I got an opportunity to work with the Sehgal Foundation for a small assignment. During this assignment, I visited some villages in Mewat(Nuh) district along with Crystal Harris. She had come from the State of Iowa, United States. She belongs to the World Food Prize organization. We both started the day with the celebration of womanhood on International Women’s Day. The day was full of celebration and enjoyment. Many Panchayat members, field workers, and other staff presented their views on women’s issues. We heard many success stories. Women and girls from villages were excited to share their experiences. The topics were related to the issues of women’s empowerment. The theme of the Women’s Day event was to change the mindset ( Nazariya) of everyone towards womenfolk. It was a wonderful day listening to the experiences of the grassroots workers.
EXPERIENCE AT COMMUNITY RADIO CENTER ( ALFAZ-E-MEWAT)
Community Radio Center is a unique initiative by the Sehgal Foundation in collaboration with the Government of India. It has given voice to the people of the region. It has created a phenomenon of the community-led development process. We visited the community radio center at the Ghaghas village in Mewat district. It was an amazing experience talking to people who are responsible for coordinating the activities at the center. Definitely, the community radio center has become a platform for villagers to discuss their problems and social issues. Many children participated in various activities. They also discussed issues that are generally considered taboo in our society. Not only this, as per one newspaper report, community radio has also helped people in the villages during the demonetization period.
I had the opportunity to record a live show on the radio regarding exam fever. How not to be stressed during the examination. I recorded my voice first time on a radio and it was such an amazing feeling. I told the children to stay calm during the examination. They only need to revise things when exams are near. There is no need to read new things. Students should take proper sleep before going for an examination.
TEACHING AT DIGITAL LITERACY CLASS
We both also got the opportunity to teach digital things to adolescent girls in Nangal village. It was a great experience talking to girls here. They were really excited to know more and more about digital things. Here, we talked about various apps as well as internet banking etc. For instance, BHIM App, USSD, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter etc. After telling all these things, we both were really curious to know about their dreams so we gave them the assignment to write about their dreams. It was an amazing feeling to know their dreams and aspirations. They want to study more. Some of them want to become a teacher. Most of them want to pursue a career in the medical field and become doctors or nurses. They were also complaining about financial hardships as well as the lack of availability of facilities.
We also talked about their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone was eagerly coming forward to discuss their strengths and weaknesses. One of the most important weaknesses was that all of them want to learn the English language. I request Sahgal Foundation provide some facilities for the English language for the girls living in these villages.
Visited a Primary School, Life Skills Center, and the Check Dam site
On the last day of our visit, we interacted with the women of life skills center. They were learning to stitch. When we reached there, they were so much excited to show whatever they have made recently. They were very enthusiastic about discussing their learning experiences.
We also visited a primary school. The renovation and coloring of the building were done by Sehgal Foundation in collaboration with Mosaic Fertilizers. The school was looking bright and in fact, it was amazing to see all the graffiti on the wall of the school.
The most interesting thing was the see-saw machine. It was serving a dual purpose. Children can play on the see-saw as well as due to their playing activity the water will be pumped into the tank. It was an innovative and skillful initiative by the Foundation. It needs to be adopted in all the schools in the country.
Lastly, we visited a check dam in Firozpur-Zirka block of Mewat district. It was built by Mewat Development Authority in collaboration with Coca-Cola India and SM Sehgal Foundation in 2012. This check dam has turned out to be a boon for the villagers in this area. Villagers were earlier facing severe water scarcity. As per a report, it was found that the groundwater level has increased by about 100 meters in this area. Not only this, it has also provided facilities for irrigation for agricultural purposes.
I had a great learning experience understanding the work done by the Foundation. It needs to be replicated in other areas also. I had a great conversation with Crystal Harris. She was a great human being. She was very much inclined to do whatever can be done for girls in the villages. I hope that this kind of good work will continue with great vigor for the welfare of the people in rural areas of India.
I am happy to announce that SEHGAL FOUNDATION has published my blog in their newsletter(April 2017). Please find the article here: http://www.smsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/MyexperienceswithSehgalFoundation_blogbyRitambharaClean1.pdf
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