiasm. A few of the elder children came up with their 3 year old experiences related to Prayas. Since this time almost every event was put up by children, so we had few of our budding speakers coming up with their experiences. And the surprise package was Julekha’s impromptu speech! From a hesitating dull child, to a bright student, a beautiful girl, and a super enthusiastic and a confident kid, the transformation was something which made a few reach out for their handkerchief. And none of the children seemed to have the thing called “stage phobia”, which makes several grownups shudder at least once while holding the microphone. I believe these transformations are the results which have been desired for long by dedicated AID – Prayas team.
Two children were picked up from each of the three batches to reward for their energy, efforts, regular attendance, cleanliness, and academics performance. The names of these children are Sajjad, Soobi, Gulsed, Gudiya, Parveena and Sonu. Needless to mention that the tradition of “laddoo” and banana distribution was also a part of the celebration. We had parents flocking in for enrollments after the function. Anuradha took care of all enrollments.
The volunteer team is working on making the I-card for every child enrolled in the center. We have also diversified our efforts, by organizing a family planning session. Linkan, Charu, Aakanksha, Darshan, our new teacher Mrs Jyoti Khare, and Nakul, all these people worked tirelessly to make this event a success.
More to go, more to explore, and more to conquer.

Jai Hind!!

Anvita Shukla

Small is sublime!

The family planning awareness session we conducted last Sunday witnessed an encouraging participation from the community. We would only know whether or not it was a success in the months to come, if we execute the follow-up plans. Nevertheless, 35+ women opened up about their issues in front of the lady doctor (it was rather disappointing on the male side), and many even expressed keen interest in availing contraceptives and other birth control measures. This time, the two doctors were arranged via NGO Noida Lok Manch, but we continue to stress on exploiting the existing govt channels, through which we earlier managed a clean-up drive. Here are some concerns raised during the interaction, each followed by how the doc tried to counter it (courtesy: Linkan's notes):

1. Women are powerless, and have little say in determining the number of their own children. Husbands taunts them questioning why they have an issue with more kids if the men have none in raising them.
A: It's a tough ask, but women to have to assert themselves more. Silent obedience may avert a short term tussle, but will ensure lasting pain for the individual and her kids.

2. Patriarchy: The family continues producing children until a boy is born.
A: Girls are usually more caring and likely to look after them in their times of trouble. Also, we need to identify girls who can be projected as role models from the community and drive home the point that girls are equally, if not more, likely to make a parent proud.

3. Religious blindfolds: Getting operated is not 'permitted'.
A: This is a misinterpretation. Every religion encourages kids only to the extent that enables you to ensure a quality life - not mere survival - for each of them.

4. The human resources argument: The more, the merrier
A: She cited the story of Pandavas and Kauravas to convey that it's logical thinking and hard work that take you far in life, not the number of kids. Another obvious counter is that parents have an undeniable responsibility to provide good upbringing to their kids, and that's nearly impossible with more than two children, given their limited monetary and other resources.

5. Having more sons is sometimes correlated with more strength, in the sense that the women of such families are less likely to be teased/molested.
A: In today's world, physical strength counts for nothing. It's all about your skills and values.

Action items going forward:

• Follow up individually with the list of women who came forward, esp. those that sought birth control means. Pick and take along a female representative from the community.
• Identify a role model (small-is-prosperous type) family from the community and showcase it in our informal interactions as well as events starting with Jan 26.
• Identify girls who can be projected as role models from the community, to turn people's opinion on girl children around.
• Investigate the possibility of monthly meetings of women with some of our female volunteers, so that they have a forum to voice their worries, including those on family planning.
• Since the prominent causes of large family sizes are cultural (as opposed to medical), explore a session by an activist, incorporating other gender issues too.

- Pulkit [Blog: Let's spoil Nero's party!, Gmail: pulkitparikh]