By the Way (Part 2)

Ever seen the scene behind the stage. There is always back stage performance. Not a single but so many at time. And what a chaos in the green room. Participants are unfortunate as they can not see the performance of other participants. Some still try to watch from the backstage but then the loud voice of the coordinator comes and they run into the greenroom. This time the coordinator of the show seems to be the most important and the busiest man of the evening. Naveen was backstage waiting for his turn to come. He had 3 performances with muscle injury in shoulder. Just struggling to give his best one.. There is another person with the struggle. The Dance Guru of our dance center. Struggling with himself and with the participants also so that they can perform well.. Well.. for this addition the introduction is ok.. We’ll see him in next addition.. By the Way.. He is”The Abey "

Naveen got admission into Interior designing course. What a shift. From B. Com to Dance to This one. It seems he is trying to find his path.

Here Meenu is in celebratory mood she has finished her one year in the office. She was behaving like a kid that day, madly dancing.. She is going with me to Delhi for some review meet, she is happy. Im also happy when she is happy. Actually Im always happy when people around me are happy..

PRAVAH JAIPUR NEWSLETTER APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2010

EXTENSIVE JOURNEY

Café Mohalla

The start for Café Mohalla’s second season took place on 15^th May after a break due to the examination period. In this welcoming meeting the participants got a glimpse on what happened in the May Open Workshop on Comics, Theatre and Filmmaking. This was realized through a film and a slideshow about the workshop. This meeting was very fruitful in the sense that the idea on Water Conservation Campaign was presented by one of the volunteers. This was a kick off for intensive period of action around the topic.

In the second Café Mohalla’s meeting in June the topic dealt was sexual harassment. We also got to see and try some self-defense techniques in the aftermath of self-defense workshop. In the same gathering we also had the pleasure to hear the inspiring thoughts of Asharf Patel, the founder of Pravah, as she visited the event.

One more chance to be present in interesting discussions and enjoy the good company of Pravah-oriented people was on June 26^th, as the last Café Mohalla of June 2010 took place. We had an interesting session led by Meenakshi about evaluating our own values. We learned about the importance on understanding the values through which we operate and make our daily decisions. In addition this Café Mohalla had an exotic flavor due to the Finnish dish perunasaalatti that was served, and due to the energizer where the participants had the chance to learn some Finnish.. Paa, olkapaa, peppu, polvet, varpaat…

Resource library

16 new books and 4 films are added in the library

INTENSIVE JOURNEY

CVU team

The past three months have been full of action for the CVU team. In April the team finished the screening of the first film with the theme Water Conservation. This film awoke positive reactions in the community people. Some of them initiated to accept suggestions given in the film considering water conservation. Also the production for second CVU film started in April with the theme Road safety. CVU team had meetings in the communities, and our partner Muskaan also gave out its contribution to the film.

Road safety theme was chosen as a topic because the theme touches everyone. A considerable amount of accidents happen in Jaipur, and CVU team wanted to spread awareness about how to prevent them and how to act I case of an accident. This film was prepared to prevent the accidents. Short after finishing the second film it was time to start planning the third one. The themes that people in bastis have suggested for this film are education, sanitation and environment.

CVU team has also taken a new step in to a new field by preparing two radio-programs on Water Conservation and on Right to Information. These were done in cooperation with One World South Asia. The team would like to thank Kavita Srivasdava from Pucl and Dr. Awadh Prasad from Vinoba Bhave Gyan Mandir for their assistance in producing these programs.

KHULLA MANCH

Water Conservation Campaign (24^th – 31^st May)

Currently there is one problem tangible to everyone living in Jaipur area – water scarcity. In one of the Cafe Mohalla meetings, one volunteer came up with the idea of starting an action project on water conservation. Everybody thought that it is a great idea, because each one of the group could very easily relate to it. The group felt that it is their place to do something about the problem. So they did!

This energetic campaign was realized through performing street plays and giving out booklets, which consists of information on the topic in the form of comics. Besides informing others on the matter of water conservation and its importance, the volunteers participating in the campaign had the possibility to get deeper understanding on the phenomena. The whole process started with orientation on the topic during one week.

Pravah volunteers managed to reach a considerable amount of people, approximately 700 persons, and they reported that the response from the public was mainly very positive. This campaign is yet another example on how it is possible to contribute on important matters and learn new things through methods that are enjoyable and fun for everyone.

The Water Conservation Campaign (along one of the volunteers Mohita Khilwani):

Campaign started with meetings held everyday for a week. The first week’s orientation consisted also of a visit to “Vinobha Ashram” with the purpose to learn about rain water harvesting. One of the major stereotypes that the team members had regarding this method was that it is really complicated, but in fact the techniques were extremely simple and easy to implement.

The group of volunteers chose comics and theatre as tools for spreading awareness. The group was assisted in the preparation of the play by the very talented "ASIF SHER ALI KHAN" popularly known as Asif Bhai. Some members of the group put their creative strokes forward and designed some comics which were then distributed amongst the various sects of society. The places were the campaign was realized were:

- 28th may: Bapu Nagar.

- 29th may: Central Park and Nehru Park as well as Birla Mandir.

- 30th May: Jaldhara and Gaurav Towers.

To read more about the campaign and Mohita’s thoughts, visit www.pravahjaipur.blogspot.com

Self-defense workshop

PJI is all about giving young people the possibility take action in matters important to them. Banwari, one of the volunteers suggested that he could organize a workshop around self-defense-theme. The idea was born when he realized that many girls in India are subjected to sexual harassment and eve-teasing. According to Banwari especially girls need the skills on how to take care of themselves in threatening situations.

There were 11 participants in the workshop, from which 9 were girls. Banwari, who himself has a black belt in Taekwondo taught the participants basic techniques of karate, self-defense, pressure points and defense mechanisms. Workshop was a success: the participants reported feeling empowered, and considered the methods learned very useful. Positive feedback was also given on the discipline and time-management of the workshop. When it comes to the negative feedback some participants stated that the workshop was a bit too short.

Banwari himself thinks that all in all the workshop went very well. There were some moments, however, when he felt that things are not going as planned. In the beginning of the workshop there was some confusion around the roles between the instructor, Banwari, and the participants. These problems were solved after discussing with participants about the matter. Now afterwards Banwari concludes that solving these problems taught him a lot. Now he understands how important it is to communicate and share things with others.

Now there are plans to start a new workshop around the same theme. Also in collaboration with Rajasthan University of Continued Education, there will be organized a series of self-defense workshop for the girls living in the hostels.

Annual Events

Open capacity building workshop (4th-8th may 2010)

Comics, Theatre & Film making

In May Jawahar Kala Kendra was sparkling with positive vibes. This special atmosphere originated from enthusiastic young people eager to learn new skills. It was time for the open workshop organized by the Pravah Jaipur Initiative & Jawahar Kala Kendra in collaboration with World Comics India, Drishti Media Collective, Muskaan & Pahal Samajik Karya evam Shodh Sansthan.

This 5 day capacity building workshop focused on using creative arts as a communication method. The workshop was meant to help the 36 young people participating learn the skills of theatre (specifically Theatre of the Oppressed), Grassroot comics and Film Making to communicate on social issues. In the process the participants also developed their self confidence, communication and teamwork skills.

One of the participants, Ojasi Mehta, describes the workshop as follows:

“I loved it [comics workshop] because anyone can make it with very few things – a black sketch pen and 2 A4 size papers. Well… we learnt so much in 4 days – to make cartoons, give special effects, give a title to comics and so on… But with learning we had lots of fun… Theatre learners learnt small skills of theatre and I could see on Finale how they took out the hidden actor in themselves. Though everyone complained that five days is a very short period to learn such art but they still make something out of it. Same with the film making students – 5 days is a very small period … but as they told us they enjoyed the time, got familiar with camera and… they learnt “How to think…” because their trainer Akshay Bhaiya would ask them to “think..” and disappear for several minutes …”.

The feedback from the workshop was very positive. After attending the workshop one of the volunteers Yashawant co facilitated a comics workshop with World Comics India in Pali. Afterwards Yashawant together with Kriti Sharma made good use of their skills by organizing a comics workshop on water conservation for 15 school children in Dosa. These five days certainly gave fresh ideas on how to promote various important themes with the help of creative methods!

Learning and fun moments:

- The Community Producers took exam on their technical learning and presented short films made by them individually

- Jimmi from Drishti organized an editing workshop for CVU team in the month of May

- Shantanu, one of the volunteers, organized a photography workshop for the Pravah team

"By The Way"

There is a hope, fear, and dream inside everyone. That’s a nice sentence for starting an article about young people. When I thought of writing something about the youth, I myself got confused where to start and how to start. I, myself, belong to the community of today’s youth. So I think in the initial sentence of this article I should also add the “confusion” word.
As I have planned (after combating the confusions), I’ll write a series of articles on young people who are from different socio economic, cultural and educational background and what are their hopes, fears, dreams and CONFUSIONS. Why I have written the word confusion in caps. Am I giving importance to this word or this word itself is an integral part of youth’s life.
Well, as the series will go on you will know the same virtues of mine also as I’m trying to find the same in other young people or it may be my own perception of seeing things. Again, I’m sounding CONFUSED.
Let’s just not talk about myself; you will gradually know me by reading me.
For some official work (yes, official, my NGO is professional and we do work professionally, so official word is apt), I happened to visit someone in Ramganj bazaar (that’s a part of Jaipur’s old city, yupp the heritage one). There I saw a girl, sitting quietly and fastening shoe laces of her niece. I noticed innocence at her face. I met her sister as I was on the mission of selecting few people for our community work. Then by someone I got to know about her tragic personal life. She came for interview in my office. I was in the interview panel. The first impression shouldn’t be a last impression so I strictly interviewed her. She was firm on her stances. The views and ideas were still raw and unpolished but they were full of feelings and experiences.
She joined the office. Regardless to say that I wished her to join us, as I wanted to explore this girl. Today she has been with me since past one year. Now a new face of her life started with us. She couldn’t pursue her studies due to issues in personal life, but now she wants to study further. Whatever work she takes, she does that with full responsibility and zeal. She has started laughing as in her own words, she couldn’t few months back.
Why these changes happened? A girl from a lower middle class, conservative family, who perhaps missed the element of happiness in her life, has started thinking and doing. Yes, thinking and doing as earlier she was only into doing not into thinking. Still she has a long way to go but the process has been started.
She comes to office by bus and once a week she comes office by walking (4 Km either side). Is she saving money? She gives that money to any handicapped helpless person she meets in the way. This is her way of charity.
She reads, works, talks and most importantly thinks. This is her way of contributing to the human resources’ pool of our country. Her resilience gives me lot of energy as I see her combating the CONFUSIONS. She gives us all credit but whatever we did to give her a chance, was our work but the way she is exploring her own potentials is remarkable.
Another person I happened to meet just 3 months’ back is a young Dance instructor (Oh, I disclosed that I go to dance classes). A very young, happy-go-lucky boy who perhaps far away from setting missions for him. A young passionate person but trapped in CONFUSIONS. What sort of confusions? He himself doesn’t know. He comes from an affluent family. He has access to all possible urban luxuries with the fulfillment of basic amenities properly. When he dances, he is like butterfly kissing a flower. So delicate but firm also.
I think, for start, this introduction is sufficient because now onwards I’ll take you through the CONFUSION combating journey of these two people. Others will keep on taking entry in these journeys. One person who knows that she is confused and wants to show her life a path. The other one who still don’t know that he is confused. But few virtues common. They both are passionate, have lots of dreams, hopes with ofcource fears also.
I hope you will enjoy the journey of “The Meenu” and “The Naveen”.

Mohita sharing the " Water Conservation Campaign"

Another milestone conquered!

Pravah recently moved another step ahead on the ladder of "active citizenship". During one of the cafe mohalla meetings, one of the volunteers came up with the idea of starting an action project on "water conservation". Just the thought of brought us out of our deep slumber...!!

Because each one of us could very easily relate to it. Considering the present scenario "water scarcity" is not uncommon any more! We all realized that its we who would have to take up the initiative. Since it was the first time i was working with Pravah, i was very excited as well as a little nervous.

We held meetings everyday for a week and there was excellent participation of all. We even visited “vinobha ashram” to learn about “rain water harvesting”. It was a very important lesson. 

One of the major stereotypes that we had regarding this method was that it is really complicated but to my surprise the techniques were extremely simple and easy to implement. We mutually decided the tools of spreading awareness, which were theatre and comics. Because we realized that they are highly effective in grabbing attention and are simple to understand. Hence we decided on performing a play wherein we were assisted by the very talented "ASIF SHER ALI KHAN" popularly known as asif bhai amongst us all. He helped us design the play.

Some of put their creative strokes forward and designed some comics which we distributed amongst the various sects of society. And then the project began its mass appeal:

28th may: this day we started with a bang. We reached out the crowd of bapu nagar. We performed our very first play near "janta store", many of us were doing it for the 1st time and were hence tensed. But the response that we received was beyond imagination. It raised our morals and brought a new ray of confidence amongst us all.

29th may: we took another step and widened our horizons and voiced our opinions and ideas amongst the people at “central park” and “Nehru Park” in the early hours of morning. People were extremely participative. Their enthusiasm was unfathomable.

Later in the evening we reached out to the masses at “birla mandir”. People contorted and veraciously voiced their views and appreciated us for the cause.

30th May: we extended our journey a little more and reached “jaldhara” as well as “gaurav towers”. With that we came to an end with the 1st phase of our project. While going back we had a different energy. The realization of the lessons we have learnt. The confidence that we have built. The change that we have made but above all the love that we have received

On one of the days we even went to the residential areas and conversed with the people there. We came to learn a lot about the problems that they face and how they overcome it by doing their bit in their day to day lives.

We learnt various ways of saving water:

1. We realized that we can save tones of water by using bucket instead of showers or bath tubs.

2. Recycling is another extremely important means that people have adopted. A lot of them wipe the floors with the same water with which they wash their clothes. We can even collect the water with which we wash utensils and water the gardens with it.

3. It is always advisable to water the garden during early morning hours or late evening as it prevents the water from being evaporated by the scorching sun during the day.

4. We should use buckets or sprinklers to wash our vehicles rather than pipes.

5. We can stick some innovative posters about water conservation on the wash basin or drinking water area.

The entire journey was a joy ride. It was a learning experience. I want to thank ‘PRAVAH’ for giving this kind of an exposure. For believing in me. For having faith in me. It was just the first phase. The second one will start bang on from mid-July. It was a great experience to work with Pravah and I would always be a part of it for as long as I can.

Hey All

Pravah's Comminity Video Unit has come again with its Second Film " Ae Bhai Jara Dekh Ke Chalo".... All of you are invited for the screenings of this film.... The screening schedule is as mentioned below.....

Sr no	Date	Basti Name	Screening Location	Pravah CVU team member present
1	5/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teela no 1, Hanuman Temple	Rajesh, Meenu
2	7/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teela no 2, Near Shiv temple	Rajesh, Meenu
3	8/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teela no 3, Near Shiv temple	Rajesh, Abhishek
4	9/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teela no 5, Shyam ji ki gali	Rajesh, Abhishek
5	10/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teela no 6, Shiv temple	Rajesh, Seema
6	11/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Teeal No.7, Janbodh School	Rajesh, Seema
7	12/6/2010	Jawahr Nagar Kachchi Basti	Adhar Office	Rajesh, Rahul
8	14/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	In front of AFD Madarsa	Khalil, Seema
9	15/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	Anganbadi	Khalil, Seema
10	16/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	Alam Ki Hotel	Khalil, Rahul
11	17/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	Salma baji ka Chauk	Khalil, Rahul
12	18/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	Darbar Colony	Khalil, Meenu
13	19/06/2010	Idgaah Basti	Ikram ka Chauk	Khalil, Meenu
14	21/06/2010	Purani Basti	Near Complex	Abhishek, Rajesh
15	22/06/2010	Purani Basti	Near Bad tree	Abhishek, Rajesh
16	23/06/2010	Purani Basti	Near Shiv temple	Abhishek, Rahul
17	24/06/2010	Purani Basti	Bablu Ka Chauk	Abhishek, Seema
18	25/06/2010	Purani Basti	Nrisingh Colony	Abhishek, Rahul
19	26/06/2010	Bandha Basti	Near Nala, Md. Shafeeq's home	Rajesh, Seema
20	28/06/2010	Bandha Basti	Near Guddu Tea stall	Khalil, Rahul
21	29/06/2010	Bandha Basti	School park	Seema, Abhishek
22	30/06/2010	Bandha Basti	Kirana Store	Rajesh, Meenu
23	1/7/2010	Bandha Basti	Manorama Masjid	Rajesh, Khalil