| Zena 8-9-1999 |
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| Barli Development Institute for Rural Women Indore. |
Web Page, photographs and content by Janak and Jimmy McGilligan
| International Literacy Day September 8 1999 This is a pictorial view of a 3 day visit of Counsellor Zena Sorabjee Member of the Continental Board of Kamat in Jhabua District to celebrate International Literacy Day, and other events. |
Introduction
Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh organised and hosted International Literacy day on 8th September in their village, as Mrs. Zena Sorabjee,
Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors of the Baha'is in Asia was the Chief Guest.
To make sure that all arrangements for the programme were made, we sent Institute's Training in Charge Mrs. Dhedi Dawar to the area.
Two days before the programme date, the Institute got a phone call from Dhedi to say that as there were crops growing alongside the path to as
would difficult to get into the village, she agreed to consult them.
Mandal had consulted, and said that they could not change the venue of the proposed meeting, and were all set to receive the participants and
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee.
Jhabua District of Madhya Pradesh organised and hosted International Literacy day on 8th September in their village, as Mrs. Zena Sorabjee,
Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors of the Baha'is in Asia was the Chief Guest.
To make sure that all arrangements for the programme were made, we sent Institute's Training in Charge Mrs. Dhedi Dawar to the area.
Two days before the programme date, the Institute got a phone call from Dhedi to say that as there were crops growing alongside the path to as
would difficult to get into the village, she agreed to consult them.
Mandal had consulted, and said that they could not change the venue of the proposed meeting, and were all set to receive the participants and
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee.
| Literacy Day at BVIRW which depicted the real cause of the low level of literacy in their communities. After training the trainee should be able to say to the teacher to attend school regularly, and by their efforts they can school this workshop trainees painted literacy posters and help them with their studies.increase the rate of literacy. If women become literate they will understand the importance of literacy, and they can oppose social evils like child marriage and child labour, and they will be able to manage a small family and send their children to school and help them with their studies. |
Journey and trek to Ali Kamat
On the 8th morning we left Indore at 5:00am to drive to the area, the 250 kilometre drive to the villages was quite uneventful the weather though
into the area of the village, when we arrived at the point where the path to the village left the paved road many ex-trainee of the Institute were
already waiting,
On the 8th morning we left Indore at 5:00am to drive to the area, the 250 kilometre drive to the villages was quite uneventful the weather though
into the area of the village, when we arrived at the point where the path to the village left the paved road many ex-trainee of the Institute were
already waiting,
was evident by the many crops that had failed. There were some areas where there were some good crops of millet, most of the other crops like
was evident by the many crops that had failed. There were some areas where there were some good crops of millet, most of the other crops like
groundnut, mung and other lintels had failed.groundnut, mung and other lintels had failed.
was evident by the many crops that had failed. There were some areas where there were some good crops of millet, most of the other crops like
groundnut, mung and other lintels had failed.groundnut, mung and other lintels had failed.
while Mrs. Sorabjee looks back to see how far the other groups are behind her.
Having a well earned rest, "but look on the other path, another group of girls are coming". Then the emotional reunion
The trek goes on and the line of girls gets longer
Dwarfed while passing through a good stand of millet, a little further on the
people come out of their house to watch the long line of brightly coloured
people pass by.
people come out of their house to watch the long line of brightly coloured
people pass by.
| Prayers |
The programme began with Prayers sung by
ex-trainees of BVIRW from villages of Dhar and
Jhabua Districts
ex-trainees of BVIRW from villages of Dhar and
Jhabua Districts
| Success Stories |
Then different girls told their success stories of what the had achieved since they had taken training at BVIRW, for example
Ghichli told that her husband died and she has 2 children, she has sent one to small boarding school and one is with her, all this
she has been able to do as she could earn from her sewing work. And Bepari told she is teaching people about importance of
educating the girls in their communities and how she was successful in setting up her own business in her community.
Ghichli told that her husband died and she has 2 children, she has sent one to small boarding school and one is with her, all this
she has been able to do as she could earn from her sewing work. And Bepari told she is teaching people about importance of
educating the girls in their communities and how she was successful in setting up her own business in her community.
Shanti Malvia from Village Kawda explained how she holds the women's committee meeting in her village. Daram from Bhimpura
of Dhar district also said she is now appointed as a tailoring instructor in her village by Government.
of Dhar district also said she is now appointed as a tailoring instructor in her village by Government.
| Kami Chouan from village Umrali explained how she had managed to set up sewing business and was also training other women in this, she also told how she had trained her husband in the business and now they worked together sewing clothes and ironing clothes and how they also sell various household and other ornaments like hairpins and bindis etc. from small shop in her village. vegetables in her kitchen garden for her family |
Some of the Audience
The audience was very varied and included those who were noisy and had a grand stand view of the proceedings and those who were on
a lower level and kept very quite throughout the meeting.
a lower level and kept very quite throughout the meeting.
Survey Stories
the villages of Dhar and Jhabua district collecting data about all the ex-trainees of this area. Zena, Janak and Dhedi listen in
National Open School Certificates
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee presented mark sheets and Pass Certificates to those girls present who has taken the National Open School
exam in May 1999.
exam in May 1999.
Janak and Dayaram
Janak and Dayaram Solanki gave a talk to the audience of more than 150 which included ex-trainees of BVIRW who had come from
more than 20 villages had gathered in this cluster of Ali Kamat village.
more than 20 villages had gathered in this cluster of Ali Kamat village.
Talk by Mrs. Sorabjee
Mrs. Zena Sorabjee in her talk to the girls and audience gathered, said she is completely impressed with the stories of the women and
highlighted the fact the importance of educating the girl child, who becomes the mother and is the first educator of the children and of
the future generation.
highlighted the fact the importance of educating the girl child, who becomes the mother and is the first educator of the children and of
the future generation.
Out side the venue some of the young women had put up a stall
to distribute leaflets and other literature provided by UNICEF
in preparation for their Girl Child Week and Meena Campaign
to distribute leaflets and other literature provided by UNICEF
in preparation for their Girl Child Week and Meena Campaign
After some refreshments and a group photo of all the
ex-trainees and some others who had attended, we
headed back down the path through the crops to the
waiting jeep, that would take us to Alirajpur and some
rest.
ex-trainees and some others who had attended, we
headed back down the path through the crops to the
waiting jeep, that would take us to Alirajpur and some
rest.
| Inauguration of Kalyani Institute for Community Development September 9th 1999 |
but we made it with 10 minutes to spare.but we made it with 10 minutes to spare.
The meeting started with lightening the traditional lamp, Mrs. Dhedi Dawar recited a prayer for peace. The programme was conducted Mrs.
Sadhana Streubel, after welcoming everyone to Kavchha.
She introduced the Chief Guest, Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors of Baha'is in Asia, and the special
guests: Mr. Phool Singh, representative of the Rajendra Ashram Trust in Kathiwada, Mrs. Dhedi Dawar, trainer at the Barli Development
Institute for Rural Women, and joint secretary of KICD, Pawanendra Singhji, internationally known for grafting the world's largest mangoes,
Mr. Prabhakar Khoche, engineer and advisor to KICD, Mr. Herwig Streubel, together with Sadhana initiators of KICD.
Sadhana Streubel, after welcoming everyone to Kavchha.
She introduced the Chief Guest, Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Member of the Continental Board of Counsellors of Baha'is in Asia, and the special
guests: Mr. Phool Singh, representative of the Rajendra Ashram Trust in Kathiwada, Mrs. Dhedi Dawar, trainer at the Barli Development
Institute for Rural Women, and joint secretary of KICD, Pawanendra Singhji, internationally known for grafting the world's largest mangoes,
Mr. Prabhakar Khoche, engineer and advisor to KICD, Mr. Herwig Streubel, together with Sadhana initiators of KICD.
| Address by Mrs. Sorabjee |
| Tree Planting |
After the official programme the visitors left the tent and 9 different kinds of mango trees
donated by different parties were planted, Mrs. Zena Sorabjee planted the tree of unity, Dhedi and Rani, the tree for the upliftment
of the tribal people.
donated by different parties were planted, Mrs. Zena Sorabjee planted the tree of unity, Dhedi and Rani, the tree for the upliftment
of the tribal people.
Sadhana and Herwig planted the tree of development and Janak and Jimmy McGilligan, Director and Manager of BDIRW, the tree
of friendship, Pawanendra Singhji and his brother, the tree of honour, Mr. and Mrs. P. Y. Khoche, parents of Sadhana the tree of the
family, representatives of Rajendra Ashram planted the tree of co-operation, Mr. Perm Singh, supervisor of the house construction,
the tree of labour and Madhav a neighbour planted the tree of the environment.
of friendship, Pawanendra Singhji and his brother, the tree of honour, Mr. and Mrs. P. Y. Khoche, parents of Sadhana the tree of the
family, representatives of Rajendra Ashram planted the tree of co-operation, Mr. Perm Singh, supervisor of the house construction,
the tree of labour and Madhav a neighbour planted the tree of the environment.
