Mountain Children’s Foundation
Changing the way the world perceives and works with children
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Strengthening of baal panchayats Partner Organisation : Chahat Supported by : Give2Asia Follow-Up Workshop Report September 6th, 2010 The children were asked what their experiences had been since the initial workshop that was organized on the 18 & 19 February 2010. The children replied that they had arranged meetings of their Bal Panchayat twice and discussed the PABAM magazine. They had cleaned the water source of their village. Bal Panchayat member Puskar and Ganesh said that they had cleaned the naula (water source) yet againa second time as well. The children were asked what the reaction of the older generation was to their work done by the children's group. The Bal Panchayat member Kavita replied that the older generation had said that the children had done a good thing as the naula (water source) is the villages ancestors gift to the present generation and it should be protected. The children were asked how many had spoken with their grand parents. Neeraj said that he had spoken to his grandfather Mr. Jagat Singh Bisht who told Neeraj that in the olden days there were no transport system in the villages and they used to walk for miles to get anywhere. Horses and mules were used to carry goods. His grandfather also told him about the medicinal plants and their medicinal properties and how they were used by them in those times. Kavita said she had spoken about the workshop at home. Her grandfather Sri Pan Singh Bisht said that the new generation has forgotten culture and there is no respect for the old people. Violence against women is increasing. Puskar said his grandfather told him that in the ancient times folk songs were the most important form of entertainment but now this too is a slowly dying art. During the workshop the children were also asked why they wanted to be a part of the children’s group. They wrote that they could can help each others, their voices were reaching the community, they were learning a lot from each others, they could solve the problems of their village like they got together and clean the water source, the children could learn many things about culture and tradition from the older generation. |
| During this follow up workshop the children also elected the duty bearers for their Bal Panchayat.
Neeraj Singh Secretary, Babita Singh President, Mukul Bisht Vice President, Yamuna Bisht Treasurer and Sushmita Mehta Deputy Secretary. The children said they would create a group at their village level as this bal panchayat is in their school. Tulsi Mehata from Kumoun Vani Community Radio was present in the workshop, she was very interested in the program and asked the children to make a program about whatever they would learn from their grand parents so that she could broadcast it from the Kumoun Vani Community Radio. The children were excited and said that they would. As there were not adults at the meeting Dwarika asked Dr Bisht to hold another meeting where the children would interact with the older generation and have the children present what they learnt. |
The Mountain Children's Foundation,63-A Vyom Prasth, G.M.S Road,Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India |
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