Transform the Lives of Children in Gujarat, India

Throughout January and December, Shaishav staff and youth collective members of Tarunsena trained themselves to perform street theater as a tool to teach small communities throughout Bhavnagar about the Right to Education Act (RTE) and the purpose of School Management Committees to ensure proper, efficient implementation of the act and provide quality education to the children. The Right to Education is India’s declaration of quality education as a fundamental right for the first time in Indian constitutional history. Through 75 street theatre performances in over 50 communities in the city of Bhavnagar, Shaishav, Balsena and Tarunsena teams roused audiences to engage with questions like: “The RTE tells us that every school should have a mid-day meal, gender specific toilet facilities, and qualified teachers promoting quality education. Is this happening in your school?” Over 10,000 citizens, adults and children, engaged with these performances. The actors urged parents to take an active role in their child’s School Management Committee to ensure these fundamental rights are being met.

In addition to community based performances, Shaishav hosted a state level event on January 17^th, 18^th and 19^th that incorporated the participation of 80 child and adult representatives of 13 different NGOs throughout Gujarat. The event was held to develop an action plan that addresses the involvement of youth in governance which was developed by each participating organization. Throughout the three days, participants attended various sessions on what it takes to work collaboratively and how adults can help youth in working together for their goals. The event was a great networking opportunity for like-minded organizations as well as a time to fully develop a child participation model to implement in their organizations.

Just a few days after the consultation, Shaishav held the 10^th annual celebration of Balsena, the children’s collective. The event started with a rally through one of the main streets in Bhavnagar and led to Shamaldas college campus where children started the ceremonies with dancing, snacks and flag raising. Children spent the morning learning about safety and protection from Shaishav staff and Tarunsena youth. Safety and protection has become a significant topic in light of the Delhi rape case in December 2012. In the afternoon, Balsena members displayed the collective’s history and the children got to engage with a guest speaker on her journey as a former national volleyball player who is now an amputee and continues to pursue life to the fullest as she preps to climb Mt. Everest this spring. The parents of active Balsena and Tarunsena members were felicitated for supporting their children in their journey of empowerment. The day was full of infectious inspiration and a sense of solidarity as members, parents, and Shaishav staff celebrated the hard work the collective has accomplished in the last year.

Although Shaishav functions as a direct service provider through programs like Balsena and Tarunsena, the organization has been working to establish itself as a resource and training support for like-minded organizations and individuals since 2008. In January, Shaishav had the long awaited opportunity to present its Child Rights and Resource Training Center to the public as the future home of exceptional training in child rights, participation, and community action through youth leadership. The inauguration of the building was attended by important community leaders and supporters as well as Balsena and Tarunsena youth. Attendees got to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for Shaishav.  

Throughout all the events, Shaishav has been continuously appreciative of the funding it has received to make its efforts possible. As an engaged follower and a funder, we send you our utmost gratitude in continuing the work that Shaishav believes to be most essential in furthering the capacity of youth to make community wide change through the development of themselves and their peers.