Greetings from Deep Griha Society! This newsletter will discuss the recent activities of several Deep Griha programmes with a focus on the Global AIDS Week of Action, which took place May 15-22, and Sure Start, which is ending at the end of the month.

Sure Start

Sure Start is a global initiative to support community action for improving maternal and newborn health (MNH) in India and to enhance systems and institutional capabilities for sustained improvements in maternal and newborn health. Since mid-2007, Deep Griha Society has been one of the project’s implementing agencies in Pune, but since the project was planned to last three years and has already been extended, the Gates Foundation grant that funds the project will expire in July. Deep Griha has submitted applications for other grants to continue work with expectant or recent mothers in slum communities. Whether or not new funds are acquired, DGS is working with other NGO’s, hospitals and medical organizations to create a dissemination plan and to ensure continued follow-up with the women in the programme. The sponsoring foundation recently conducted a performance evaluation, interviewing community leaders, committee members, doctors, and nurses in the process. DGS looks forward to the results of this report.

In the last few months, Sure Start has hosted a number of events. In February, approximately 45 people from across the city attended a Sure Start Supervisor training in February and in March, Sure Start collaborated with the Pune Municipal Corporation to present a seminar. In April, eleven members of the Deep Griha staff travelled to the town of Dapoli to attend a sharing workshop with other Maharashtran Sure Start partners. Throughout the first three months of the year, Deep Griha held MOMS (Monitoring of Maternal and Newborn Health Status) Committee training programmes on health and finance issues at all three DGS centres. Ten local MOMS committees have now been established across the three slum areas. In April, members of several of these committees went to Nalwali for exposure visits. Finally, five paediatric check-up camps reached approximately 150 children.

DISHA and Wake Up Pune

In February, DISHA held a meeting providing information about insurance, which 30 clients attended. DISHA staff also received capacity building training that month. In March, DISHA participated in the Women’s Day program (mentioned further in the Women’s Empowerment section) and on March 25th, DISHA organized an event for World TB Day. Of DISHA’s work overall, team leader Avinash Chakranarayan proudly noted, “We have improved the testing numbers…That is a good sign. That is our indicator.”

DISHA and WUP’s major collaborative effort this spring was the Global AIDS Week of Action, which began on May 15 with a signature campaign, two rallies, and a candlelight vigil. The signature campaign aimed to increase awareness of the damaging effects of stigma and to encourage greater support for people living with HIV. Groups in four locations encouraged people to sign banners pledging not to discriminate and collected 140 surveys asking questions about HIV biology and transmission, HIV in Maharashtra and personal perceptions about risk. The surveys are both a means of testing people’s awareness of HIV and the basis for research comparing this set of surveys with those conducted three years ago. The two rallies converged on busy MG Road for a Candlelight Vigil, one of many such vigils occurring throughout the world on the 15th. The vigil featured a testimonial from a man living with HIV, a discussion of HIV hotline services, and a candlelight ceremony during which the crowd recited a pledge to fight stigma and discrimination. There were also musical performances and dances by both children and a local dance company. Seven different English and Marathi newspapers featured thirteen articles about DGS’ rallies and vigil.

Throughout the rest of Global AIDS Week, the DISHA team and Wake Up Pune volunteers canvassed local communities encouraging residents to get tested. On one day, thirty people came to Deep Griha for testing. Other Global AIDS Week events included an awareness programme for women in rural tailoring classes and setting up the stigma tunnel (mentioned in the last newsletter) in Kasurdi village. The WUP volunteers also held fundraising events, including a concert by an upcoming hip-hop group, at a few local bars and restaurants. These events raised almost Rs 45,000—enough to cover half the cost of the second annual matrimonial event for people living with HIV that will be held in August. Finally, WUP organized several live installations where people sat blindfolded and tied together to simulate the debilitating effects of stigma. Now that Global AIDS week has finished, WUP volunteers, both local and international, are planning weekly WUP events, mixing afternoon awareness programmes with evening fundraising at local restaurants.

DIYA

From March to May, DIYA offered a beautician course to twenty young women ages 16 to 25. Several career guidance sessions took place in March and April. A McDonald’s manager and Reliance Supermarket manager visited the youth centre, shared information about their careers and offered advice on finding a job. Over the summer holiday in April, DIYA offered hobby classes to over 70 children. Activities included crafts, painting, dance, Rangoli design, mehendi, moral education, and essay writing. The courses concluded on April 30 with a send-off program and a small gift for the children. A similar programme at Tadiwala Rd welcomed about 150 children.

City of Knowledge

The fourth school year at City of Knowledge concluded in April and the fifth year is now beginning with the addition of 3rd standard. Construction is underway for a new wing for the school, including new classrooms and a computer lab that will be used by both the students and other local youth. Plans are also in the works to renovate the property’s old grain storage building in phases and to use this space for parent conferences, trainings and awareness programmes. Employees from Centrica will continue visiting the school on Fridays to help the teachers practice their English and to organize activities for the children. To prepare for the new school year, all of the teachers attended two weeks of training, set up email accounts and researched new lesson plans online.

Other programme updates:

staff capacity building: During the school holidays, all Deep Griha staff attended the annual staff-training programme, where they learned about team building, communication, street plays, time management, and disaster management.

Women’s Empowerment: In March, about 400 women gathered to celebrate International Woman’s Day with songs, plays, dances, and a Sure Start demonstration. A total of 300 women attended multi-day seminars on domestic violence and human rights at the Tadiwala Road and Ramtekdi centres. These seminars empowered the women with the information needed to stand up for their rights and to remove themselves from unhealthy situations.

Medical and Healthcare: Now that school summer holidays are over, DGS will renew its partnerships with the Armed Forces Medical College and a local dental college. Students from these colleges will come to all three DGS centres to perform medical check-ups on all the crèche, balwadi and sponsored children and to distribute medication when necessary.

Creches and Balwadis: Deep Griha runs ten crèches (daycare) and one balwadi (nursery school) that serve 270 children each day. Girija Mathad and Anna Lisa Johannsdottir, two international volunteers have recently been organizing arts and crafts activities, including drawing, masks and bead necklaces, for the crèche children. The children at Tadiwala Rd also recently received Buddy Bears from a local NGO that works with children with HIV.

Want to help Deep Griha wherever you are?
Ever thought about using the Deep Griha wish list to buy presents for family and friends? There are a variety of different items at a range of prices that can be bought online. So the next time you’re present hunting, check it out! http://deepgriha.org/index.php/get-involved/wishlist

Our website is also constantly being updated with new stories about recent activities and soon, new videos will be added, as well! For all latest news, you can visit: http://www.deepgriha.org/index.php/latest-news and our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deep-Griha-Society/116546191732636

Finally, some inspirational thoughts for the day:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” –Anne Frank

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” –Albert Schweitzer

Wishing you all a wonderful June,
The Deep Griha Team

This newsletter was compiled by volunteers Katie Duncan, Jackie Outka and Kassie Dantzler, with further support from all of the team leaders, especially Rajendra Aher (Sure Start), Avinash Chakranarayan (DISHA) and Ashlesha Onawale (Deep Griha Academy).

Posted by: Nishant