Formation of baal panchayats in slum areas
Partner Organisation : Society for Environment & Development
District: Dehradun
Supported by : Give2Asia
Workshop Report
Oct 2nd and 3rd 2010
MCF along with its partner organization Society for Environment & Development conducted a two day workshop with the Children’s Group ( Bal Panchayat ) of village Lakhasyar. The main aim of the workshop was to enhance the level of interaction amongst the children and the elders of the village and to discuss how the children’s group could help spread awareness amongst other children of the nearby villages. A total number of 113 children from 9 villages situated near Lakhasyar participated in this workshop.
Day 1 : The workshop took place in a government school in Lakhasyar.The day started with an introduction of the participants. A discussion on groups followed:
- What is a children’s group?
- What are the advantages of having a children's group
- What activities can be conducted by these groups.
An enthusiastic discussion then took place where children described the different types of groups they had in their villages
This was followed by a story about different parts of the body told by Mr. Sudhir Bhatt (facilitator) the main theme of the story was that there is unity and strength in numbers, emphasizing that the children should work collectively.
30 children had been invited to the workshop but when the children heard that a workshop was being held they all wanted to attend and so over a 100 children reached the venue. The facilitators from MCF did not want to send the children back as this would have created discontent, discrimination and a feeling of being let down. In order that the children could follow what was being discussed they were divided into 5 groups.
The components necessary for a children’s group were explained through an interactive game. Each group had to pick out the right components which would help their group become stronger.
The issues that were discussed were as follows:
- What is a group
- Whose group is it ?
- How can children make the group stronger .
- What should be kept in mind while working in a group
- What are the causes which lead to breaking of the Group
Through the different games organized the main aim was to :
- Ensure the children learnt to follow rules.
- To be able to be patient and understand each other better
- Remove any sort of apprehension and express themselves freely
- Showcase the strength of each child.
The second half of the day focused on importance of the elders in the family.
- What relationship the children and elders shared?
- What can be learnt from the elders in the village?
- How can the children help the elder members of their family ?
- How can the Children’s Group build better relationship with the elders of the village?
The children were then asked to make a work plan .
Day 2 : The day commenced with a quick review of the activities and ideas that were discussed with the children on the previous day. The children explained what they had understood about their own Children’s Group and the basic rules and regulations that should govern it.
The children were then asked to write down there work plan on how they could bridge the gap between them and the elders of their village – They wrote their thoughts down on a chart paper and then made a presentation. Each group gave the presentation.
A consolidation of the issues that the children raised :
- To ask the grandparent what changes they see in the community from the old days.
- To learn about our tradition, culture, old stories, fairs and festivals.
- To give grandparents their medicine when they are unwell.
- To help the elders in their work.
- To ask the grand parents about medicinal plants that were used when they were young.
- To ask about the agriculture and trade of old times.
- To generate awareness in grand parents about the disadvantages of tobacco.
- Not misbehave with our grand parents.
- We will not make fun the elders in our village.
- To take our grand parents advice.
- To ask how they built houses in the olden days.
The day concluded by taking feedback from the children. A vote of thanks was given by Rohit Tomar the President of the Bhagat Singh Bal Panchayat .
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