|
|
| Women and Children |
Women and children, especially those from poor marginalized communities, are a part of the most vulnerable segment of society. We use theatre to build awareness on gender and child rights, women and child health, schemes and opportunities for economic empowerment etc. We use theatre based approaches to mobilise community led action to address issues like health equity and violence against women and children. Theatre in Development is used innovatively to empower women and children with skills to seek and realise their rights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Early Childhood Education: Slums of Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi :
2008-2010 |
|
|
 |
As part of the Project Galli Galli Sim Sim - an early childhood educational initiative launched by Sesame Workshop India, we have reached out to more than 140,000 children in 8 slums of Kolkata, 98,000 children in 6 slums of Mumbai, 70,000 children in 4 slums of Delhi and 4 slums , 50,000 children in Jaipur.
Sesame Workshop India supports mobile community viewing in order to reach the areas with limited or no access to television. The show includes video tutorials on recognizing shapes and colors, learning basic hygiene practices, basic nutrition etc.This is followed by theatre based activities where the key learning points are emphasized. Mask-making workshops are held to nurture creative skills. The project has trained nearly 90,000 caregivers on early childhood education and nutritional well being.
The third phase of the project starts from September 2010 at Jaipur in Rajasthan.The target is to reach 50,000 children at the 4 slums of JP colony,Shivaji Nagar,Lankapuri and Nari ka Naka. |
|
Stories from the field
Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road
After trying in vain to organize a ‘Community Workshop’ at 35 Pemental Street, we went to each and every street and by lane of the area, knocked on the doors of the residents and interacted with the families, discussing various aspects of child-health. Children belonging to the families of that locality had seen our shows; their parents too became well acquainted with Googly & Chumki. Though they found the characters inspiring they expressed concerns about how they could ensure healthy and hygienic lifestyles for their children. We discussed various simple solutions with them. They requested us visit to their homes again.
Beniapukur
At College Bustee mothers often told us about the influence of GGSS on their children. We were told that after watching the show the children now wanted to have eggs, milk, vegetables and carrots. They did not know whether they would be able to afford these items on a daily basis but they were satisfied knowing that their children were now aware of the different aspects of nutrition.
|
Resources and links
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/aroundtheworld/india
Download Gali Gali Sim Sim Leaflets , Posters etc
|
| |
|
|
|
| Prevention of Child Marriage through Child Participation
Unicef, 2009-2010 |
|
|
 |
A grass root communication and mobilization program is underway at Malda district, West Bengal to build awareness on pitfalls of early marriage. The project targets building an enabling environment for the participation of vulnerable children and adolescents in efforts to prevent Child Marriage. The project is also mobilizing multiple stakeholders like youths, SHG women, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers as well as religious leaders like Maulvi’s and priests in prevention of child marriage.
|
|
A communication plan was prepared after a rapid need assessment study. Workshops were held to train fifteen Gambhira and Domni teams (folk theatre teams) and local theatre groups in theatre based communication on problems of early marriage. In 2009,Street theatre shows were used to build awareness across 15 blocks. 150 shows were held in 109 villages across 26 Gram Panchayats .In the next phase,in 2010, 30 street theatre shows were held in 59 villages across 12 Gram Panchayats in two blocks with high prevalence of child marriage on the problems of early marriage, schemes available for girls for education and skill development, and laws against child marriage reached out directly to more than 46,400 people. |
 |
|
Sensitization Meetings and workshops |
Sensitization meetings have been held with school going children and out of school girls (75 sensitisation meetings, (1st phase)
have been held covering around 1500 villagers SHG women, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, Moulavis, Panchayat members, teachers, parents and local NGOs.
Workshops have been held with nearly 10320 school going as well as out of school girls to make them aware of their rights, problems of early marriage and encourage them to take a leading role in sensitising their peers. |
|
|
 |
Stories from the field
There is improved awareness on the problems of early marriage, trafficking, rights of girl child and laws for her protection, opportunities for education and skill empowerment. In at least four cases, villagers have been able to stop early marriage of girls in their village. Village girls, PRI members, SHG members have provided leadership.
In some cases villages are taking care to check credentials before marrying off the daughters.
Parents have approached Panchayats to avail of Book Grant facility for SC/ST girls.
Youth Clubs and Gram Unnanyan Samitis in some villages have started monitoring against early marriage.
The folk team Samajsrijani Domni Dal was hired by the Bazar Samity of Mathurapur GP to perform a Domni show in their Bazaar area during the Ganesh Festival. Initially there was reluctance within the Samity to take up this social issue. They wanted simple entertainment. However the team was finally successful in convincing them. The show was held and the audience strength was nearly 250-300. The performance of the team and the issue both were appreciated by audience and the Bazaar Samity.
|
|
|
|
Consultations |
Block level
Two way communication channels fostered helped in identifying problems and needs at grass roots. Block level meetings have been held with BDOs, BWOs, ICDS supervisors, PRI members etc to share the learning from the awareness campaign, community meetings and workshops.
State level
In November 2009 the Government of West Bengal, together with Unicef, organized a State Consultation on the prevention of child marriage. The significance of the consultation was, that this was for the first time, all concerned stakeholders on this issue–The Department of Women and Child and Social Welfare, Child Welfare Committee members, the law enforcement officials, and education and health providers came together to chalk out a plan to deal with child marriage. The most significant aspect was that children affected by child marriage also participated in the consultation. They discussed their hopes and aspirations as well as their determination to complete school and get established in life.
A follow up to the State Consultation was held on the 24th of February, 2010. 230 children participated the worshop conducted.A manifesto against child marriage, prepared by children, was launched at this event. Theatre based exercises and group discussions were used to facilitate the children in planning and presenting an Action Plan for preventing Child Marriage. The children identified specific actions for themselves, their parents, teachers and their communities. Badge making, slogan writing and poster making were some other activities at the event.
• Manifesto
• A compendium of IEC material and schemes related to child marriage and designing a kit for youths and community members working for prevention of child marriage.
• A Tool Kit for youths and community members working for prevention of child marriage |
|
|
In continuation with our efforts in eradicating Child Marriage,
the third phase of theatre led action campaign is in progress. |
| Project: Preventing Child Marriage at Malda with Community and Youth Participation
|
|
|
 |
The project will cover all 15 blocks of the Malda district and will have focus on five most backward blocks and 30 villages identified as target child marriage free villages |
|
• Making girls and parents aware of pitfalls of early marriage and reducing prevealence.
• Sensitizing children, their families and stakeholders in child welfare on the children’s manifesto launched at state level
• Mobilizing youth participation in a movement against child marriage
• Building safety nets for protection of girls and their rights through improved linkages with stakeholders in education and skills empowerment ,protection and law enforcement |
 |
|
Target groups |
• School going children, out of school children, adolescent children, vulnerable children,(areas affected by river bank erosion deprived communities) parents ,and families pf children, youths, CBO like gram Unnayan Samity, youth clubs,,SHGs , FBOs and Local NGOs.
• Secondary target Groups are PRI members and SHG members
|
|
|
| Activities to be held |
• 15 workshops (each 5 day duration) with adolescent groups formed in 30 targeted villages, folk artists and SHG and youth groups to perform and skill empower grass root champions.
• 300 street theatre shows with folding exhibitions at show locations will reach out to directly to 60,000 people across 50-55 vulnerable Gram Panchayats
• 50 community consultations will be held for sensitizations
• Shows will be held in around 35 schools reaching out to 7000 children.
• Shows will be held in 15 Panchayat Samitys in coordination with GPRPs reaching out to 300-400 PRI members
• 50 focus group meetings will be held with parents, SHGs ICDS/Anganwadi members, Gram Panchayat Resource Persons (GPRP),local NGOs and CBOs to sensitize around 1000 people on pitfalls of child marriage and need for community led action to protect girls
• Adolescent groups formed in 30 villages to work for child marriage prevention will be trained to develop theatre production on prevention of child marriage and also use interactive street theatre for researching with community participation
• Child /youth councils will be formed with these children and these will become platforms for exchange of information and ideas and seeking support forming a youth networks in the district. These young people will be trained to be grass roots champions.
• Participation of schools VOs, NGOs in the network will be strengthened by organizing district level youth workshop where around 200 children and stakeholders in child welfare and protection will participate .Finally a two days district level youth workshop will be held to showcase achievements, share learning ad plan way forward.
|
|
| Click to see the video - Visual journey of community mobilization for prevention of child marriage at Malda district |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home | Sitemap | Contact Us | Careers | Feedback | Disclaimer | Copyright Notice |
| © Copyright 2003 i-land informatics Limited . All Rights Reserved |
Technicals by Expectrum Solutions |
|
|
