Ankita's Letter to PJI

In my words, PJI is a space where there are no boundaries. It's an open space, and it's the world I've always dreamt of. Here, I live the way I want to. There are no restrictions, nothing positive or negative, no failure and no comparisons. PJI loves me the way I am and I don't have to be fake. 

In my family, when I have to decide my goals, I have to think twice (thrice actually a number of times) and it keeps bugging me. And there are a lot of questions in my mind, like whether I have chosen the right path, if I will be able to follow it, and what my parents and family will say--will they be happy with my decision? A number of questions are due to the fear of failure.

But PJI is the family which has supported me and my goals and pushed me to go for the things I wanted. It has taught me that failure and victory are part of life, and given me courage to face the failure. With PJI, it has been a productive journey, teaching great lessons and introducing me to real life. I feel like I have spent a decade here.

Meenakshi Bhanj Deo is a mentor, a friend, and a mother figure. She’s the best lady I have ever met in my life. I really want this beautiful bond to go on till death. She’s open to ideas that are given to her, and has never made me feel like a fool. She always supports me for the ideas I have and I am really thankful to her for being so generous.

Whenever I used to speak my mind, people laughed at me. But Meenakshi saw the hidden part of me and pushed me to go forward, no matter whatever the result will be.

Maneesha a great mentor and is like a elder sister, who has always been supportive.

She taught me how to maintain stability in life and also to make a comfort zone between me and my parents. She’s just like a potter that keeps a supportive hand inside but a tough one outside so that the pot takes a good shape. 

Amreen, I want to thank you for the love you given me. I admire the way you speak with volunteers. The softness and clarity in your speech and the way you make others understand things are remarkable. 

This place has given me lots of good friends and the only thing I regret is joining it so late. I will miss every single person associated with PJI.

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

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.

PRIYANKA

Leading a life where I was just confined to college, books, assignments and many more. Waking up in the morning at seven ,moving to college coming back at four wasting time in chit chats and then to studies which soon brought an end to my day..!! one fine day I was associated to an NGO PRAVAH through one of my friend. Here every Sunday there were meeting held where all the volunteers would get together and discuss on certain issues:

·         Evils around us

·         What we do for it?

·         What needs to be done?

·         How to do it?

A healthy discussion accompanied by some games made my Sunday. I then realized that there is so much around us. Knowledge through Books is not all which makes us complete.

THE ROLE OF PRAVAH IN MY LIFE..!!!

1.      PRAVAH gave me a platform to participate in various events, thus contributing to build up confidence leadership skills, teambuilding and many more traits.

2.      it helped me to view issues in a holistic manner and thus helping to broaden my thought process and looks to problems form their roots

3.      Not only this, I am really impressed with the motto of PRAVAH which speaks about ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP. it means to take an initiative on the areas where we blame others for the evils. To sum up be an active citizen of your country by contributing towards the growth and eradicating the evils prevailing around us.

4.      PRAVAH is a direction to lead a happy, better life since it gives you satisfaction once you think for others before thinking about yourself. i.e. you become empathetic

5.      PRAVAH often also gave me opportunity to summarize reports on the discussions held. Thus it contributed to enhance my communication skills and writing skills

6.      Being associated with PRAVAH I was able to take the initiative to organize events at my college which was always a success.

7.      Last but not the least, and the most important I had a panel interview few days before, which had a great significance since it was an eligible criteria for college placement. Along with it, it was also evaluative too. All

Thanks to PRAVAH since my interview was wonderful as the panel interviewer were impressed to know that I am working for a social cause and is not just limited to college. My interviewer was keen to know more about how PRAVAH helps me to become a better individual. My complete 45 minutes interview was revolving around PRAVAH. And thus I had a command on my interview.

Thus I would like to conclude stating that I am really grateful to PRAVAH for helping be to lead a better life. it gives me a satisfaction and proud  that yes being a citizen of my country I have also contributed for the development for my country.

PRAVAH has also helped me to prosper in my career as it makes me different from the crowd and increases my probability to be a better candidate for the companies and colleges.

Me as an individual has also seen drastic improvements in my life. It has helped to be come independent to take an action where things are wrong, to enjoy my life by being good to all and above all explore myself to lead a systematic and smooth life.

I wish I could always been an active participant in all the activities of the PRAVAH.  And never miss a chance to learn new things.  

Jitesh Kumawat

Living in a village near Sikar,Rajasthan Jitesh never had any second thoughts about the common practices in his rural setting and way of living. He had been a person who took everything as a rule, be it child marriage, a fairly common practice in the villages of Rajasthan or anything else. He came to Jaipur for graduation and there it was the first time he started looking at things differently. He was introduced to Pravah by a friend who had been a volunteer for the various programs of Pravah Jaipur Initiatives (PJI) and after that Jitesh has been associated as a volunteer for the last 10 months.

On discussion he tells that the motivation to join PJI was an exposure in this field and a chance to learn and interact with some good people. As he wanted to do an MBA from a good institute after his graduation he required to come out of that ‘village feeling’. “After getting connected with Pravah my outlook changed completely. Now I am not the same person who used to take everything happening in village for granted. Involvement with Pravah and presence in all the programs gave me a sense of development I never thought of in village”, thinks Jitesh.

He has been an active volunteer for Youth Jumbish, the annual youth program held at Jaipur. The most memorable activities of all was the rally in Sambalpur, Orissa which he attended a few months ago. The most inspiring feature of it whole was the unity with which the whole village stood together. That unity has inspired him like anything and he now wants to build that unity in his own village. He wants to go back to his village and start changing what he didn’t see before. “I am preparing myself. I am learning how to actually create interventions so that people understand what I have to say. This is the aim of my life now”, says Jitesh with determination.

He says, “Prior to these activities like theaters in kacch bastis, discussions and exposure visits I could not understand what was happening at my home… but now I know exactly what to do. Being with Pravah has greatly helped me build a strong personality”. Jitesh feels more confident while speaking in public now and wants to open a Youth Resource Centre, similar to the one he saw in Sambalpur, Orissa.  He wants to bring children from all over the village to come over and learn, from each other, from the teachers which will be present there and from the mother earth. He feels more energized to take this task seriously because now he has started to realize its importance.

Bhavya Soni

A final year BBA student and an MBA aspirant, Bhavya has been actively involved in the development sector for the past five years now. He had started with an organization called Muskan working on road safety for three years and is now with Pravah for the last one and a half years. His outstanding contribution to poetry was recognized by the prestigious Rajasthan Sahitya Acadami and his book on Ghazals is soon to be published. With an active involvement in public speaking and debating he says that he had a natural inclination towards this sector.

He started with a six month internship with Pravah where he worked in youth mobilization sessions with different colleges in Jaipur using his public speaking skills to the fullest. He says that prior to joining Pravah his primary reason to get associated was networking and exposure of a different kind, now after working for 18 months the primary reason has become secondary and its place has been taken by more important issues like real development of the society.

Over the years he remembers Youth Jumbish (an annual event at Pravah Jaipur Initiative) as a turning point. While working with a team of young, bright and enthusiastic people he realized the importance of working in a team. “It was then that I learnt the various techniques of handling conflicts, working as a team member and negotiating with others. I know that these experiences will help me go a long way on this path”, says Bahvya.

He puts beautifully his overall experience in Pravah by saying that “In Pravah I started seeing the line between reaction and response, between fun and indiscipline, between a boss and a leader. Working here brings to me a sense of responsibility which I as a young person had never had before. This responsibility is the one which gives me the satisfaction when my friends are hanging out at malls and I come here and work. I enjoy this responsibility.”

With this enthusiasm Bhavya shares that he wants to work in the development sector in future after completing his MBA. He would like to start with youth awareness and then move on to the other sectors as well.

Charu Jhalani

Charu is an MBA student from Jaipur currently in her second year and is very enthusiastic about the development sector. She came to know of Pravah from her friend and in a bid to explore more she came to join in as a volunteer. Her enthusiasm can be judged from the fact that apart from the hectic college schedule and committee work she is able to manage to work in two other NGOs in the city and is handling them all properly.

She enjoys interactions with people and going out to the slums and working with the specially abled children. According to her Pravah has given her a platform to work and channelize her energy to proper use.  She had always felt like something was missing in her life until she came into development sector. She enjoys working here because the B-school crowd is totally different from what one finds here.

Padmaja GunGun

Pursuing her passion for theatre and photography she came to know about Pravah at an NGO in Udaipur in which she was volunteering. It was her craze with theatre which made her come to Pravah as she saw a great chance of using it for the benefit of both. She has been associated with almost all the theatre activities which Pravah Jaipur Initiative has taken up in the city.

She was the master mind behind the youth café which is successfully functioning at PJI. “All I wanted to do was to give people a place to talk, a place where they can start thinking and speaking out. One major problem with the world is that we think a lot but then never speak; once we start speaking we may also start acting. I wanted to create such a space for youth, a place where without any worries they can speak their mind out”, says GunGun, was the idea behind Youth Café.

She started with the community building workshop in no other than theatre activities and slowly started volunteering in other programs as well. For her good work she was awarded as a Young Changemaker in Youth Jumbish. She feels that competition and money in today’s world is holding us back and not letting people speak up and this she wants to overcome in future. She wants people to start sharing and expressing themselves. To some extent she is working for her aim through theatre and Youth Café and that is what according to her is the specialty of Pravah, it gives people space and freedom to explore new avenues. It gives the opportunity to speak up.