This project is the fruit of a partnership between Ekta Parishad (EP) - Indian organisation inspired by Gandhien priciples of non-violence, environmental and cultural respect - and the Tours Frères des Hommes team. After the terrible tsunami of 2004 that attacked Kérala and Tamil Nadu, EP assisted the populaces affected by this natural disaster in emergency aid and reconstruction. Then, through this project that took place between april 2007 and march 2008, EP put in place long-term actions, helping the populations of 10 districts in Kérala to regain hope and be able to ensure their own re-development. Ekta Parishad chose to engage in Kérala, where - due to a lesser media coverage of the tsunami - international aid was less apparent and the needs were greater. EP focussed their actions on the sectors the most at risk (fishermen, dalits) and specifically on youth and women as key elements for social change. The project took form around four panels :
1. Coaching and training of young people
Faced with a loss of guidance for the young people highly touched by the tsunami, Ekta Parishad offered a series of activities allowing them to rediscover their richness of culture: folk dances, traditional songs, poetry, theatre, drums ... these activities boosted youth engagement in local folk festivals and allowed them to be recognized. Through organised group discussions and debates, and through theatre, young people become aware of social and environmental issues: equality between the sexes, domestic violence, alcoolisme, respect of nature and access to natural resources. To allow youth to earn their place in society and to impact development, leadership traing was offered.
Le centre offre des cours d’informatique et permets aux jeunes de se familiariser aux Nouvelles Technologies de l’information et de la Communication
Finally, for youth who do not have computerised access in their homes, a beginner’s course was implemented in different districts on the use of Internet and basic software. Youth volunteers with Ekta Parishad led these groups in night courses. This action, geared towards reducing the social gap, was very successful and the young people attended avidly. They saw the advantages of earning valuable skills, useful for future job opportunities. More than 4000 young people participated in the whole of these activities.
2. New educational approaches for children
Public education in Kérala is founded on traditional methods of teaching, with no interaction. As well the lack of means - particularly in rural zones - does not ensure a quality education. Ekta Parishad created « Kuttikotam » - groups for children directed in native languages and animated by young volunteers of the association. Several activities are offered : reading, songs, drawing, folktales ... all encouraging childrens’ creativity and increasing their thirst for knowledge by making learning silly and fun. More than 1000 children, aged 3 to 14, benefitted from these activities. The children show themselves highly enthousiastic and their mothers - usually poorly educated - are delighted with this extra teaching that they are unable to provide themselves.
3. The development of income generating sources
Faced with an economic and social instability among the population after the tsunami, Ekta Parishad wished to engage women and youth in self-motivated actions so they wouldn’t need to depend on external aid. In three districts, Ekta Parishad created mutual aid groups to examine possible income generating activities allowing to use local resources at their full value. These groups took advantage of training programs (production an marketing techniques, door to door and cooperative sales) to help launch and develop small initiatives.
Atelier de production de savon: activité génératrice de revenus pour les familles
FDH
Today nearly 300 families have started intiatives : soapmaking, food processing, seamsteries. The income generated is an important extra to family revenues, traditionally relying on fishing and agriculture. Ekta Parishad has also engaged in the promotion of organic agriculture through information on the dangers of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and by creating a small model farm.
4. Communication on key social and environmental issues impacting development in Kérala
An information center allows local populations to act in their own development. Training and communication is offered to village communities to allow them to defend their interests in local decisions. The center has put together various information and awareness campaigns, as well as seminars and workshops on issues such as right to land, the fight against alcoholism, ecological conservation.
