Mountain Children’s Foundation
Changing the way the world perceives and works with children

Dehradun |Workshops

Strengthening of baal panchayats

Partner Organisation : Swayam Social Welfare Organisation, Rishikesh
               District: Dehradun

          Supported by : Give2Asia

Follow-Up Workshop Report

September 12th, 2010

Give2Asia supported MCF along with its partner organization Swayam Social Welfare Organiation, Rishikesh to conduct a follow up workshop with the Children’s Group of Kumharbada and Mayakund (slum area) of Rishikesh. The main aim of the workshop was to enhance the level of interaction amongst the children and the elders and how the children’s group could help spread awareness amongst other children of the area. Unfortunately due to the heavy rains that lashed Rishikesh on the 12th of September the grand parents could not attend the program. 33 children attended the workshop.

The children were asked what their experiences had been since the earlier workshop that was organised on 13th & 14th February 2010.

Sunny Prajapati shared his experience with the other children. He said one evening he was walking with his friend Rakesh. They saw an old man lying on the road. They called out to him but the old man did not reply. After a short while the old man regained consciousness and asked the boys to pick him up. They tried to help him stand but he was unable to do so on his own. They gave him water to drink. The old man said that he was all alone as his son had abandonded him. Sunny and Rakesh called the emergency ambulance service (108) who took the old man to the government hospital.They visited the old man twice in the hospital until he was well and discharged from the hospital.

Ajit and his friends said that they helped an old couple from Bihar. This old couple was returning home from their religious trip to the four revered temples in Uttarakhand called the “chardham yatra”. Their luggage was stolen on the way and they were very upset. Ajit and his friends collected some money and helped the couple get to their home safely.

Deepika, Kajal, Ruchi and their friends shared their experience, they said an old lady (Dadiji- grand mother) lives in their neighborhood. She is very old and nobody took care of her in her family. Her husband works out side the city. When she was alone at home Deepika and her friends went to her house and spent time with her so that she was not lonely and unhappy.

Swayam Social Welfare Organisation had also conducted a three months basic computer course for the Bal Sangthan children with the support of Municipal Corporation of Rishikesh. President of the Municipal Corporation Rishikesh Mr. Deep Sharma distributed the certificates, a computer book and a bag to the children during the workshop.

The children said that they would continue to build bridges with the older generation. They would also find out the welfare schemes for the old people run by the government and connect the people with the schemes.  

The Mountain Children's Foundation,63-A Vyom Prasth, G.M.S Road,Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
Phone: 91-135-6532937 Email: mcfglobal @ mymountains.org