Christmas at Pravah

On Christmas, Cafe Mohalla celebrated the Christmas spirit by hosting a cafe session on the topic of waste and waste collection in India. The volunteers gathered together to meet a group of young waste collectors, who were befriended by Priyanka and Sonam.

The cafe started out with the volunteers playing games and relay races with our young friends. After getting to know them, we sat together to watch the short films Until Kids with Raghu Dixit and Wasted, which explored the social issues related to waste disposal in India. Through conversations with the children and watching the films, the volunteers sought to gain an inside look into how waste affects people's lives.

Afterwards, the group had an intensive discussion about the topic. Volunteers spoke about potential solutions, and tried to decide how exactly we should view the profession of waste collecting in our society. We also discussed how to balance work and education for children who have the obligation to support their families.

At the end, we all got together for a Christmas party, with idli, sambar, and candies from our own personal Santa Claus. The volunteers collected donations of clothing and other gifts, and gave them to the children for the festival.

Charu's Change Journey in Pravah

Well, it's been more than one and a half years now since I joined Pravah. Its been an absolutely amazing journey. PJI is not just a normal meeting place, not just as NGO for me. It's more like a family in which I've grown up over time.

When i joined in July 2008, I had no clue that getting associated with Pravah would change my life 180 degrees. Before I joined, I actually had no idea of what I wanted from my life--I was a girl who was ignorant of the real life, having some kind of dissatisfaction. But when i joined, I actually met beautiful people, people who are not just friends with whom you sit and have fun, but friends from whom you learn every time.

At PJI, I learned how to be with different kinds of people, because everybody came from absolutely different backgrounds. It provided me with an amazing platform to express what I feel and what I think, and to think about things which I had never bothered to give my time. Pravah boosted my self confidence, which I had lost a long time back.

This is how my journey with Pravah started, and gradually over time Pravah became my family, a family which has been a support to me in everything I want to do--whether it was providing aid to convert my ideas into realities, or supporting me to start my own group called Pahal, which works on environmental pollution, or to get associated with the NGO Faith where I volunteer. Over time,  through Pravah I got in touch with other organizations, strengthening my bond with Pravah.

My association with Pravah has not just changed me, but also the outlook of people towards me. The contributions of Pravah are quite apparent in me when I got into a big organisation like NTPC for my training, and proved myself by getting the highest marks in my panel interview. The most important thing that i got from Pravah was the concept of networking, since it gave me ample opportunities to meet people who are masters in their own field.

After getting involved with Pravah, doors of opportunity have opened for me. In a sentence, Pravah is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and its only because of Pravah that today I know what I want to do in my life. Thanks to Pravah for being my family throughout my stay here in Jaipur, where I am so far away from my family.   

Charu Jhalani

Amreen's Pravah Journey

Life is a journey which is full of different and unforgettable moments and experiences. Some are good, some are bad but no matter what is the kind they always teach us new lessons and motivate us to do new and adventurous things. The time which I spent in Pravah Jaipur initiative was the most memorable and life giving. I learnt the importance of being an active listener and its impact on others.  Apart from this it’s necessary to have an insight about our own self….who I am? “What I will do in my future?” “How I will handle my conflicts?”  The space provides me friends, skills and knowledge and a thinking process which will definitely help me out in my future. I call pji my second home because it’s the place which gives me motivation, support and relationships which will always remain with me….. I find peace and satisfaction while working at PJI as it is such a fun filled place. I can connect to people at the same level, and have really discovered my own little space here which apparently everybody respects. I have become more confident and outward going than before. I can speak in public without fear and really enjoy the discussions over the various issues. I learnt the various ground rules which make one as an effective team member and a better listener. I attributes to the ‘no boss’ culture at the Pravah Jaipur Initiative. This home was with me in my hard as well good time, always providing me care, love and support to move ahead in my life positively.

My first workshop with pravah was in  may 2008, I remembered my first day when I entered the krishanayan (jawahar kala kendra) with loads of hesitation confusion and loneliness which were my only friends since  3 year…….but the coming 5 day of the workshop were the best days of my life or I should called them the turning point of my life……..I met so many new people , interacted with them and after the workshop I have a bunch of friends who has no doubt replaced my old friends (hesitation, confusion and loneliness).The time I had spent with neha, vivek ,meenakshi, richa, cvu unit and volunteers filled my life with energy, enthusiasm and synergy. No matter how much I thanked these people, the words always remain less. Their presence in pji always gives a motivation to do more and achieve more.

I remembered when I often get those dreams of running in black hollow tunnel….couldn’t able to see, feel and decide……where to go, where to start………these thoughts were making me mad…….demotivating and ruining my own self……but suddenly came a ray of light, guiding me to explore myself, enabling me to stand and share my views about the world around me. Pravah act as a spark which ignites in me, the power to make changes and the first change which I did is in me……reacting less and listening to people around me.  Isn’t it great? Yes it is great when you start getting feedback that you did a great job amreen…..I love these feedbacks after all I am an human beings…..and trust me  this breed crave for positive strokes. It’s the first time in my whole life when I found a place where people are identified by their talents and positive qualities in spite of in things they are bad at……….so coming to pravah was like a rebirth for me…….every thing a did at pravah made me more confident and knowledgeable and helps me in moving ahead.

While working with pji, the most significant celebrations were youth festival 2009, sessions in umang and my action project “LETS POST ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP”.the process of managing and organizing youth festival was a learning experience which helped me in enhancing my skill as a leader and also made me more passionate to work in development sector.  The education programme with joe in umaang made me more close to those children. It exposes me to the problems and situations that they have to face in their day to day life. I feel overwhelmed sometimes at hoe well the children respond to the work. I love being with them and felt that a really amazing bonding was formed between me and the group.

Finally comes the time for my action project, one of the best thing ever happened in my life which gave me confidence to lead and prove myself as a leader. Initially my nervousness was up to the peak about the sessions but meenakshi and richa were a great support. All the session went well and I felt like i was climbing a mountain and reached half of it. Now the anxiety is lessen but still half way was left. But after till middle I got the courage to move ahead and I did it……I successfully did the blood donation camp with the help of lovely people around me. In the end I learnt a lesson, while climbing we need three important things – water bottle, trekking shoes and a bag of utilities. For me, here the water bottle was my will power, trekking shoes was pravah and a bag of utilities were my family and friends.    

The journey with pravah was full of responsibilities and challenges, I think these two things runs parallel and challenges make us more strong and capable. The first challenge while working was to be calm…. my short tempera often creates tensions for my own self. Second was convincing my own parents to support me in whatever I am doing……..trust me it was the toughest thing to do. And one day the miracle happens, my mom said – I will join pravah after my retirement. And about my tempera, now I acted calmly in many situations and while working too……………

Pravah provide me a set of skills which are helping me in present counseling course. I am dealing with my clients with full patience, open mindedness. Now I tend to react less and dealing people calmly. The acquired positive attitude is influencing my life personally and professionally.

When I was a child, my grandfather told me the importance of balance in life but that was just theoretical, in reality I have practiced it actually during my journey with pravah. I tried to maintain the balance between home and office. The time spent in pravah was one of the bests, energetic and lively. Leaving pravah wasn’t easy for me but I know it was not an end, it was a new beginning……A BEGINNING FOR A NEW LIFE WITH NEW CELEBRATIONS, LEARNINGS AND CHALLENGES……and this time I am completely prepared for it……………

Few lines I can quote for this lovely journey –“ maine yaha zindagi ko dekha, is nafrato ke sheher me, pyaar se bhara ek ghar dekha , Deeware jiski hatheliyon si komal, darwazo ko baaho sa khulte dekha , farsh pe maa ki goud si thandak, or khidkiyon ko  intezaar me jhulte dekha i…………..logo….maine phr apne ghar sa, ek ghar dekha ”

FROM

AMREEN

Taaza Khabar: PJI Walks with Altaf Bhat Chisti

PJI Volunteers joined activist Altaf Bhat Chisti in his journey for peace this past Friday. After a number thought-provoking discussions with the Kashmiri native--who is walking from Mumbai to Delhi to campaign for peace in the Kashmir Valley--a number of PJI volunteers decided to walk a few kilometers alongside him, from Johari Bazaar to Lal Mahal in Jaipur city.

Altaf was 18 years old when he was picked up by terrorist groups and sent to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Three months later, upon returning, he laid down his AK-47 on the border and decided to devote his life to peace. Despite facing harassment from Indian officials and serving jail time for his past activities, he still continues to believe peace is the way forward for Kashmir, and works to spread this message everyday.

Around 15 PJI volunteers walked with Altaf after hearing his story. They marched together, continuing the peace campaign and working to make sure their voices are heard.

Keshav Modi, a volunteer, said "From Altaf, I came to learn many things about Kashmir, and the problems people face in Kashmir. Previously, I had only known one side of the story about BSF, but Altaf showed me the other face too, the many instances of cruelty. After learning from Altaf, I felt I wanted to do something for the Kashmiri people, so I walked with him"

Many other volunteers felt the same way. They want to make sure that the stories of actual Kashmiris like Altaf are heard, so India can address this issue in an open dialogue and find a peaceful way forward.

Taazaa Khabar: Conversation with Mohammed Altaf Bhat Chisti

Mohammed Altaf Bhat Chisti visited PJI yesterday to share his remarkable story and a conversation with the volunteers about issues relating to his native Kashmir. He is in the middle of a peace march from Mumbai to Delhi, to spread the message of peace in Kashmir, and we had the opportunity to  learn a great deal from his personal journey and transformation.

Altaf grew up in Kashmir, and at age 18, joined Al-umar-mazuhidin, a terrorist training organization in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After training for 3 months, he returned to his native place and realized that using violence is not the right way to bring peace to the region. He now believes that no religion or community has the right to kill innocent people, and using terrorism as a political strategy is against humanity, religion, and law.

Since his transformation, he has worked to promote a message of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He worked as a freelance journalist in the state for two years, but was arrested by the Border Security Force and sentenced to two years in jail. Even after being kept in Trinaga Central Jail and receiving cruel beatings by officials, he still believes peace is the way forward for the community that lives in Kashmir.

To promote this idea, he began his peace march from Mumbai on the 23rd of September, and has had conversations about these issues with people he meets along the way. He wants more people to know the real face of the Kashmiri people--what they feel and think, and what their issues and views really are.

He stopped by PJI for a tremendous conversation yesterday with around 25 volunteers, telling his story and answering countless questions. Volunteers asked about a wide range of subject: why many Kashmiri people don't want to be a citizens of an Indian state, what problems result from army occupation, and why the border is porous to terrorists. We learned a great deal about the reality of life in Kashmir, and Altaf's message for the way forward in this troubled region.

All are invited to accompany Altaf for the first kilometer of his walk to Delhi on Friday! Please meet at 2 pm, at Jama Mazid Johari Baazar. We will gather and join this heroic figure in spreading a message of peace.

Meet the 2010 Youth Changemakers

In celebrating the 2010 Jashn-e-Jaipur Youth Jumbish last week, we gave awards to 9 remarkable groups and individuals who have engaged in active citizenship and made contributions to social issues.

They are:

Jaiprakash Aajad
After regularly donating blood for the past three years, Jai established a youth group in his home village of Nila, in Jumba Rangand, and encouraged others to donate together. He also helps children from BPL families afford the cost of uniforms and books in pursuing education. He envisions a future where no one will suffer from a lack of blood in hospitals.

Aditi Chouhan
A B.A. student at Maharani College, Aditi works with the NGO Sidart to promote female empowerment and education. She has conducted awareness programs around women's rights and HIV/AIDS, and strives to help girls from BPL families get scholarships to attend school. Aditi says that she plans on continuously working for women and girls at every level of society.

Amaa Prith Kaur
Amaa works with Aadhar Parivar Seva to spread awareness of disease and education. After facing problems in her home life, she took responsibility by learning stitching, taking care of financial responsibilities, and inspiring others to get involved. She has assisted with the Badh Shiksha Samiti program on the issue of education.

Ashok Kumar Mahavar
Ashok also works with Aadhar Parivar Seva to spread awareness, by eradicating myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. He established a theater group that travels to bastis and local communities to raise awareness around this issue.

G21
G21 stands for Grouped into One, and is a student group from MNIT. After coming together to actively address quality and hygiene in their canteen, they broadened the group's goals and started a tree-planting program, as well as a tricycle donation program to people with disabilities.

Dusra Dashak
Dusra Dashak's Pindwana Program was awarded for its exceptional work on controversial issues with tribal communities. Controversial rituals such as kheemch wedding selections, dhudhan, and dayan are the topics of education campaigns and other programs by this organization.

                                                         Rashmi Patel

Rashmi is a theater artist who uses this integral medium for addressing social welfare. She is associated with the Rajasthan School of Theater, and has worked on a mass awareness program using theater for the past five years. She brings the program to local communities and also performs at JKK.

Yagyatosh Bagriya
Yagya works with Help in Suffering to rescue injured and neglected animals, and has devoted his life to animal welfare. He frequently finds injured animals and delivers them to the NGO. He also aims to inform people about the importance of animal well-being.

Suresh Bairwa
After recieving life-skill training from Dusra Dashak and working on his own problems, Suresh has inspired many towards the goal of social welfare. He spreads awareness around topics such as health, education, and sanitation, and has also dealt with issues     such as illiteracy and alcoholism.