Community Ownership and Development - Towards Sustainable Livelihoods!

Manori CSA with the help of CCO staff had a concept clarity session on Bal Sansad at Uttan, Dongri, Pali, Manori, Chowk and Gorai to form new batches for the current academic year 2018-19. These sessions took place from the 6 th  to the 13 th  of June 2018 and 12 - 40 children from various zones participated. Through different games and group activities they discussed the basics of the concept and the expected duties and responsibilities. The resource person interacted with the children and explained that by joining a Bal Sansad they would have opportunities to participate in various activities and through that develop their personality, improve communication skills, respect the view of others, build a sense of responsibility, enhance their general knowledge, etc. Further, the children were asked to suggest the activities that they wanted to be included in the sessions. The children responded they were content with the ongoing activities like awareness on environmen...

On 23 rd November 2017, forty seven Bal Sansad children were present for the input session on gender equality at Gorai. The objective of the session was to create awareness on equality and respect for women. The resource person Ms. Nasim   Kasughar, CCO staff explained to the children various ways in which discrimination starts from our house to society. They are limited to access resources and opportunities such as education, job, healthcare services etc.   right from food, education, work   to behavior. Most of the time people underestimate the efforts and hardwork put by women and their capabilities. The list of Indian women who have made great achievements in various fields all over the world are in plenty for e.g Mother Teresa . Sunita Williams, Kalpana Chawla etc. An interaction session as a follow up on the input session was held on 30 th November 2017 at Gorai again with nineteen children from Bal Sansad participating. The children were asked quest...

Cleanliness Rally Rally Starting Point - School Basement A Cleanliness Rally was held in Gorai & Culvem village on the 2 nd Oct, 2017 from 10.00 am to 1.30pm with Bal Sansad Children and Youth. It started off with a gathering in the school basement in the presence of the BMC Officials,Corporator  BMC Garbage Department Officers; Fr. Edward, Fr. John, and Core Commitee Members along with Suryodaya Samaj Kendra Staff.  Cleanliness Drive - Gorai Beach Flagging off the Rally the Senior Inspector and the Corporator spoke a few words on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and the value of maintaining cleanliness, he encouraged the participants to continue to maintain the value and habits of Cleanliness and Hygiene. Cleanliness Drive - Gorai Beach Around 220 people participated in the Rally with Bal Sansad children leading the procession with slogans, placards, and banners on the benefits of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. The route of the Rally covered...

The Core Committee & Sub leaders Meeting was held at Gorai Church Hall on the 25 th  Sept, 2017 between 4 pm to 6pm. The meeting started with a short prayer conducted by Fr. Edward Jacinto, the Parish Priest, Holy Magi Church , Gorai.  Ms. Nasim(CCO staff) welcomed everyone and gave a brief information about the Zonal meeting. Mr. Dayanand explained a People-Led Empowerment Concept to the 31 members present for the meeting. The Zonal meeting presentation was done by the CC members on 37 issues.  Mrs. Mishal then advised them on finalizing 3 issues among the rest as a priority as they were of  key importance. The Outcome:  For the Transport system (Arrangement of  Bus, Auto, ferry boat to be planned) For Health ( A full time doctor, a chemist & vaccination to be started)  For the Wastage of money during celebrations like wedding & communion, certain ideas on cut shorting unnecessary expenditures.  For th...

The Core Committee & Sub leaders Meeting was held at Gorai Church Hall on the 25 th Sep, 2017 between 4 pm to 6 pm. The meeting started with a short prayer which was conducted by Fr. Edward Jacinto, the Parish Priest, Holy Magi Church, Gorai . Ms. Nasim welcomed everyone and gave a brief information about the Zonal meeting. Mr. Dayanand explained a People-Led Empowerment Concept to the 31 members present for the meeting. The Zonal meeting presentation was done by the CC members on 37 issues.  Mrs. Mishal then advised them on finalizing 3 issues among them as a priority as they were of  key importance . The Outcome:          For the Transport system (Arrangement of  Bus, Auto, ferry boat to be         planned)         For Health ( A full time doctor, a chemist & vaccination to be started)       For the Wastage of money during celebrations like wedding & communi...

On 21 st Sep, 2017, between 10.30 am to 12.30 pm the Bal Sansad Session for Food Security Act started with the Bal Sansad prayer, at the Gorai Church Hall addressing a group of 45 children. Ms. Nasim the speaker for the session welcomed everyone, followed by ice breakers games. The children were divided into 4 groups where they had to introduce themselves, and each child was given a different type of chocolate. Subsequently, Ms. Nasim questioned them about their Basic needs & Rights, who fulfilled their needs and who is responsible for it. Children gave various answers for these question. Following which Ms. Nasim explained them the importance of food for our body. Health as a responsibility is taken by government as per the F ood Security Act.   Ms. Nasim circulated a couple of questions among the four groups on the related topics and were asked to discuss it among themselves, for e.g. 1)       The type of  Ration Card used ...

Culvem Community The Suryodaya Samaj Kendra have been actively engaging the members at the Zones towards identifying Issues and electing sub leaders to work at finding solutions to solve their local problems.  Muddan Community On the 14th of September at Muddan, 17th of September at Culvem, 21st September at Upper Koliwada and 22nd September at Lower Koliwada, the local community zonal members met together and started their discussions as per their planned agenda. Lower Koliwadi Community Discussion The CCO Staff - Ms. Nasim took an active part in facilitating the meeting along with Fr. Edward the Director and PP of Gorai. At first Nasim explained the role of the CCO and it activities working with the various target groups of women, senior citizens, kishoris and children.  Upper Koliwada Community Discussion The Core Committee's role and their facilitation of addressing the issues of water was shared by the Core Committees in their respective meetings -...

On 28 th October   2017, twenty three Bal Sansad children assembled at a Hall in Gorai for an input session on Food Security Act. The resource person for the session was a CCO staff. The topic was chosen to give awareness to children on the importance of food and eating the right kind of food every day. They were also taught to be cautious about not wasting food and ways to create awareness around, beginning from their own homes. Bal Sansad’s exposure visit to the ration shop took place on the 9 th of November 2017, twenty two children from the Bal Sansad gathered at the Gorai Ration Shop to gain more knowledge about the Food Security Act and Public distribution system. Children freely interacted with the Ration shop keeper and asked many questions like the types of ration cards, the quantity of ration, each family is entitled for etc. At the same time, the children also informed the shopkeeper of how unhappy they and their families were as the right amount of ration wa...

Realizing the need to have resources to undertaken their activities and work of facilitation of the community the Core Committee members met together and discussed how they could raise funds to meet their need.  Under the guidance of Fr. Edward Jacinto they discussed and planned to have a lucky draw event on the Feast Day of Our Lady's Birthday on the 8th Sept.  Along with the Bal Sansad Children the Core Committee plan to put up a stall to sell religious articles and stationery. 16 Bal Sansad Leaders along with CCO Staff Ms. Nasim planned the details and the process, which involved taking up responsibilities as per the tasks for the event.  The Bal Sansad children with dedication stood every evening for all the nine days and sold the articles on display. They made a profit around Rs. 2000 from the articles sold and they were able to raise the sum of Rs. 28,000/- which was handed over to the CCO to spend as per their requirement for the tasks and a...