Hello friends! We are back with the update of this quarter’s activities in Seem. With the easing of the pandemic restrictions and with improving conditions, the library saw a cautious increase in the involvement with the children.

Tuitions and computer Classes

With no news regarding the start of schools, the library continued to be a learning hub. More than 100 children from Classes 4 to 12 attend tuitions in different batches from 9AM to 5 PM. Children from two more villages, Kujoli and Bamatan, have started attending these tuitions on a regular basis as well. The outreach classes in Byasi village are continuing with about 20 attendees daily.

In addition, the upgraded computer lab now caters to around 60 children in different batches. We are now able to accommodate 7 children at a time with 4 more attending their online lessons on the tabs.

Lalit, a young man from Dhaniyakote has joined us to assist in the tuition and computer classes from August. Schools for all classes have started from 21st September onwards so we will now revert to the pre-lockdown schedules from October.

Continuing Education for older girls

It is very heartening to see the older girls using the library and computer facilities to continue their college academic work along with preparing for competitive exams. Girls from Seem, Dhon, and Siltona come regularly and spend hours preparing for their examinations in the library.

THEATRE AND DANCE WORKSHOPS

This very necessary initiative by Nidhi and Jayesh has once again started and the workshop is held for two days each fortnight. This time there are a total of 4 groups of 12 – 14 children doing dance and drama. While the last performances were great, we hope to be able to put up an even better performance in the near future.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Independence Day saw a grand celebration by the children after a very long break. The day was celebrated with carom, painting, and poetry competitions. Some of the children also performed patriotic songs and dances. 

Paushtik Aahar Competition for anganwadI

The library premises were used to reach out to the young mothers of the village. The programme was a competition for the women to use ICDS supplied rations to prepare wholesome, nutritious and tasty food for their children. A panel of judges tasted the food for different aspects and prizes were awarded for the best preparations. The children attending the library then had a grand and nutritious feast!

International literacy day

This year the children invited their grandparents and mothers to the library. They showed them ‘their space’ and read out stories to them. It was very encouraging to see even the youngest ones trying to impress their family elders. The day ended as usual, with the distribution of snacks.

COVID and Health Awareness

With the help of Tulika’s group that had organized the medical relief during the second wave in May, an online COVID awareness interaction was arranged on  24th July.  Dr Ruchir from Delhi gave an online presentation to the ASHA and Aanganwadi staff and the village volunteers to explain to them about the spread and control of the disease.  A lot of myths about treatment and vaccination were dispelled during the interaction. The volunteers assured that they would motivate all the fence sitters in the village to go for vaccination.  

The group of volunteers from the village also conducted a Health Survey among the villagers.  This data will help the health support group to arrange different health programmes in the village and its surrounding areas. 

Outreach

Shubham, an SBI Fellow with CHIRAG, had visited the library sometime ago. He wanted assistance to set up a library in Raingal village where he had been stationed. As part of the outreach, we provided him with some books and craft materials. He has been able to start this initiative at the ‘panchayat-ghar’  in the village.  We hope that his endeavor is a success. After Vishwaraj, who had interned with us and had set up a library in his village last year, this is our second such outreach success!

VTC Activities

The vocational training initiative is progressing very well. The 10 women have formally started ‘Khili Buransh Swayam Sahayata Samooh” and have opened their bank account. With the assistance of Tautik, they are executing orders and are presently completing a large order for laptop sleeves. 

Friends are helping out in formalising the logo and packaging to give the initiative a more professional touch. It is a pleasure to see 10 women come every afternoon and do their work with great bonhomie.  Since the start of this livelihood generation activity they have earned more than Rs 5000/- each till date. 

We now have a demand for more such training courses which we hope to take up in the near future.   

INTERNSHIP

Himadri  is continuing with her internship.  She assists in the tuition and computer classes and has also taken up the task of preparing a nukkad-natak with a group of kids.

DOCUMENTATION

We have started the task of setting up a website for the trust and hope to have it up and running before the end of the year. In addition, an audiovisual presentation documenting the journey so far is also being put together. 

That’s all we have in this update.

Goodbye and have a great festive season ahead!