We have started constructions to build the roof for the Sambhali Trust on first floor where we had the thatched roof.
Before Construction
A day before the construction
Sambhali Trust:
New batch of girls are enjoying their time interacting with the teacher and the volunteers, they are having wonderful time at the project, and the graduates are busy stitching materials for Corinne so that Sambhali India will have enough ready materials to sell when it is setup.
I have employed Ajay Singh, he is assisting me with looking after the office work, he goes out does stuff for me when I am occupied with other activities at the trust, he is of help but has to learn a lot.
UNICEF has a meeting on Child marriage issue on 31st of August and we have been invited by the government to participate In the meeting, it is a big honor and priviledge, in former meeting with the UNICEF I met with the officers, they called me the other day and shows interest in visiting our projects after the meeting, I look forward to it and will keep sharing with you the news on it.
The Service learning trip(SLT) from the StandfordUniversity is doing wonderful, the students have come up with some amazing ideas to help the Setrawa village at large, it includes women and girls health workshops, eye, dental and physician doctors will come for medical aid camps.
Workshop on SHG(self held group) FSD will help us a good motivator who works with other SHG’s to come to Setrawa and help women know more about the self help group and the benefits from it.
The other project is to choose one boy and one girl elected by the students of the government senior school and make them responsible student leaders of the school, so that they Sambhali could be a platform for them to share their problems and with medium of Sambhali all the students can get their voice heard by the government officials and making some plantation in school.
The last project is clean village campaign and placing dustbins around Setrawa village, this would be done with the help of villager’s involvement.
The reports from these interns from SLT will be online on the website soon.
Thanks for your time in reading this report, all the best.
On my way to Setrawa I was a bag of nerves. Would my host family be kind to me? Would the girls I would soon be teaching like me? I was also anxious to understand what my exact role as a volunteer in the village would be, what would it entail? Would my presence here actually be beneficial to the lives of the women in Setrawa? As we pulled up next to my host family’s house my nerves were soon settled at the sight of Usha and her mother who where waiting outside there home to welcome me with beaming smiles.
Because I arrived on Independence Day there was big celebrations in the village and I felt the vibe of Setrawa immediately. Sambhali had put on a show at the school and it soon filled up with playful children, dancing girls, giggly boys and proud mothers. It was hectic to say the least. The girls were naturally curious to meet the strange white face in the crowd and eagerly bounced up to introduce themselves to me. I was taken back by their charming and enthusiastic manner. Their jolly energy distracted me from the heavy heat of the day, which at the time didn’t seem like a big issue until the next day when I stupidly decided to go for an explore in the afternoon sun. This was a big mistake as the heat sent my head spinning and I got completely lost. Since then I have spent my afternoons hiding from the sun with Usher and the others. The heat is so strong it restricts your every move. I love spending this lazy time with the women and small children. There is this unbreakable bond between the women in the village that keeps the community alive. Their lives are so intertwined it seems that everyone is everyone else’s ‘diddy’ or aunt. The doors are left open for people to come and go, food is shared and offered and babies are passed. I find this ‘what’s mine is yours’ attitude wonderful where everyone is treated like a family member and where nobody is an inconvenience. It makes me think of my street in Edinburgh and the strangers who are my neighbors. How different my life is.
Observing the friendships in Setrawa I have come to see that there is no bond stronger than the one shared by mother daughter, sister, sister. Living here has made me miss my own mum. I was shamelessly drawn to tears the other day when Usher and her mother showed me a video of her sister’s wedding. I am glad I wasn’t there in the flesh as I would have been a complete embarrassment. As they curled up to watch their girl in all her beauty being handed over to her husband’s family and driven off to her future home it became obvious that they desperately missed their sister/daughter. Suddenly I realized that time was approaching for Usha to marry a man of equal caste status. I couldn’t help but think how devastated her mother will be when this time arrives.
A few of the adventurous women have talked about how they look forward to their wedding day, the dress they will wear and the gifts they will receive, many long to be married to men in far away cities saying it would give them a chance to see the world. I wonder how they see me… do they see my independence, my choice to work, freedom to stay out of my home after 7 o clock and eat when I please without being frowned upon?
I started looking at the married women of the village and noticing the set of laws that govern their behavior: if ones in-laws are present she must cover her face, and if she wants to sit down it must be on the floor. A mother eats after her family has eaten. Often Usha’s brother would get home very late and her mother would wait for hours before eating anything. I find myself longing to speak to Usha’s mother but as we share no common language it is impossible to go beyond smiles and Namastes.
I am trying my hand at Hindi which is hard when you have a memory like a goldfish. I even have my own little teacher, Goody who is six and shows up at three o clock sharp everyday with her little red book. She is a very strict teacher.
Communication in Setrawa is hard because of its social nature, but its fun if you’re willing to make a fool out of yourself. In the evenings I am being whisked off to a new house and spoilt with splendid food and games. I haven’t seen so much dancing in my lifetime as I have in a week in Setrawa.
Sleeping under the stars is another perk of village life. And I have never really been a mornings person, but in the village this is not a time to be wasted- it’s the only real time where there is a light breeze and you can be really productive. So after an hour of yoga with Usha on the rooftop I do all my work.
Working on the Sambhali project is both challenging and fun. I am teaching the girls English in the afternoons and helping out with the sewing class in the mornings. At the moment only about eight women come to the sewing session, a few of whom are incredibly dedicated and are passionate about learning new crafty skills working with these women has been a privilege their talent is mind blowing. They work together as a team to discuss different strategies and techniques for the best outcome and they are so practical. I think they could sew a house out of leaves if they put their minds to it. The environment is wonderfully jolly as the class gives the women a chance to gather in a neutral setting away from home and gossip while embarking on a creative task. At the moment we are making jewelry out of recycled material. In the coming week I am hoping to have a meeting with the local sheperd who can sell us some raw fleece so the women can try their hand at felting cloth hats and jewelry out of wool, a local resource.
My evening class with the girls is brilliant the girls are so enthusiastic to learn English and the class beams with energy. However because the girls are of mixed age and ability it makes it hard to plan a lesson that challenges the older ones and is simple enough for the younger ones. On Friday I gave the older one a test on what we had learnt throughout the week and spent time going though some simple structures with the younger shy ones grouping the class in this way worked well and it something that needs to be incorporated into my lessons. Also after a hard days work at school the girls are tired and their minds are restless so I try to include energetic language games into the lessons this lifts their spirits and energizes them.
So there has been a lot to take in in my first week in Setrawa. And I am looking forward to seeing what next week has to offer.
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Melanie Schuster from Magdeburg, Germany
17/08/09 – 21/09/09
First impression from Sambhali Trust, Jodhpur
I love power cuts!
Not generally – only since I’m here in Jodhpur as a Volunteer for Sambhali Trust.
That means, only since I arrived here on 17th August.
On that day itself the foundations for my love were laid, even though there wasn’t a single power cut.
It’s because on that day I found out how lovely the place is at which I was supposed to stay for the coming five weeks. Seeing the streets of Jodhpur at night, entering the most wonderful house I’ve ever seen, meeting so many interesting people… Everything just seemed like a dream to me. And then finally the best thing: I met the big boss Govind, who was so nice and sweet that I was totally relieved and knew this would be a very pleasant and memorable stay.
”So what about the power cuts?”, you might be wondering.
Let me explain why electricity is that important to me first. It’s not because I’m just a stupid western girl who always has to use three electronic devices at the same time.
But as I’m working behind the scenes in Sambhali, editing and writing letters and reports, my work depends on a computer.
No electricity – no computer – no work!
That doesn’t mean I don’t like my work. It’s the opposite!
It’s exactly what I always wanted to do: To see what it means to run an NGO.
Finally I can get an impression of how everything is organized and what it really takes to do such a good work as Sambhali does.
I really admire all these people working here, doing such a good job. Everything is so well-structured and I’m very proud to be a part of this for at least a few days.
But working on the computer also means missing some other activities I really enjoyed during the last few days.
Meeting Sambhali’s girls, for example. They are so sweet and lovable that once you went upstairs to their room, you don’t want to leave them anymore. Even though we can hardly understand each other by talking, looking into their eyes I felt really easy and welcome.
That’s why it hit me even harder when I heard the stories about their lives. That really touched my heart. But after having visited the graduated batch in their two sewing centers I know that their participation in the project will make them be happy, self-confident and independent women.
Another thing I couldn’t have done while sitting in front of the computer, was meeting the most important officials together with twelve real Stanford (!) students. That was a really memorable experience as well.
Who would have preferred the computer then?
Apart from that I just really enjoy the beautiful city and the lovely guesthouse with all its people.
That’s why I love power cuts. Because there’s so much to experience right here and I simply don’t want to miss anything as I feel it really enriches my life.
But don’t feel too pity for me! Next week it’s my task to know the girls better. So finally I’m independent and don’t have to take care about power cuts at all…
Moderator:(power cut is a bis issue in Rajasthan, the drought has hit very bad this year, the government can not produce enough electricity and cuts power for 4 hours everyday, this will provide villagers some electricity that government save from power cuts in the cities.)
Khamaghani Dear all who have stayed with me in this battle, today we won our battle but lost it for the love Dakhu had agreed to for her Husband!!!!Khamaghani Dear all who have stayed with me in this battle, today we won our battle but lost it for the love Dakhu had agreed to for her Husband!!!!
Dakhu, her parents, grand parents, cousins and her Husband and his cousins came home and wanted if I would permit Dakhu's Husband Papu to take her away to his home, he apologized , he begged if he could take her, I said the decision was in hands of Dakhu and the ladies from her family, they agreed upon sending Dakhu to her husband, who refused her because of the mental situation, today Dakhu came to Jodhpur to take her 2 months medicine and the regular checkup she had with the doctor and looked happy and healthy, I made her husband write me a promise note that he will look after her, pay for her medicine and make sure she takes them on time and if he neglects her again , we have all the rights to take him behind bars for the violence against Dakhu.
Thank you all once again, all the best and please pray for her good future with Papu.
Recently made two good friends from Germany on my right Franciska and her sister Veronika.
SLT Meeting with the Honorable District Megistrate Mr. Naveen Mahajan of Jodhpur
SLT Meeting with the Honorable CEO Mr.Rajeev Jain of Jodhpur.
SLT meeting with the Women and child welfare department Honorable Deputy Director of Jodhpur Mr.Shakti Singh Ji
With all of your support, Sambhali Trust -Jodhpur Project- (Helping to Empower underpriviledge women and girls) have started with a new batch for year 2009-2011 from the 15th of August 2009
Sambhali Trust: Sadly the graduates left finally, i am happy and sad at the same time, happy that they are having their own sewing centers, where they can make some living and help like Ms. Corinne has come to help us with giving some business to the sewing centers and keep an eye on the quality control and above all to manage and run the Sambhali India Shop.
Graduates have their own sewing centers, I hope you like the pictures from them at work for their new life.The Sambhali Graduates 2006-2009
Prithvipura branch of the Sewing center of the graduates
Raikabagh Branch of the sewing center of the graduates
Graduates for their last day at Sambhali, writting messages on the white boards from their time with us.
Ms.Tammana, our Jodhpur project teacher, inaugurating the sewing center,
Ms.Corinne Rose, Ms.Tammana and the Graduates
Ms.Nirmala with her certificate
Ms.Soniya with her certificate
Ms.Saraswati with her certificate Ms.Savita with her certificate of Sambhali Trust
Happy Graduates! 2006-2009Two Street Actors!
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First Impression Report from Ms.Jessica Robinson:
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The Duras Niwag guest house is by far the most peaceful place I have encountered in India so far. I enquired about volunteering with Sambhali Trust mere days before arriving in India as a young solo traveler and was not expecting to have any kind of structured experience – helping out with English teaching was all I had imagined to be doing. I was just in time, however, to assist with a Service Learning Trip with the Foundation for Sustainable Development, documenting their development project in Setrawa. For the next month I will be spending time between Jodhpur and Setrawa, preparing reports on the proceedings so that Sambhali Trust has a record of the outcomes of the trip. I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of hands-on development work and I anticipate that it will spark a life-long passion.
Having never been to an Indian village, I am looking forward to visiting and learning about culture in rural Rajasthan, including the chance to sleep on a roof and be a part of traditional daily life. The language barrier will also be an interesting challenge as I develop my skills of non-verbal communication and try to absorb as much Hindi as I can.
My time spent with the Sambhali Trust girls has been brief as yet, but I have felt the buzz in the air of excitement tinged with sadness as a group of them graduate and move on from the program. It is instantly noticeable that this place is a real haven to many people; even the furnishings, with their bright, happy colours, intricately embroidered curtains and soft cushions adorning every resting place create a real sense of home to all who pass through.
I can see that the work being carried out here by Sambhali Trust is the practical realization of the dreams of many – to work towards a fairer world where caste discrimination, the oppression of women and illiteracy are things of the past and every individual may have the chance to become whatever they desire, with nothing holding them back. I can foresee that I will be taking so much wisdom and new knowledge home from this beautiful place, and I can only hope that I leave behind an impact that is just as positive.
Report about the Service Learning Trip (SLT) from Standford University , USA
SLT Participants
Practising Bollywood dance for the Independence day
SLT Participants performing a bollywood dance on Independence day at our Setrawa project center
Setrawa participants helping SLT participants distribute leaflets for the need assessment of the village.Trying camel ride
Meeting with the local police
Meeting with the local Doctor
Setrawa participantsA small report on SLT program by Ms.Jessica Robinson, Detailed report as PDF available after the3rd of September 09 on the website.
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On Monday 10/8/09 the SLT students arrived at the Durag Niwas Guest House for an official Sambhali Trust welcome of refreshments and a rooftop presentation. Mr Govind Rathore spoke about the work of Sambhali Trust and how it began before screening a 10 minute film explaining the plight of Dalit women in Jodhpur and how Sambhali Trust is working to better the situation through its three programs. The student responded with a number of questions, such as what kinds of methods the organization employs to increase the attendance/retention rates at the Jodhpur project, the ways in which the girls’ responsibilities are affected by attending the program and what the main differences are between government and private schools in Jodhpur. Five of the Sambhali Trust graduates also came up to speak about their favourite activities and how their families responded to their becoming involved in the project. As a continuation of their orientation, on Tuesday 11/8 the SLT students participated in several workshops to introduce them to life and culture in India, and also had an opportunity to go shopping for Indian clothes.
On Wednesday 12/8 the students, Mr Govind Rathore, the FSD directors and three Sambhali Trust volunteers, Michelle, Leo and myself, ventured out to Setrawa and met the villagers for the first time. We split into small groups and walked around the entire village to distribute 400 leaflets explaining the project and inviting people to community meetings scheduled for the following two afternoons. The children of the village trailed behind us excitedly as we met with people in their homes to introduce ourselves and acquaint ourselves with the community. That evening, the group was accommodated in Mr Govind Rathore’s spacious and peaceful ancestral home nearby.
On Thursday 14/8 we returned to the village to continue community outreach activities. We met with a friendly sweets vendor who was pleased to speak with us and inform us of some of the issues his family faced in the village, such as poverty and the drought. We were also welcomed into a family home and given chai and snacks, where the students bravely utilized their Hindi with a “Khana acha ka!” and the women informed us of their problems with water and disease such as malaria. The young men of the house then accompanied us to the local hospital/relief centre, where the nurse generously took the time to explain that the centre’s doctor had not been available for a month and there were two other nurses like him. He noted that he saw 2-3 malaria patients per day, and that malnourishment was the biggest cause of unnatural death, despite the government’s provision of vitamins. He also mentioned that around 60-70 people come through the centre each day and must travel to Jodhpur for dental and gynecological services.
We also met with the manager of the local police station who explained that the heat and busy times such as the pilgrimage made effective management a challenge and also put further strain on many other ailing systems within the village.
In each afternoon for two days we then held community meetings in the Sambhali Centre. The attendance was excellent; whilst mainly women and children, many people had also taken the time to voice their concerns in written form on the backs of the leaflets we had distributed to them. The women were very open and helpful when discussing the issues that faced them: accountability and funding issues in schools, government grants/aid money not reaching the village, sewerage problems, water sanitation, illiteracy and a lack of rights awareness amongst people in the village came up many times as major problems. One gentleman explained that a lot of people accept that hardships are simply God’s will and are not aware of ways that they can seek assistance for their problems.
The children in the meeting told us how they wished to continue studying so as to become professionals and contribute to the prosperity of India, but that it was difficult for the girls because many parents did not approve of their daughter attending male-dominated higher education. We learnt that many girls do not remain in school past 8th standard; they begin work in the household after this time.
The SLT students asked whether people were able to prepare for droughts somehow and the villagers explained that this was not financially possible. Around 10 of the people attending the meeting admitted that somebody in their family was forced to leave Setrawa to find work, which usually involved difficult commutes or extra money for alternative living arrangements.
The SLT students were consistently mindful of the notions that people in the village could have about foreigners and development work, and regularly discussed in de-briefing sessions the need to be respectful and objective when gathering information.
On Independence Day the SLT students took a break to attend ceremonies at the local government school and the Setrawa school. We witnessed beautiful performances of marching, prayer, dancing and singing and gave our own Bollywood-style dance show at the Sambhali school, much to the amusement of the children. At the government school 6 of us gave small speeches introducing ourselves and the project and thanking the community for their hospitality.
In discussion sessions following these few days in Setrawa, the SLT students considered the interconnectedness of the problems in the village and what the root issues might be. FSD director Garret Wong guided the group to think about how their projects could inform, empower and mobilize the community to find solutions that are congruent with culture, acceptable to the people and can be continued and committed to.
Whilst considering these points and preparing for their projects, the students will spend the coming week meeting with various local organizations to build a picture of the other issues people face in India, including the Mine Labour Protection Campaign, People Living with HIV/AIDs Swansthan, the Department of Water & Sanitation and the Department of Women & Child Development.
Ms.Surabhi Agarwal Final Impression and some pictures of her work in Setrawa village project.
Pictures of New building of Setrawa project, sports ground in sand behind the project center and the green land is from a private school near by.
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MS. Surabhi Agrawal
Sambhali- Final Report
My internship with Sambhali has been eye opening as I have encountered some of the most challenging issues one faces when working in the field of development. My stay in the village, Setrawa, allowed me to delve deeper into the rural areas and learn from what I saw. Between laughing with and teaching the girls to having meetings concerning microfinance, it seems the past two months have passed in the blink of an eye. Now as it comes time for me to say goodbye, I realize how hard it is to leave the beautiful community of which I have become a part. The desert heat had become bearable only because of the smiles of my girls in the school, their welcoming attitudes, my host family’s generosity, the evenings of cricket or badminton and the eagerness with which all the students wanted to learn.
Every day the local teacher Usha and I conducted sewing class in the morning and then English class in the evening. The sewing class had more students come in the last two weeks when we started making some purses and handbags to sell. Therefore, if the production of items continues and the school receives some profession training in sewing, then I know the morning class will continue to flourish. We divided the evening class into two, as Usha taught the smaller students the alphabet while I had more complex lessons prepared for the older girls. We were able to learn the past tense, future tense, prepositions and possessive pronouns. We also had game day of Fridays where the girls learned about teamwork, taking turns, helping one another and building confidence.
Aside from teaching, Usha and I went in the evening to the homes of the women interested in being part of a microfinance project through the formation of SHGs (Self Help Groups). These interviews were conducted to help with the microfinance proposal being written in Jodhpur by two of the other interns. It is my hope that after I leave, another intern will overtake this project as the women in the village are greatly looking forward to the possibilities this savings and loan project can create.
In addition, before I left, I was able to see the installation of solar panels in the SambhaliSchool in the village. I was motivated to find an alternative sustainable source of energy one afternoon when I was teaching the girls and the electricity had gone out. They girls were patiently learning and not once complaining even though we were all sweating profusely as the classroom had no windows and the noon sun was not showing any mercy. Finally, after about forty minutes of studying in these conditions, one of the older girls asked me, “Didi (sister), it is way too hot to study here. Can we please do this lesson later?” Still having another hour of class left yet knowing there was no way we could study in this heat, I let the girls go home. However, that moment greatly influenced me because here I saw a group of students with the will to learn yet their education was negatively affected because of a lack of basic amenities such as electricity, which should be present in all schools. Thus, after much research, obtaining permission to attain the panels and finding a reliable local individual who will install and maintain them, the official installation of the solar panels was remarkable. Now the school has four lights, a big removable fan, and a VCD/CD player that will operate during the school hours. I felt proud because at least the heat will not be an issue that would prevent the girls from learning anymore.
Overall, the past two months were important as I gathered first-hand experience working at the grassroots level, I learned about myself as I lived in conditions new to me, and I gained further insight about my India roots. Living in the village was a humbling experience and my students were the best that I could have ever asked for. Sambhali is doing a great job in Setrawa by promoting education because that is the greatest asset you can give an individual. I hope to come back to India for a longer time in the future because two months is just not enough in the field of development.
Ms. Joanne Edwards
Swansea University
Reading, UK
19th July - 10th August
Reports to come
Mr. Ahsan Dharani's, Karen Fan's, Ms. Joanne Edwards final impression reports to come and the new exciting Sherni project proposal online soon.
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Few words about the SLT program (service learning trip): A group of 14 young students and group leaders coming from Standford University to the Setrawa project and learn about India and indian culture in Jodhpur.
A press release prepared by Ms.Jessica Robinson
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Under supervision of Sambhali Trust on this Monday 10th of August 14 students (11 women; 3 men) from StanfordUniversity will arrive in Jodhpur as part of a Service Learning Trip (SLT) organized by the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD). They will be staying for approximately one month and will be working between Jodhpur and Setrawa with the focus being on the Setrawa village community.
They will meet with Mr. Govind Singh Rathore, director of the Sambhali Trust, to discuss the SLT project. The Sambhali Trust is an organization focusing on women’s empowerment and development and has been operating for 3 years. It runs three projects: the Jodhpur Project, which focuses on women and empowerment in the Dalit community; the Literacy Project; and the Setrawa Project. The Setrawa Project aims to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on caste. Sambhali Trust also operates a small center in Setrawa where participants are trained in basic academic subjects as well as practical topics such as health and hygiene.
The SLT students will begin by participating in educational workshops to learn about India, Jodhpur, Safety & Health, Development & Issues, Culture & Caste and Society & Behavior.
The group will then travel to Setrawa to conduct a community assessment including observational activities and discuss ongoing data collection & analysis. They will prepare their findings and conduct a community discussion to share these findings and future preparations, and plan projects. The SLT group will cover different area topics and gather different sets of information.
After this first week they will transfer to living with a host family in Jodhpur. Here they will meet with a lot of other Non profit organizations and different government authorities.
The group will also participate in cultural events organized by their SLT program placement agency on time to time.
They will then return to Setrawa to begin outreach activities and prepare for and conduct a community meeting. The outreach activities will continue over several days and the planned activities will be implemented. Education workshops and “Clean Village Campaign” activities will also be carried out. Following this there will be community meetings and evaluations, after which the findings will be shared.
Back in Jodhpur there will be a chance to review and reflect upon the trip as well as meet with Sambhali Trust Director Mr. Govind Singh Rathore one more time. The group will depart on Friday 5th of September.
A lot more information and interesting reports and proposals on its way!
Thanks for reading
