Calendar of Events

Activities

ACTIVITY REPORT

2022-2023

INTRODUCTION

Sewagram is a small village located about 8.K.m. from Wardha town in Maharashtra. The quiet little town of Sewagram is an ideal spot where people can be one with the nature, entirely at peace. This town is located amidst dense forests and greenery, making it an ideal tourist destination. Sewagram is particularly famous for Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram. Population of Wardha city constitutes Hindus, Muslim, Buddhists, with very less percentage of Christians, Janis and Sikhs. As of 2011 India Census, Wardha had a population of 1,296,157.The main occupation of the people in the village is agriculture which mainly depends on monsoon rain fall.

The Society of Sisters St.John started their activities in the year 1970 in the district of Wardha. Since then, the main thrust of the Society’s activities has been education, socio-pastoral care and health care of the marginalized and the down trodden. The society is involved in a number of pastoral, social, and humanitarian activities.

The society stepped into a new venture in 1985 to help the less privileged the society. With the help and co-operation of a few good hearted friends and well-wishers of the Soil. Soon we sensed the need of rehabilitating them. So we started a Rehabilitation Centre named “JEEVAN VIKAS” within the rural set-up. We bring the disabled children from the surrounding villages by our own vehicle and reach them back to their homes in the evening. The students from far away villages stay here. Only during summer holidays they go to their own homes. We teach them various trades such as tailoring, fashion designing, art and craft, and beauty culture. We have a school uniform tailoring centre here. We have trained 800 youth in the past years, who are leading a happy life with sufficient earning in their own villages. Now society has started new activities based on CBR.

Objectives:-

1. To promote education, to advance it and to help educational activities in academic cultural and technical knowledge.

2. To give medical relief to the people.

3. To look after the welfare of the people and their social cultural and economic uplift.

4.To associate and co-operate with any of the existing institutions which may have a common and similar objects of the society.

1. To improve health status of children with disabilities

2. To provide quality regular/special education and achieve ambition of children with disabilities.

3. To lead the differently abled/caregivers of differently abled financial security through vocational skill training and self-employment schemes.

4. Improve mental health of children and parents/ caregivers.

5. To protect the rights legally.

6. To give awareness on handling the children to the parents, siblings, relatives, etc. and celebrate the international day of people with disabilities.

7. Financial protection through health insurance schemes.

8. strengthening of Self-help

9 . Support of PWDs with livelihood activities.

BACKGROUND

Jeevan Vikas society has been working in Wardha district of Maharastra since long on the various issues of disabled population through service delivery, mobilization of community, advocacy for ensuring the percolation of benefits envisaged through various programmes and schemes of government, livelihood improvement of women through formation and strengthening of women Self Help Groups and building their capacity on income generating activities. The programmes and activities are both home based and community based. These activities have earned name and fame for the organisation and it is enjoying a very good proximity with the communities in the said areas. Community health and community interventions has been the permanent activities of the organisation which aims at improving the social determinants of health. This approach though appears composite but multi-dimensional and simultaneous and bound to achieve its objectives at a certain point of time. The organisation has actually made community based as its approach for all its interventions because it believes strongly in community strengthening and sustainability.

One of the important area the organisation has been working is the rehabilitation of disabled population including children and in this direction, it is implementing some projects aimed at capacitating the communities to look after the persons with differently able including children in two different modes such as home based, and community based .The organisation has started a project supported by Manos Unidas which aims at ensuring community-based rehabilitation to the persons with differently able in 29 selected villages of Wardha District of Maharashtra.

The project supported by Manos Unidas, aims to improving the living conditions of persons with disability through concurrent and peripheral support for a selected number of beneficiaries at 29 villages of Wardha district of Maharashtra. The broad objectives of the project include

To identify and enumerate the number of people with disabilities with the details of different type of disabilities.
To understand the socio-economic profile of the people with disabilities and to identify their needs
To rephrase the project indicators, if any as required based on results of the assessment
Improvement of the access of people with disabilities to various health services and governmental social services as well as to mobility aids
Improvement of the economic potentials of people with Improvement of the level of organisation of people with disabilities at the community level
Strengthening the rights and the representation of people with disabilities at the district level

The project target group includes around 2500 persons with differently able as direct beneficiaries and around 500 indirect beneficiaries at 29 villages in Wardha district.

The strategy of the project includes capacitating the stakeholders and the beneficiaries for sustained smooth living, sensitizing the communities and the care givers for claiming the entitlements envisaged through various programmes and schemes, advocacy with the government departments for ensuring quality care to the beneficiaries and improving the living conditions of the lives through income generating activities.

The project has supported with an implementing staff who include a coordinator, Assistant coordinator, CBR workers, physiotherapist, and speech therapist. Also, the village level volunteers support the project team in the implementation.

KEY COMPONENTS OF the programs

The key components of the project are listed as follows: -

Capacity building: Training and orientation of the CBR workers, project staff and the disabled people’s SHGs for various purposes of the project.
Advocacy efforts: Advocacy with the government departments
IGA: Income generating activities of SHGs/ DPO for community sustainability /individual
CBR facilitation: Facilitation of the CBR work: Supporting the CBR workers in the community

DETAILED ACTIVITY REPORT

Slno

Name of the activity

Details of the activity performance

Staff orientation

To make the project staff more conversant with the concept and the project modalities, the appointed staff were imparted training in two phases and a re-orientation of the staff was made at the beginning of the project tenure. Many online classes were also arranged for CBR staff to equip their knowledge.

Formation, training & strengthening of DPO groups

Around 35 SHGs of disabled persons constituting 8 to 10 members per group were formed covering 345 PWDs in 25 villages. These villages were new and there were no DPO groups in these villages. The CBR workers in collaboration with UMID and CRP( community resource person ) formed the group. After the formation of the DPO CBR workers has given much training to the groups. Co-coordinators regularly visit the DPO groups. Regular monthly meetings and savings are taking place.

Training of the DPO leaders on book keeping, finance utilization,

These DPOs (Disabled Person Organizations) were oriented on Leadership, management, etc. The topics of the training are meetings, availing micro-credits, Group management, handling cash, and accounting procedures. Most of the SHGs have opened bank accounts with the help of CBR workers. Each group leader was given special training on bookkeeping and finance utilization.

Training of the DPOs leaders on communication, decision making

One of the important points of DPO members are communicating within the group. To know the group members well, and understand their problems. To have a dialogue within the group. The group took so much initiation to have many decisions. The coordinator arranged many trainings for the DPO members on communication etc.

Training courses on Tailoring at community level for disabled people

Through four batches around 120 DPOs members were trained on tailoring and sewing machines along with business development plans for starting entrepreneurship. The training was supported by expert trainers. There were 8 groups at different villages covering 120 members.

Training courses on how to prepare Vermi Compost

Many disabled received training on how to prepare vermicompost and masala making. Vermis is used for agricultural purposes. Many of the disabled use kitchen gardens and very small agricultural fields. In rural area, homemade masalas are used for cooking. Around 45 vermis prepared by different disabled at different places.

Income generating activities for disabled people

All ten groups were trained on Income Generating activities that include goat backyard poultry petty shops, vegetable sellers, clothing sellers, etc. 25 disabled supported with IGP. During the visit to Manos Unidas Elena and Alexa visited many IGP places.

Income-generating activities for disabled

The disabled person has the great privilege to receive the tailoring machines through the hands of Elena and Alexa from manos unidas during their visit to Jeevan Vikas in the month of November 30th. Around 2Normal machines, 10 Pico machines, and 2 Pico handle machines were given. The beneficiaries were extremely happy with this occupation and the donors Elena and Alexa too extremely happy.

Training for DPOs on self care, self esteem & psychological support, for all family members

Disabled children and their parents received many pieces of training during this year. One-week training was given in Physiotherapy and speech along with parents and children guided by therapists. Disabled children could increase better health. How to improve child health. Dr.Sheetal from Mumbai was the resource person for the physiotherapy and for speech Dr. Praful shine from Nagpur CRC.

Providing home assistance for Physiotherapy and speech therapy

This is a regular activity and periodically physiotherapy are being given and speech therapy are being given to around 25-30 beneficiaries. Regular reports and attendance are kept of the therapy. The children improved a lot in their mobility.

Distribution of assistive devices for physically disabled

Few children received aids and appliances at free of cost. And one child was operated on and suffered from a club foot. It was a free operation

Assistance for education & tuition for different abled children

Few children were identified as very poor and they are being provided with educational assistance such as tuition fees, and transportation costs

Training of the DPOs leaders on rights as disabled groups, and how to contact with government officials to get certificates as disabled

The DPO members were trained by different government departments on how to approach for government to get their disability certificates, UID cards, bus passes railways, etc. CBR workers helped many disabled to renew their certificates. Many pieces of training were arranged at different places as per the convinces of the disabled. CBR workers also went along with the disabled went to the hospital to get their medical certificates and other official documents.

Special guidance was given to the group president, secretary, and other leaders of the group.

Total number of different certificates received by disabled

UID- 16

Pension-17

Bus /railway pass-9

Ration-19

Renewal of medical certificates- 16

Funds for non-disability marriage -1

Training on government schemes for disabled people and how to apply for them.

DPO members were trained in government schemes. Various departments came and gave training to the disabled at various levels. DIC- District industrial cooperation, CRC- compensate regional center for the disabled, Labour welfare department, loans aids, and appliances, scholarships.

Our Location

1. To improve health status of children with disabilities

2. To provide quality regular/special education and achieve ambition of children with disabilities.

3. To lead the differently abled/caregivers of differently abled financial security through vocational skill training and self-employment schemes.

4. Improve mental health of children and parents/ caregivers.

5. To protect the rights legally.

6. To give awareness on handling the children to the parents, siblings, relatives, etc. and celebrate the international day of people with disabilities.

7. Financial protection through health insurance schemes.

8. strengthening of Self-help

9 . Support of PWDs with livelihood activities.

BACKGROUND

To identify and enumerate the number of people with disabilities with the details of different type of disabilities.
To understand the socio-economic profile of the people with disabilities and to identify their needs
To rephrase the project indicators, if any as required based on results of the assessment
Improvement of the access of people with disabilities to various health services and governmental social services as well as to mobility aids
Improvement of the economic potentials of people with Improvement of the level of organisation of people with disabilities at the community level
Strengthening the rights and the representation of people with disabilities at the district level

The project target group includes around 2500 persons with differently able as direct beneficiaries and around 500 indirect beneficiaries at 29 villages in Wardha district.

KEY COMPONENTS OF the programs

The key components of the project are listed as follows: -

Capacity building: Training and orientation of the CBR workers, project staff and the disabled people’s SHGs for various purposes of the project.
Advocacy efforts: Advocacy with the government departments
IGA: Income generating activities of SHGs/ DPO for community sustainability /individual
CBR facilitation: Facilitation of the CBR work: Supporting the CBR workers in the community

DETAILED ACTIVITY REPORT

Diwali

Diwali, the festival of lights, was celebrated with much fan fare. Children enjoyed decorating the place with Rangoli and burning Diyas. On this day we prayed for the prosperity of the country.

Christmas

Christmas was celebrated on 23rd December. Children were told the reason behind the celebration. On this day many of the parents of disabled children, youth and disabled children were present. Students from Agragmi school Pipiri performed many programs. It was arranged in Sukili village. They were given the real message of Christmas through the program. They enjoyed singing all the carols, after which sweets were distributed to all

School Uniforms made by women and youth of the village community

The main activity of the center is giving training to differently abled youth at various levels. The children are occupied in different activities. One of the main activity and training of the center is tailoring. The center has got the school uniform sale center.

Women’s day celebration

World Disability day Celebration

World disability day was observed at Jeevan Vikas Society on 3^rd December.Many children youth and disabled gather on this day. We arranged a cultural program and sports on this day. Winners were received prizes.

COMPOSITE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT ALONG WITH COMMUNITY BASED SPECIAL EDUCATION & CARE GIVING PROGRAMME FOR DISABLED CHILDREN at FIVE VILLAGES OF WARDHA

OBJECTIVES

To make a composite intervention plan at 5 villages of Wardha district for women empowerment along with developing volunteers at the village who can provide special education and act as a care giver to disabled children through social entrepreneurship mode.

MAJOR COMPONENTS

· To identify potential women SHGs in the village or formation of new women SHGs who will be cap activated for livelihood improvement

· Identification of women volunteers in each village and capacitating them for taking up special education and care giving to the disabled children on social entrepreneurship basis

· Supporting the program intervention by the implementing organization

BROAD ACTIVITIES

· Baseline survey identifying the women SHGs and women volunteers

Rural women are less likely to be wage earners, and when they are, they earn less than men. Rural women are often concentrated in low-skilled, low-productivity and low or unpaid jobs with long working hours, poor working conditions, and limited social protection. The selected volunteers were given instructions by the coordinator on how to conduct the baseline survey. The areas were given to the staff to do. The main focus was on deserving women.

SHG FORMATION

ORENTATION TO WOMEN GROUPS

Training of SHGs on Entrepreneurship

· Conducting livelihood mapping for the target groups

The ultimate goal of credit is to enhance livelihoods and fight poverty. Good data on livelihoods is key to better insights for planning at multiple levels.

• SHG-livelihood mapping is likely to create a visible link between the SHG modality of lending and livelihoods, which may motivate SHG groups and its individual members to think proactively about their livelihood.

• Having information on SGH-livelihoods at their fingertips is likely to enable banks and other financial institutions decide on viability of request. Overtime, this information may emerge as a standardised tool to help triangulate loan applications in a more informed way.

• Better livelihood data is likely to enable policy makers/SHPIs/NGOs to identify capabilities and skill gaps and to plan more effective interventions. Overtime, it can also emerge as a tool to aid in development of effective training interventions.

· Organizing capacity-building programs for SHGS on management, vocational trade and caregiving of special education to volunteers

Daily therapy was given to children at their home. Around 50 children received the therapy

Therapy

In all these matters disabled are very much affected in their health and education. No proper therapy or educational facilities for these children. Of this matter, Jeevan Vikas society has supported door-to-door therapy for disabled children in these areas. One of the best health facilities children could gain. As part of the program, we conducted many trainings for children and parents related to their physical and educational problems. Resource persons were from Mumbai AWMH Dr.Sheetal and CRC Nagpur.

In this situation, Jeevan Vikas Society in collaboration with Spirulina- solution started to support the SHGs, , caregiving to special children, and special education.

· supporting the women SHGs and individuals in taking up livelihood activities at the beginning

The villages were selected after the survey. The selected villages are 5 of the Wardha district. The names of the villages are as follows.

1. Sukalibai

2. Surgave

3. Babapur

4. Salod

5. Waifade

The main livelihood training was Papade, tailoring, Achar making, Agrpati, and chemical training. Selected 5 villages were given two training. Each group opened new PG groups and started their business.

Sale of the product

To encourage women’s empowerment, we assist them in establishing the unit, purchase of raw, and tying up with many shops and other Wargani groups for supplies. Women are engaged in different products. The project provided women with opportunities to improve their better livelihoods. Each training has taken place in selected 5 villages. For each training, there were different trainers. The women were gathered at different places for the training. Each group has made a new account.

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