Introduction to Manav Sadhna

I heard about this organization through my Mom's friend Bhairavi Auntie and after reading about them online (www.manavsadhna.org) I decided to check it out as something to maybe do in addition to researching at the hospital. But after just a few days there, I have decided to forget about doing research at the hospital and focus all of my time at this organization, at least for now.

I have spent these first few days meeting people and understanding the structure of the organization and seeing what they do. I'm going to try to summarize what I've seen so far.

Manav Sadhna is run out of the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, which was originally built by Mahamta Gandhi. Gandhi lived in the ashram for many years as well while he was fighting for freedom. The organization was inspired by 3 people living in the US and based on Gandhi's principles. It is an NGO organization aimed at helping underprivileged kids and their families.

Part of the Gandhi Ashram serves as a refuge for kids. These are kids of the untouchable caste. Their parents are garbage collectors, street sweepers and the like. These people have been treated as outcasts by Indians for generations. This ashram is a way for these kids to get away from the lifestyle their parents lived and move in a different direction. There are currently 121 kids, 1st-7th graders that stay there. They all sleep in one big common room (separate for boys and girls). They do their own chores - laundry, cleaning. They go to school, and have teachers come to give them tuition classes as they're called, which is basically like tutoring. They get involved in skill development and are taught basic values. The hope is that the kids are equipped to appreciate education and live a better life than their parents. The kid's parents come once a week to visit, provide them clothes etc.

The large slum which is right across the Gandhi ashram is called the Tekro. This is where the poorest of the poor live. Manav Sadhna has built a community center right in the middle of the Tekro. Here they have tuition classes for the kids in the afternoon after school. Virtually none of these kid's parents went to school, so they do not know how to study or the value of education. Based on what grade they're in they're broken into different classrooms and they review things they learned in school. There is a fitness center for kids to come and exercise in. The kids then take part in arts and crafts, games, meditation, singing, and dancing activities. The community center provides these kids with a platform on which to develop under the guidance of Manav Sadhna. They host shows and programs for the kids to showcase what they've learned. The center also has a library for the kids to use. In addition, there is a computer lab where they run computer classes. This allows adults and women to come and learn basic computer skills to enable them to find jobs. They learn how to make greeting cards and wedding invitations electronically. Interestingly the center was made to be "green." Recycled bottles make up the walls along with various other recycled materials. Underneath the community center is a daycare for kids under 3 whose parents both work. Next to this community center, they are building a new center for women. This is supposed to be a safe haven for women to come to, work, learn skills, and build relationships with each other and in turn build a community.

Another program that Manav Sadhna runs is the Anganwadi program, which is a preschool program. They run 80some preschools in a 10 km stretch. There are three main goals of the preschool - values, nutrition, and health. The kids that come to the preschool are between 3-5 years old. They learn to greet anyone who walks into the room by saying "Namaste." The kids are taught general life lessons and values such as it's not okay to sleep while you eating in addition to learning colors, animals, vocabulary etc. These kids are also given nutrition, since many of these kids are malnourished. Through grants the kids are given milk, fruit and lunch made from fortified ingredients. Last, for the health aspect, these kids are weighed, their blood is checked, and they are taken to the doctor if they appear ill. This program also provides nutritious meals to pregnant and nursing women. In addition, this program aims to educate women and adolescent girls aged 11-17 about things such as education, family planning, and preventative health. Things such as breast cancer screening and contraception are things that the program has tried to drive home, but hasn't really taken off.

Manav Sadhna also have a "work-study" type of program for kids who have to work in order to help support their families. These are often kids who have dropped out of school and work on the streets with their parents. These kids come to the ashram and make goods to sell such as greeting cards, notebooks, and handbags. They are paid to make this and also make commission on what they sell. They also get enrichment through things such as meditation. The hope is to keep these kids off the street and inspire them to try to pursue education.

Manav Sadhna also helps the leper community that lives about an hour away from the ashram. This community has lepers living along with their families. Manav Sadhna supports this community with basic healthcare and support for the people.

I'm sure there are other things that Manav Sadhna are involved with that I have yet to discover, but this is what I've learned of in my first 4 days. There are a few things that they want me to get involved with, at least as of now:

-anganwadi program: help with the health awareness and prevention aspect, possibly by doing a needs assessment and then implementing changes to help increase the impact of this information on the women and children.
-leper community: examine recommendations made by previous assessments and implement necessary programs to support this community.
-new community center: help lead the initiative for the new community center being built in a different slum being modeled after the current one.
-health care: work with the health coordinator in running day clinics (HIV clinic, thalessima clinic, eye clinic etc.), informative door-to-door programs on malaria/tuberculosis, and taking people in to get medical attention when necessary.

In addition to these general goals, there is a personal project they want me to take on. There are 2 siblings, a 10/11 year old girl and 5/6 year old brother who are orphaned. Their parents have passed away years ago. Though these siblings have the help of an uncle, they live on their own. They run their house, cook, clean, and go to school. These kids both have HIV. I have yet to meet these kids, but I hear their determination, maturity and strength is inspiring. I am going to go meet them and build a relationship with them. I am to become their medical advocate of sorts and make sure they take their medications and understand the importance of not missing a dose. I am to talk to them about their health and notice any issues that they might not realize the importance of. Most of all, I am to be a mentor and friend - someone to give them hope and encourage them to continue to be positive and lead an amazing life.

I have also been made into the medical liaison of sorts. There was a 7 year old girl who came into the ashram the other day with her friends. One of the people at the center smelled tobacco and asked who was chewing. It was the 7 year old. He brought her and her friends to meet me, and told her that I was especially there to tell her what happens to people who chew tobacco. I was speechless for a minute. I knew how to talk to educated people, and adults about health and prevention, but I realized I had never had to talk to a child who basically cared for herself about medical complications that can arise from poor choices. After getting my bearings I asked her why she chewed. She shrugged her shoulders. I proceeded to tell her about mouth sores, cancer, and complications that can arise. I told her about how it would affect her looks, her teeth, her ability to eat. Then I asked her if chewing was worth all of that. She said no, and promised me she wouldn't chew again. I don't know if what I said actually had an impact on her or any of her friends who sat with us through our conversation, but when I saw her the next day, I asked her if she had chewed, and she said not since we talked. I have to keep reminding myself that all I can do is provide compassion, understanding, and the tools for people to make good choices. The decision then rests on them.