“There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow neighbor. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak and the needy. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well”.
Dear Friends, with these words from Walter Reuther I present Vimukti at Pothnal in the past twelve months. With the emergence of a New Project with the partnership of "ensemble, agissons from France", we have a new phase to start, a new dream to realize and a new vision to look upon, and all these in purview of ‘bringing smiles on the faces of children’. Vimukti was all set to face these challenges all a new and the new rays of the Dawn of Vimukti would emerge to glow into full light. This is how we went about.
CHILD WELFARE PROJECT:
"Ensemble, agissons": Lets’ get going together
As translated from French is a Lay association of good hearted people who are supporting our Child Development Project at Pothnal. Though the process stated in France in the month of May 2009, it’s only in November 2009 that it got concretely established in Pothnal and that we appointed the staff. From then on we have worked vigorously concentrating on child, in the areas of family, school, community where the child receives support for growth. The Project at France is represented by the Governing Body members of "ensemble, agissons" in which Br. Alwyn Dias and Santa Lopes are also members. The Projects main aim is Education of Poor children. Sponsorship is another program where directly a child would be profiting for her/his overall growth.
Health Awareness Programs: Street Plays. 13-11-2009
Immediately after the floods the fear of epidemic was causing trouble in the villages. The Children would be the worse victims if this would take place. The health department and NGO were also active in planning remedial measures. Vimukti took up 25 flood affected villages and arranged Health awareness program through street play. Beginning of November for ten days we visited these villages and gave health and hygiene instructions. A team of street artists from Raichur were the resource team to conduct the street play while the staff visited houses and spoke on the theme.
Exposure Visit to Hangal and Chikkodi:
When the Projects started most of the staff were new and were inexperienced in Social Developmental Field. Hence we organized an exposure visit to Vimukti Chikkodi to learn about Children Clubs, VDCs and NREGA Programs in that Project. We were welcomed heartily and introduced to the work. On the way back we visited Roshni Social Service Center at Hangal to learn about Children clubs and Right to Food act. Both the visits helped our Staff to get initiated into Social work.
Tailoring Unit:
Considering the poor condition of adolescent girls in the villages, VCT started tailoring centers in two villages, Devipura and Utakannor. At the former 14 girls were trained in tailoring and at Utakanoor 18 girls benefitted from this program. The two main objectives were, first, to help the young girls earn additional income to the family wherever possible; second, to educate the girls to face their future confidently with the knowledge of a job.
Children Clubs:
One of the main programs of Child Friendly Project is formation of Children Clubs. In all the fourteen villages we have children clubs functioning fortnightly. Four animators are handling the project helping out the children in clubs and other child related programs in schools and community. Children clubs are the instruments of motivating the children for education and creating awareness among children for education. Children also play and recreate in the clubs. It is also a forum to share their talents and views.
Visit of the Donors: (17-2-2010)
Daniel, Bernadette, Guy and Isabelle were the four members of the Funding Agency "ensemble, agissons" from France who visited our Project from 14th to 28th 2010. It was a fruitful visit for them to know about the area and people whom they will be supporting. For us in return it was a good interaction with the donors to know their vision and objective regarding our project. At the end of their visit the team was very impressed and has assured a long term partnership with us.
Inauguration of Child friendly Programs: (21-2-2010)
On February 21st the new program based on the development of children was inaugurated by Helbert Daniel of "ensemble, agissons" Association. Children from 14 villages were present at Vimukti, participating in various cultural competitions. Afternoon was the official inauguration where members from other leading NGOs of the District were present. The NGOs which are working with the children were also invited. A cultural program added charm to the program.
Village Library: 21-02-2010
The children and Youth were seen to have little access to books and reading. Sad to say, even schools do not have proper libraries. Vimukti therefore took the initiative to start a ‘Village Library’ where every Saturday and Sunday books were taken and made available to children and youth, the whole day. Lot of children came to the school or community hall to read books or to take them home and return in the evening. This initiative not only enhanced the knowledge but also created a reading culture among children and finally helped them academically.
Computer Training: 01-04-2010
The term Computer illiteracy is now fashionable, coined as it is for those who do not have computer knowledge. Pothnal and its surrounding villages actually do not have access to computers. However, it was introduced as a challenge and to the rural youth it helped to compete with the urban youth. Vimukti arranged Computer courses free of cost since the children who come to learn could not afford the fees. 28 students completed the course and were happy to learn the basics of computer.
Holiday Camp in the village: 09-04-2010 to 13-04-2010
During Summer Holidays VCT organised one day camp for children in the villages. Short in put sessions on health, hygiene, education, and personality development topics were dealt with. Apart from these the children enjoyed sports and cultural programs too. The open library was of great use to the children and the local youth. We organised this camp only in five villages. Sports, library and cultural programs were the part of the day.
Awareness to Adolescent Girls: 22-04-2010
People who lack education suffer from other problems as well. Superstition and ignorance are the causes for most of the problems found among girls and adolescents. VCT organized therefore awareness Programmes for 40 adolescent girls at Vimukti Center, Pothnal. Such topics as reproduction and childcare, physical and emotional changes during Adolescence, Women health and hygiene etc. were dealt with. As the resource-persons were all women and could deal with the issues fluently, it was a fruitful experience for the girls.
Child Personality Development Camp: (26-4-2010 to 28-4-2010)
Vimukti organised Children Personality Development Camp for 235 children at Vimukti Premises. It was a talent promotion camp for the children who got involved in dance, drama, painting, clay modeling, crafts and sports. The smiles on the face of the children spoke more than the words. Resource persons were invited to conduct the camp. The three day camp was helpful for the children to identify their talents and promote them. Local people and the school teachers appreciated our work in promoting children talents.
COMMUNITY/RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: (Child Related)
Public Hearing on Health Program: 02-06-2010
Reviewing the services rendered in Primary Health Centers and Taluka Hospitals, VCT along with other likeminded NGOs made a survey in preparation to Public Hearing regarding health at Raichur. VCT visited all the Primary Health Centers and Taluka Hospitals to collect information regarding medical services provided by them. What in fact we heard was nothing but the shocking data of the way the Health institutions functioned. We resolved to present the information to the District Health Officials so that services could be improved. People’s Health Movement – Karnataka (Janaarogya Andholana) too made a similar survey and took a lead in the Public Hearing Program. The people were happy to notice the quality of health service being thus improved in the Government Hospitals.
Public Hearing on Right To Education Bill: 28-06-2010
Draft copy of the new Education Bill is being published in India. Few likeminded NGOs in Raichur Dist. studied the draft and its pros and cons after which a Public hearing program was organised to present the study report. It created awareness and gave proper information on the consequences of the bill on Rural Education. There were educationist, news paper editors, and advocates as the panelist to give their suggestions on the paper.
Child Sponsorship: 29-06-2010
The Primary goal of Pothnal Children Project is Education. Ensemble Agissons thought it is best done through Sponsorship. Hence from August 2010 onwards we have sponsorship programs started in the Project. There are 15 lucky children sponsored as on now. The children have sent Christmas cards and letters to the sponsors. The children are closely monitored and will be in their education and health aspects.
Vimukti Education Assistance: 01-07-2010
Vimukti assisted nearly 50 students for higher education this year, giving special preference to children of the flood-affected area. The children who had finished their secondary education were given option to either stay back at home, looking for some small jobs to tide over their poverty-stricken situation or go for higher studies. 50 children opted to go to college, choosing professional or vocational courses. Vimukti also assisted the.....
Remedial Teaching (Tuition Classes): 01-08-2010
In all the villages, remedial teachers were assigned for all those who had missed classes due to floods and also to the slow learning children. The Government schoolteachers requested Vimukti to take up this program in order to help the children who were identified by the teachers themselves. Tuition classes were conducted for two hours per day. The Program went on for about four months, and it helped the children to learn whatever was hard for them.
Teachers Day: 5-09-2010
On September 5th in India is commemorated as Teacher’s Day. VCT involved in the schools and education of the Children, found it relevant to celebrate Teacher’s day. On the occasion we felicitated a teacher for his immense service in the field of teaching. Several children and the teachers were present in Vimukti. Especially the program was a boost to our Remedial Teachers.
Health Survey:
Reviewing the services rendered in Primary Health Centers and Taluk Hospitals, Vimukti along with other likeminded NGOs made a survey in preparation to Public Hearing Program at Raichur. Vimukti visited 5 Primary Health Centers and 2 Taluka Hospitals and collected the shocking datas from the people about the malfunctions of the Health.
Village Development Committees:
Village development committees are strong instruments of Development in the Villages. They play a role in identifying the problem and beneficieries in the village and bring it to the notice of the Project where both the people and the project work for the solution. Till now Vimukti has 12 VDCs in 28 Villages. People are happy about the progress within the villages and few persons have availed government benefits
Making the Shift from Village easy:
Chinthamandoddi and Hulugunji were the two villages with more than 150 families each, which were wholly drowned and almost totally destroyed by the floods. Children were worst affected with not even having a place to play. The animators enlisted this time the help of Capuchin brothers in Clara Vihar to organize some sports and cultural programs for the children and youth in that village so that they could more easily accept the change and come out of the shock and trauma of leaving their villages.
House Construction:
Ever since the flood has affected this region the most highlighted issue is the destructions of the houses. Overnight families were left without houses. Houses are assured by the Government and Companies and Firms have come forward to sponsor houses. But in our Project Area not a single house has been repaired or reconstructed. The unplanned compensation went in vain without properly utilizing them. Government is all eager about shifting the villages or concentrating on the construction of houses in villages affected severely. There are villages and houses where partial damages have taken place or just few houses in the village are collapsed where no one notices the real plight of the people. In our Target 20 villages every village has loss of houses and the Project is planning for at least 200 houses to be repaired or built newly. We remain grateful to Bishop Paul Hinder from the Vicariate of Arabia who has contributed to the construction of houses and also Capuchin General Curia in Rome who has assured us assistance for the same.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:
Orientation Training to Social Workers:
Vimukti in Pothnal organised three days training to all the new staff of our Vimukti Units in Karnataka. Three days Training program in January helped our animators to get motivated in their field. 5 participants from every Vimukti unit and 10 from Pothnal were the trainees. Mr. Somashekar was the trainer who helped the team. There was another training on Capacity building for the Staff. The Resource person was from Puttur. Rajesh Bejjangala.
Staff Welfare Programs:
The key persons in the realization of the various programs were the staff who worked for the development of people and dealt with the social issues. When the Projects started most of the staff were new and were inexperienced in Social Developmental Field. We had to organize therefore an exposure visit to other similar Social Organisations who were working for same cause. The staff underwent Orientation and Capacity Building Trainings, which were an asset for them. In turn, they were able and fit to animate the community and organise the people. In fact, the entire success of the projects undertaken is to be attributed to the dedicated work of this staff.
District Networks:
Thanks to all the work that we have been able to do, VCT in Pothnal is recognized today as one of the leading NGOs in the District. It is called in to collaborate with the Network of likeminded agencies. We have collaborated already in two programs, one, on health and another on education on district level programs. Vimukti is also a member of Network of NGOs in Bellary Diocese, with such other members as the ‘Jagrutha Mahila Sanghatan’ Pothnal, ‘Navajeevan Mahila Okkuta’ Raichur and ‘Roovari Organisation’ Raichur and hopes to support and encourage developmental Work in the flood affected area.
“Blessed are those who give without remembering. And Blessed are those who take without forgetting”. Vimukti Charitable Trust gratefully remembers all our donors who have contributed both financial and moral support to the Project. I gratefully remember Mr. Daniel Helbert and his entire team of "ensemble, agissons" in France. It is actually their dream that we are realizing here in Pothnal. Their selfless gesture, far sightedness and coming out of their way to help these little children are a true motivation for us. I attribute the success of the Project to these generous hearts.
Conclusion:
VCT in Pothnal has created an impact among the people in the fields of Welfare and Social Development. Vimukti at Pothnal has twelve staff in 28 villages for two projects. We are spreading our identity through our works and interventions in the villages. Child Development and Sponsorship is first of its kind in this region. While we have a long way to go with it, we feel confident with the support of "ensemble, agissons" team. Other NGOs in the District are also recognizing our work. We are invited for the programs and projects. Hence in the coming months and years to go Vimukti will have its identity strongly rooted in the developmental field. I sincerely thank the President of the Trust and also all the Trustees without whose support and encouragement the achievement would not have borne expected fruits. As I present this short report I also expect your continued assistance in future too.
Sathish Fernandes - Director
Vimukti Pothnal