AARAMBH
RURAL PROJECT
In October 2009, Aarambh decided to extend our work
beyond the urban and suburban areas of New Bombay, and
we started rural-based project in the village of Waii –
about 300 kilometers (200 miles) from Bombay. We have a
personal connection with Waii. Many of our staff members
grew up in this area, and know for first-hand, the problems
faced by the villagers here. They were eager to go back
and help their families and friends left behind in the
villages.
In October 2009, Aarambh decided to extend our work
beyond the urban and suburban areas of New Bombay, and
we started rural-based project in the village of Waii –
about 300 kilometers (200 miles) from Bombay. We have a
personal connection with Waii. Many of our staff members
grew up in this area, and know for first-hand, the problems
faced by the villagers here. They were eager to go back
and help their families and friends left behind in the
villages.
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When we first started to explore this initiative, it
was clear to us that our staff had instant rapport
and credibility with the locals in this area. What
impressed us was that these folks were not looking
for handouts from us, but were seeking our
assistance and guidance to find ways to help
themselves improve their lives. It was also a big
help that local government officials were very
supportive of our plans for the area.
Our first small step involved setting up four centers
here.
was clear to us that our staff had instant rapport
and credibility with the locals in this area. What
impressed us was that these folks were not looking
for handouts from us, but were seeking our
assistance and guidance to find ways to help
themselves improve their lives. It was also a big
help that local government officials were very
supportive of our plans for the area.
Our first small step involved setting up four centers
here.
The Problem
Waii is actually a cluster of several villages and we selected 5 of the neediest to start our
work.These 5 villages comprise around 400 families. Although the land here is extremely
fertile for agriculture, the inhabitants of these villages are too poor to own and farm the
land. The adults from these villages work in the fields of rich landowners who pay them
between Rs 20 and Rs. 40 for a full day of labor.
This income is grossly insufficient to support a family. So young boys must tend to herds of
cattle to supplement their families’ meager incomes. Young girls stay home to look after
household chores. Many families cannot afford adequate food, and young children here are
malnourished and suffer from a variety of illnesses and problems that come with the lack of
proper and regular meals.
In addition, children do not attend school because their families need them to work to earn
a living, and/or cannot afford to pay their school fees. So although each village has a school,
attendance is poor and graduation rates are extremely low.
With limited employment opportunities in the village, and virtually no education, young girls
and boys from these villages migrate to large urban centers such as Bombay, in search of
employment. They are only qualified to perform menial labor under harsh conditions, and
often exploited by unscrupulous employers. They live in one of the many slums in the city
and lead lives that are hard to describe anything but “miserable”, with little hope for
anything better.
Waii is actually a cluster of several villages and we selected 5 of the neediest to start our
work.These 5 villages comprise around 400 families. Although the land here is extremely
fertile for agriculture, the inhabitants of these villages are too poor to own and farm the
land. The adults from these villages work in the fields of rich landowners who pay them
between Rs 20 and Rs. 40 for a full day of labor.
This income is grossly insufficient to support a family. So young boys must tend to herds of
cattle to supplement their families’ meager incomes. Young girls stay home to look after
household chores. Many families cannot afford adequate food, and young children here are
malnourished and suffer from a variety of illnesses and problems that come with the lack of
proper and regular meals.
In addition, children do not attend school because their families need them to work to earn
a living, and/or cannot afford to pay their school fees. So although each village has a school,
attendance is poor and graduation rates are extremely low.
With limited employment opportunities in the village, and virtually no education, young girls
and boys from these villages migrate to large urban centers such as Bombay, in search of
employment. They are only qualified to perform menial labor under harsh conditions, and
often exploited by unscrupulous employers. They live in one of the many slums in the city
and lead lives that are hard to describe anything but “miserable”, with little hope for
anything better.
Our Goals
Over the next eight to ten years, here’s what we hope to
accomplish in Waii:
Over the next eight to ten years, here’s what we hope to
accomplish in Waii:
- Help the women supplement their incomes through skills
training so that they can improve their standard of living. - Find ways to help children stay in school and graduate so
that they have brighter futures than they currently do - Improve daily nutrition for the local children
- Try to create jobs locally, and encourage youth to stay in
their villages. And, if circumstances dictate that they
migrate to cities, then ensure that they are adequately
educated and trained so that them can compete on an equal
footing with their peers.
What We Are Doing Today
Our rural initiative today involves about 110 local women and 600 children.
Our rural initiative today involves about 110 local women and 600 children.
- Through our network of volunteers, we have set up tailoring classes to teach the local
women to sew and make clothes for themselves, their families, as well as for other
villagers for an added source of income. - We run study classes for village children who have dropped out of school. We enroll
them back in school and intend to help and support them through their school years. - We are seeking to improve the facilities in the existing schools in the area. At the
request of parents and teachers, we have installed computers in these schools and have
started classes to teach students basic computer skills. - We have started community vegetable gardens in area schools. These gardens yield
fresh tomatoes, green beans, okra, spinach and other vegetables. These vegetables
are cooked in the school kitchens and served to children as part of the mid-day meal.
In addition, with the help of village volunteers, the children tend to the gardens
themselves, helping them gain a sense of accomplishment and responsibility.
The Next Steps
We recognize that these are our first steps in helping the citizens of Waii help themselves,
and that they need our long-term support if we are to truly make a difference in their
quality of life here. So here’s what we plan to do over the next several years:
We recognize that these are our first steps in helping the citizens of Waii help themselves,
and that they need our long-term support if we are to truly make a difference in their
quality of life here. So here’s what we plan to do over the next several years:
- We propose to fund the education expenses for children in this area until they
complete high school. Upon graduation from high school, we will help them continue with
traditional college studies, or vocational training, or employment. - The local schools lack basic infrastructure such as drinking water facilities and benches
in classrooms. So we are seeking sponsors and donors to help improve school
infrastructure. - Most homes in this area cannot afford electricity. So we are partnering with two local
suppliers to provide low-cost solar powered lanterns that can be used to light homes
and classrooms. - We are encouraging the villagers to plant one fruit tree a week. We have teamed up
with a Bombay-based nursery to supply low-cost saplings that can be planted at various
locations in the village.
| While we are gratified by the immediate success and improvements that we have seen, we realize that in order to make any real difference, we need to remain committed to this cause over the long term. We at Aarambh look forward to this challenge. |