Create a Safe Space for Children and Youth

In November, Wenlido training was given to around 180 girls. For 3 hours, an introduction training is given for girls aged 11-16 years old. Girls are given scenarios to work through and judged on their decision-making skills. Prior to training, the girls are asked about situations that they may have felt unsafe in or when they think Wenlido may apply to. This helped shape Wenlido so that it helped our children deal with situations specific to their neighborhood. The training was highly successful, in fact, one of our Balsena members recounted an episode which happened after the training.

Sangita: “I learnt about Wenlido- Personal Safety Training from Balsena. Once I was going home from school after taking 10th board receipt. I was with one of my friends. The road we took was deserted, only once in awhile people took that road. While we were on the road, two boys on Honda bike came, and asked for our number, we didn’t respond. They came back, and asked us if we wanted to come with them. We couldn’t keep quiet now, we told “Do you want Police’s number?” They said they had, and went. They came back again, and asked us, where we lived, my friend didn’t say anything, So I started. I started saying things loudly, after seeing me, my friend also started. Many people now gathered around, and we left from there, safely. I was very proud of myself that time.”

Mid-November, Shaishav members became busy with festivities and rallies for Child Right’s Week from the 14-20th. Children started off the week with rallies at the bus station, train station, and schools calling for an end to child labor and their right to education. Other activities were organized with ChildLine, the national help hotline. Around 10,100 pamphlets explaining the hotline were distributed to children and parents. 350 ChildLine stickers along with 30 banners were put up around Bhavnagar. Activities were also planned for differently abled children, such as paper crafts and group games.

Within Lokshala, our learning improvement program which is run at 2 different locations for children from 1st through 7th standard, 180 children are participating. We do quality education awareness programs, learning workshops, cultural activities, drama, and music. We also hold PTA meetings so that children’s progress is noted by the parents.

On November 25-26th our active members had their monthly overnight camp at Shaishav. Children participated in activities centering around the theme of problem solving. A teamwork game where everyone was blindfold and instructed to make a shape out rope under the direction of a designated leader build trust and friendship. Next, the movie Home Alone, where a young boy outsmarts two home intruders was shown to demonstrate how any situation can be dealt with if one is calm and thinks of a planned solution. Discussions about the movie revealed how the children felt empowered by the boy taking action rather than letting fear overcome him. The second day, the children played a game where the objective was to place a pencil into a bottle using string attached the pencil. With more than 20 children, it wasn’t an easy feat to delicately lead the pencil to the bottle. Still with each try, the children learned about each other and how to work together to guide a plan to meet a goal.

In December, Kishor Mandal (event for adolescent boys) and Kishori Mandal (event for adolescent girls) were held. 109 girls attended Kishori Mandal and 93 boys attended Kishor Mandal. This year’s theme was decision making, goal setting, and leadership. Some activities were strategic and required critical thinking and presenting arguments. Others were more energetic and encouraging team members to cheer each other into completing an exercise.

One activity involved body image where groups of children were each given a bar of soap and asked to create a pitch to sell the product. Ultimately, the message was meant to get children thinking about how advertisements change how they perceive their own self-image. For the boys, Sanjaybhai Desai, trustee of Bhavnagar Blood Bank, past trustee of Shaishav and current principal of Visuddhanand High School talked about how to be a leader. For the girls, Rakshaben Bhatt, a high school english teacher and historical photographer, presented a powerpoint of photos she took in Ladakh and talked about what it was like. The children listened to stories about the honored guests’ lives, accomplishments, and challenges.  They were also encouraged to give feedback on each activity so that Shaishav could adjust future program to their interests. 

Looking forward into January, fellows and facilitators will be planning the annual Balsena event.

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