HL BCA students cancel summer vacation trips to do social service
5 students of the college are volunteering for a project initiated by Narottam Lalbhai Rural Development Fund. It requires them to take up field trips to villages around the city, meet beneficiaries of NGO’s schemes and submit a review report
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com//index.aspx?page=article§id=3&contentid=201205292012052903233283147a30cbe)
The BCA students visit places like Nandoj, Hansol, Hathijan, Bapunagar, Vatva, Vivekanandnagar and Aslali every day. They have decided to conduct a 15-day workshop in English and computers for NLRDF beneficiaries
While a lot of Amdavadis are busy globetrotting this summer, students of HL BCA have cancelled their trips to exotic destinations for “something more worthwhile”. They are revisiting thousands of beneficiaries of Narottam Lalbhai Rural Development Fund (NLRDF) in and around Ahmedabad to plan, monitor and review its activities.
And it has been a giant leap forward for these youngsters — from airconditioned rooms to field trips; from expensive luncheons to making do with whatever is offered; from social networking to social service; from all-is-well illusion to harsh realities.
In the last six years, NLRDF has imparted vocational skills to 10,000 widows from across the state and helped them set up a small enterprise to sustain their livelihood.
Now, NLRDF wants to measure the success of its rehabilitation programmes. The field trips undertaken by students will help the NGO understand the needs of the women so that an action plan can be drawn to better their lives. Since the beneficiaries are illiterate, only a one-to-one interaction with them would help NLRDF fulfil its objective.
So, the NGO approached Ahmedabad University which in turn informed HL BCA about the project. The students readily agreed to volunteer for this unique project; some of them either postponed or cancelled their travel plans altogether at the eleventh hour.
Our pocket money is equal to their monthly income
Aagam Jhaveri was to tour Bangkok, Indonesia and Malaysia with his father, a diamond merchant. “We were planning to attend a jewellery exhibition. But when I told my father that I was keen on doing social service, he supported me. We have postponed our tour,” he said.
Asked what has been the biggest learning so far from this exercise, he said, “It made me understand the value of money. The amount I spend on weekend parties is what these women earn in a month. Using that money, they run the house and take care of their children’s education.”
Nine hrs on the field
From 9 am to 6 pm, the students are out in the field, meeting women, understanding their financial difficulties, gathering from them what more needs to be done in terms of skill upgradation and financial help. The job is not easy as students are usually met with resistance from women who are not comfortable answering questions pertaining to their daily income and kids’ education.
“It takes a lot of convincing before they open up. All we need to do is fill up the survey form after obtaining feedback. But it is not all that easy. For a five minute job we spend two to three hours. It is not just about gathering information. We understand their problems. We also give them suggestions on how to improve their skills,” said Rushang Shah.
Rushang usually spends his summer holidays with his uncle in Mumbai. “This time, I decided to stay back and do something for the society,” he said. The BCA students have decided to conduct a 15-day workshop in English and computers for these women in association with NLRDF.
Dropped bangkok trip
Arzoo Shah and her sister had planned an eight-day tour of Bangkok. She dropped her plans and asked her family members to proceed with their theirs. “My parents cancelled the trip. They were in fact happy that I had chosen social service over a foreign trip. My mother told me there is no greater happiness than bringing a smile to somebody’s face,” she said.
Steffi Felix D’Cunha was to leave for Bhavnagar, but she chose to stay back in city. “I am learning a lot from the project. Life is not always kind. But I really admire these women for the way they are rebuilding their lives. The money I spend on cosmetics and accessories is something they spend on their basic needs,” she said.
Vidhi Jhaveri was to visit her relatives in Mumbai. She is observing the Varshitap, a difficult form of fasting in which Jains refrain from eating or drinking every alternate day for 400 days. Vidhi has already completed three months of fasting. Despite strict dietary restrictions, she is most excited about day-long field trips. “Helping those in need is a noble deed. I do not feel tired because the experience is so satisfying,” she says.
Action plan
Every day, the group of 15 students visits places like Nandoj, Hansol, Hathijan, Bapunagar, Vatva, Vivekanandnagar and Aslali.
Programme coordinator Neeta Shah said, “I appreciate the spirit of these students who have willingly cancelled their vacation plans to do something good for the society. These children who usually spend their days in airconditioned rooms are out in the heat for nearly eight hours every day. They are doing a great job. Based on the results of their survey, we will chart an action plan to improve the lives of the women .”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com//index.aspx?page=article§id=3&contentid=201205292012052903233283147a30cbe)
While a lot of Amdavadis are busy globetrotting this summer, students of HL BCA have cancelled their trips to exotic destinations for “something more worthwhile”. They are revisiting thousands of beneficiaries of Narottam Lalbhai Rural Development Fund (NLRDF) in and around Ahmedabad to plan, monitor and review its activities.
And it has been a giant leap forward for these youngsters — from airconditioned rooms to field trips; from expensive luncheons to making do with whatever is offered; from social networking to social service; from all-is-well illusion to harsh realities.
In the last six years, NLRDF has imparted vocational skills to 10,000 widows from across the state and helped them set up a small enterprise to sustain their livelihood.
Now, NLRDF wants to measure the success of its rehabilitation programmes. The field trips undertaken by students will help the NGO understand the needs of the women so that an action plan can be drawn to better their lives. Since the beneficiaries are illiterate, only a one-to-one interaction with them would help NLRDF fulfil its objective.
So, the NGO approached Ahmedabad University which in turn informed HL BCA about the project. The students readily agreed to volunteer for this unique project; some of them either postponed or cancelled their travel plans altogether at the eleventh hour.
Our pocket money is equal to their monthly income
Aagam Jhaveri was to tour Bangkok, Indonesia and Malaysia with his father, a diamond merchant. “We were planning to attend a jewellery exhibition. But when I told my father that I was keen on doing social service, he supported me. We have postponed our tour,” he said.
Asked what has been the biggest learning so far from this exercise, he said, “It made me understand the value of money. The amount I spend on weekend parties is what these women earn in a month. Using that money, they run the house and take care of their children’s education.”
Nine hrs on the field
From 9 am to 6 pm, the students are out in the field, meeting women, understanding their financial difficulties, gathering from them what more needs to be done in terms of skill upgradation and financial help. The job is not easy as students are usually met with resistance from women who are not comfortable answering questions pertaining to their daily income and kids’ education.
“It takes a lot of convincing before they open up. All we need to do is fill up the survey form after obtaining feedback. But it is not all that easy. For a five minute job we spend two to three hours. It is not just about gathering information. We understand their problems. We also give them suggestions on how to improve their skills,” said Rushang Shah.
Rushang usually spends his summer holidays with his uncle in Mumbai. “This time, I decided to stay back and do something for the society,” he said. The BCA students have decided to conduct a 15-day workshop in English and computers for these women in association with NLRDF.
Dropped bangkok trip
Arzoo Shah and her sister had planned an eight-day tour of Bangkok. She dropped her plans and asked her family members to proceed with their theirs. “My parents cancelled the trip. They were in fact happy that I had chosen social service over a foreign trip. My mother told me there is no greater happiness than bringing a smile to somebody’s face,” she said.
Steffi Felix D’Cunha was to leave for Bhavnagar, but she chose to stay back in city. “I am learning a lot from the project. Life is not always kind. But I really admire these women for the way they are rebuilding their lives. The money I spend on cosmetics and accessories is something they spend on their basic needs,” she said.
Vidhi Jhaveri was to visit her relatives in Mumbai. She is observing the Varshitap, a difficult form of fasting in which Jains refrain from eating or drinking every alternate day for 400 days. Vidhi has already completed three months of fasting. Despite strict dietary restrictions, she is most excited about day-long field trips. “Helping those in need is a noble deed. I do not feel tired because the experience is so satisfying,” she says.
Action plan
Every day, the group of 15 students visits places like Nandoj, Hansol, Hathijan, Bapunagar, Vatva, Vivekanandnagar and Aslali.
Programme coordinator Neeta Shah said, “I appreciate the spirit of these students who have willingly cancelled their vacation plans to do something good for the society. These children who usually spend their days in airconditioned rooms are out in the heat for nearly eight hours every day. They are doing a great job. Based on the results of their survey, we will chart an action plan to improve the lives of the women .”
