Kids bring creativity, awareness to World Environment Day
Ganeshpuri, India— On June 5, the people of Ganeshpuri celebrated World Environment Day with activities organized by representatives from PRASAD Chikitsa, and from local schools and youth groups. At the Primary School of Ganeshpuri, enthusiastic children created drawings and Rangoli to express how trees benefit both people and the environment. Read more…
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Donor, Margareta Blix, is celebrating the life of her beloved late sister, Gudrun, with a grant of up to $20,000 that will provide a dollar-to-dollar match for new donations to PRASAD Children's Dental Health Program (PRASAD CDHP) received through October 31, 2010. Read more...
“Paddlers for Humanity” Open Ocean Paddle to benefit PRASAD Children’s Dental Health Program
Sunday, September 5th
(rain date September 6th)
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PRASAD SHG Leader Participates in Conference
In unity, there is strength. This simple concept is at the heart of PRASAD’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) Program in the Tansa Valley, where women are banding together to change the valley’s future, one woman, one family, one village at a time.
SHGs are involved in a range of projects, including making papad (a kind of savory flat bread), bee-keeping, village cleanup, HIV/AIDS awareness, improving the condition of roads and schools, and environmental initiatives. As micro-banks, SHG’s invest in members' income-generating activities. They also give members an organized forum to improve the quality of their own lives as well as the lives of those around them.
Sadhana
Mahtre, a motivator for several clusters of those SHGs, was the ideal
ambassador to represent PRASAD at the “Microfinance INDIA
Summit - The Poor First,” which was held November 11-13, 2008,
in Delhi. It was an opportunity that she grabbed with both hands.
Sadhana
knew that she would be able to share best micro-finance and related practices
with self-help groups from across India. “This
was a golden opportunity that I received through PRASAD. I learned about
organizations that are doing the same kind of work in other parts of
India, what challenges they face, and how they motivate women to participate
in the SHGs and take them ahead on this path.”
In India, and elsewhere in the world, SHG’s are earning recognition as the most practical and effective means by which women can achieve, and sustain, advances in their social, economic and cultural standing.
“Poverty reduction is a hard nut to crack. It takes time.
But the kind of development that is taking place and the kind of leadership
that is emerging with the SHGs movement is phenomenal. In fact SHGs
are instrumental in bringing about structural changes in the rural
society and its economy.” The Hindu, January 26, 2008.
PRASAD’s SHG program has swelled to nearly 3,000 participants,
mostly women, in 250 SHGs. When one group pooled their savings
to buy a bread-making machine, it was a carefully calculated business
venture – and a bold statement of independence, hope and commitment – with
the potential to profoundly improve outcomes beyond the self-help group
itself. To read a story about this
Self-Help Group, click
here.
For over a year, Sadhana has been working as a motivator, supervising
the Thriveni Sangam Mahila Vibhag (Women’s Cluster) whose members
come from the Kelthan, Nevalpada and Avchitpada villages, located in
District Thane. She is also a member of the Prerana Mahila Vibhag,
in the same district.
At the conference, Sadhana presented a paper to representatives from West Bengal, Orrisa and Maharashtra states on the challenges faced in forming and sustaining self-help groups. For Sadhana, the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with others who share her passion was a transforming event.
“I got confidence. I was really unaware of these inner strengths that I have. I am very thankful to PRASAD… for providing me this opportunity, which was a life-changing experience for me. I am highly charged up now and inspired to work more with the women from Tansa Valley.”