Aman ka Sandesh campaign

PJI Launches “Aman ka Sandesh” Campaign

This past week, Pravah launched a campaign called “Aman ka Sandesh”: A Message of Peace. Volunteers here at Pravah have led a series of rallies and public discussions promoting peaceful acceptance of the upcoming Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya title suit. The campaign stresses the importance of unity between different religious groups, regardless of the suit’s result, in order to maintain peace and avoid violence.

The campaign first began as an informal conversation among volunteers at Pravah about the upcoming Ayodhya verdict on September 23^rd. After discussing the long history of violence and rioting relating to Hindu-Muslim issues, we felt that avoiding violence is more important than any particular verdict on the Ayodhya site. We next focused on how we could make a difference in solving this problem, and decided to engage in community outreach to raise awareness. The participants divided into small groups and engaged local residents in discussion at Tonk Fatak and Nehru Garden. After receiving a positive response, we decided to develop a full campaign to spread awareness about the issue.

We then developed slogans, made posters, and planned campaign routes for the coming days. From September 24^th to 26^th, rallies were held from Police Memorial Circle to New Gate, and at Choti Chopar in the Old City. The rallies ranged from 15-30 participants from Pravah, who marched with placards reading “Aman ka Sandesh”, “Love, Brotherhood, Unity, Peace,” and “Let There be Peace.” After each of the marches, the participants broke into small groups to engage local residents in discussion, emphasizing the need to remain calm after the verdict is issued, and encouraging the reporting of violent activities to the local authorities. Media coverage of the events included interviews by BTV News, among other outlets.

Public response to the ongoing campaign has been positive. In the reflection circles that we have formed after each rally, participants have shared their experiences and noted that most local residents have supported a peaceful resolution regardless of the Ayodhya verdict. The police, too, have been supportive—although they initially forbid the group from marching in the Old City, they happily granted a permit once they learned the campaign is promoting non-violence. Thus far, we have spoken to approximately 500 local residents in small discussion groups, enabling intensive reflection regarding this issue. We hope to make a real difference in promoting peace and unity in response to this controversial issue, to avoid rioting and shutting-down of shops in Jaipur.

Ojasi Mehta Sharing her experience of comics workshop in Banswara

Ojasi Mehta ,a volunteer of PJI had a comics workshop in Banswara. This is her experience of this workshop in her own words.....

Who can tell what is truth and what futility ?

Who can tell which dream will turn into reality?

When I was attending the Capacity Building Workshop conducted by Pravah Jaipur Initiative in collaboration with other organizations in Jaipur , far in my mind, a dream was shaping that I will conduct a workshop in my hometown too. I learnt comics though I wanted to learn film-making first but I chose comics because I knew I can spread this art easily than film-making. And I am glad that I could do it. And I could do it only when first I thought – I can do it.

I had to face many challenges but as always I am so lucky and things turned into my favor. The workshop was organized by Bharat Vikas Parishad , Pravah Jaipur Initiative & World Comics India. I got so much help from Bharat Vikas Parishad and I represented other two organizations as a volunteer. My only biggest challenge was that I was alone as an instructor or trainer and I knew making Comics is a no joke. We elders could only do it in two days with the help of two elder trainers and I had so many small kids , all were below 8^th class but as they say , “jahaan chaah hai wahaan raah hai” I did my best. My one friend came ahead to help me . Nishita is pursuing BVA(visual arts) from ICG college, Jaipur. Fortunately , she had also attended a one day Workshop on Comics in her college so she was equally supporting me.

Other challenge was collecting kids and managing them . I wanted to conduct this workshop for the students above 8^th class but as usual at my end children are very shy & egoistic . They think they know everything and need not to learn anything new. Well , on the contrary , the small kids were so enthusiastic and eager to learn that I couldn’t hold the boundaries which I made any longer. First day , I had hardly five kids but last day I had almost 20-22 kids . The reason , simply was that children were enjoying themselves and through mouth publicity they grew into a good numbers. They were learning something new which they liked. They were busy , doing something productive and creative. And above all , their parents were encouraging them a lot , after all now children were not watching tv , wasting their time and irritating their parents.

Last day had become very memorable for me as I got many wishes as well as many amazing feedbacks , which I had hardly expected. A small kid , Parv Vyas who is in 3^rd std , though couldn’t complete his comics but he made comics in his drawing book which was on “water conservation”. He gave message that – “we should not bath in shower and waste water”. That amazing kid himself used to bath in shower but when he made that comics , he told his mother that – “I wont bath in shower and in bath tub because I myself made comics on that, we should not waste water”. His mother told me on last day that I was trying to teach him this from last two months but he wouldn’t listen to me , now your comics workshop has done what I couldn’t. This was a Big Compliment for me. I got success. I told her that if such small child can understand what I wanted to convey then I think I have done my job.

The response was beyond expectations. I knew Banswara is not a developed city , but it is an intellectual city. People are ahead in taking initiatives and they engage themselves in many social activities. Many people came to meet me during workshop , to understand the concept and wish me luck. My principle , Saroj Nagawat ma’am asked me to organize a workshop in my school , which is a thing to proud on. Parv’s mother , who is also a teacher asked me to add Theatre also next time , as she says , many people are interested in learning new things.

Earlier I had planned to take registration fees but then I discarded that thought and took no fees from anyone and so couldn’t provide much things and gifts to kids. But the response and enthusiasm of visitors and well wishers was so amazing that Last Day , Saroj ma’am gifted drawing books to children and Kothari aunty gave them pencils and other stuff . My parents financed the whole workshop. Whole in whole , the workshop was beyond expectations… & my experience…. Ah! I am short of words now .....

youth power

Youth Power

Self Defense

workshop

After the success of the self defense workshop organized at the

Department of Adult and Continuing Education Rajasthan University, here we are organising it again . Our self defense workshop program will be facilitated by Banwari Bhamniya .He is a 1^st degree black belt in Tae kwon do

Registrations are open to the next workshop

All those

who are interested please

contact Banwari Bhamniya on 9772015143

Save life by a drop

27 March 2010: 38 units of blood was collected in “Save Life by a Drop” a blood donation drive organized by Pravah Jaipur initiative in collaboration with Department of Adult and Continuing education, with support of Santokba Durlabhji Hospital Blood Bank ,Tagore Hospital at university campus.

Pravah Jaipur Initiative is youth development organization, it facilitate the leadership journey of young people through experiential learning said Pravah chief coordinator Meenakshi Bhanjdeo.

Amreen Ahmed volunteer with Pravah under her action project organized it. According to her Blood donation is very simple way to connect people directly or indirectly because it develop sense of humanity for each others.

Dr Asha Hingar, Director Adult and continuing education added that youth should come forward in such camps so that many lives can be saved.

One young blood donor Shipa admitted “blood donation is a noble cause it doesn’t have bad effects on health but through it we can save some ones life”.

  

Seeing so many youth turning up for blood donation and especially girls, we have decided to make this event an annual one in our event calendar said Meenakshi Bhanj Deo,

Save a life by DROP

Save Life by a DROP  Blood donation camp Time:9:00 AM Saturday,March 27th Location:Deptt of Adult and Continuing Education Near Uco Bank Jaipur, University of Rajasthan

Give Peace A Chance - Fly Peace Kites

Dear All,
Greetings from Pravah Jaipur Initiative !
In today's fragmented world peace and harmony among the peoples of the World is the first casualty. The sky is the only space that seems devoid of borders that keeps people apart. Romantics, idealists and visionaries have looked up into the heavens for inspiration and the kite is one of the most powerful symbols of man's desire to break free of the shackles of the earth.

Therefore taking idea form Drishti our partners in Gujrat and knowing the fact that on 14th January the world witnesses maximum number of the kites flying in the sky of Jaipur, Pravah Jaipur Initiative is organizing a "Give Peace a Chance – Fly PEACE Kites" an event of flying kites for peace from 9th January to 14th January in Jaipur. There are no political affiliations or agendas; its ordinary people from the city who will get together on these days for 4 hours per day to celebrate freedom and the desire for peace and harmony among all religions and ethnic groups. Our volunteers have written peace messages on kites and we will be flying them from various places in the city

On Fri 9th Jan we plan to start the campaign with an official launch atUMANG "An initiative towards rehabilitation of persons with disability" &Faith. We shall conduct Face painting and Banner painting with children for promotion of Peace. On the remaining days the group will go to various locations in Jaipur to spread the message and involve as many people as possible.
People who wish to participate in this event are welcome to contact us and bring their kites and thread to fly peace kites with us. Kites will also be made available to enable them to participate.
We look forward to your support, and your presence, at Give Peace a chance - Fly Kites for Peace.

For more details contact 0141-4030356, 9828222234, 9928367670, 9983762103
Truly
Vivek