Education Camp @ Kolkata (December 2014)

Around 60 students of class 9 and 10 were in Kolkata till 30th Dec 2014. These students are our Vanvasi brothers & sisters who belong to 8 different hostels run by VKA in South Bengal.

 Youth volunteers came forward in full support in coaching Basic Mathematics , English, Skill and Personality Development at Kalyan Bhawan, Kolkata.

Some snaps are shared as below. Follow us on facebook.com/vanvasi  or feel free to write to us at workforvanvasi@gmail.com

SHISHU MELA 2014

SHISHU MELA 2014

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”


An annual event dedicated towards the children of the various Shishu Shiksha Kendras, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram youth wing celebrated its 6th SHISHU MELA on the 30th of November, 2014 in chunanakhali,sundarbans, near Kolkata. The event garnered huge response this year as a team of more than 75 volunteers from Kolkata participated. Two buses were deployed near Ultadanga for transmit, and the entire team departed for chunanakhali. The gracious occasion vitalized all the volunteers to bear with the long journey that was lying ahead. A great bond and enthusiasm was visible among the youth as they travelled through the roads. With a small halt for breakfast in a ground along the way, the buses finally reached the destination village at around. The venue was a ten-minute’ walk from there as the buses couldn’t ply further. The seniors and kids took rickshaws while the youth walked to the location with the  stuff that was brought along including prizes, balls, school bags etc. It was a picturesque location as the venue,a local school had a huge grass field which was surrounded by large salt-water lakes.



The villagers and school masters-acharyas welcomed all the volunteers with their traditional style of tilak and flowers. The excitement among the small boys and girls showed as they all lined up in front of their guests. Soon, they all were divided into groups and taken for the various games that were planned for them. It included flat race, balance race, ring game and ball-into-bucket game. There were prizes for each game, and the kids hopped from one game to another to grab those prizes. The games saw not only the students, but also the school masters participating in them. The prizes included some common utensils, handkerchiefs etc., while balls were also distributed as consolation prizes to all of them. The games were followed by lunch which was collectively prepared and served by the school staff and fellow villagers. The khichdi and chutney in the lunch was itself a taste of the Vanvasi tradition and was much appreciated by every individual. Post  lunch, the volunteers from Kolkata distributed school bags,slates,colouring books,crayons,biscuits among all the kids. The happiness on their faces upon wearing those new, cartoon-printed bags was unmatchable. The VKA team concluded the event and departed from the village . The buses returned to Kolkata , and each volunteer bade goodbyes with magnificent memories of this wonderful day.

“There is nothing better than being able to bring a smile to someone’s face and hear their laughter.” 

Shishu Mela gives an opportunity for the Youth volunteers to interact with the Vanvasi “shishu” and cater towards giving them a day of happiness. The kids are sensitized towards creative and skill development activities and few of their necessities are provided for through this initiative. The Mela also facilitates the aim of increasing participation and promotion of the Vanvasi culture. With the immense response and participation this year, Shishu Mela 2014 was a grand success.

“To know that atleast one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.”
Thanks & Regards,
Anurag Agarwal

Highlights of 62nd Medical Camp – August, 2014, Kolkata Team

Medical Camps have a significant impact by providing better healthcare to the marginalized sections of our society. In this connection Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram Kolkata organized its 62^nd Medical Camp on Sunday, 31^st August, 2014 at Pattarhuri village, 26 Kms from Kharagpur (Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal). 

Scroll below for the highlights of this camp ! 

Medical Camp site – Pattarhuri village, 26 Kms from Karagpur, Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal

Strong group of 95 volunteers from Kolkata – Businessmen, doctors, professionals, house wife & students

​

​

​​

Warm tribal folk song and traditional tribal dance by local vanvasi school girls and teachers

​

​​

380 vanvasi patients examined for pulse rate, blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, eye sight, dental ailments, general health and underlying diseases.

​

60 vanvasi households surveyed for family size, education, source of earning, domestic animals, power & water availability etc.

​

Visits to various Rain Water Reservoirs built by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram under Rain Water Harvesting Program

​

Apart from this the volunteers planted around 50 saplings of Mango, Pepal and Guavaa and also attended a power packed session by Professor S N Panda and Prof Swain of Rural Development Centre at IIT Kharagpur on ‘Climate Smart and chemical free organic Agriculture Techniques’ at IIT Karagpur Agriculture Department.

Overall the camp was a grand success!

Do contact us to volunteer / sponsor in the next Medical Camp! 

         Regards,
     
         Vanavsi Kalyan Ashram Youth Team

facebook.com/vanvasi

workforvanvasi@gmail.com

Medical cum Development Camp on 31st August '14 near Kharagpur, West Bengal

Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram (PKA) Kolkata is organizing a 1-day Medical cum Development Camp on 31st August '14 at Patharhuri Tribal Village in Keshiari area, which is around 26 KM from Kharagpur, West Bengal.

Events:

1. Medical / Health Camp for 500 Patients,

Health Checkup, eye checkup, Issue of prescribed medicines.

Spectacles as per prescriptions .

Patients needing surgery will be brought to Kolkata.

2. VKA has constructed about 30 'On Farm Rain Water Harvesting Reservoirs' in this area. 

We will visit some of them, assess benefits availed by villagers and plan for more reservoirs.

3. Conduct door to door survey of the village of about 100 families to assess current economical condition.

4. Meet a group of villagers to explore the possibilities of all-round development of village.

5. Visit IIT Kharagpur Agriculture Dept along with a batch of village farmers to show them various technical spects of water management, agriculture advancement and village development. (If time permits)

6. Fix a 10-15 days (or As IIT may suggest) thorough training program program for village farmers at IIT Kharagpur.

7. Lunch and evening Tea with Villagers and local team.
 

Team : 

3 Doctors, 2 Eye Doctors, 2 Yoga experts
20-30 Volunteers including Medical students 

Faculty and scholars from IIT Kharagpur Agri Dept will also join us in the camp and guide us.

Schedule:

0600 AM started from Kolkata by Reserved bus.
Pick up points were Silver spring, Ultadanga, Manicktolla, Girishpark, Medical College, Esplanade
0900 AM Reach site Have Tea
1000 AM Camp starts
0430 PM Camp closes start for IIT
0600 PM start for Kolkata
0830 PM Reach Kolkata.

We are on the lookout for more volunteers. If you wish to participate / sponsor in our forthcoming camps then please contact workforvanvasi@gmail.com. You can also post your comments here. 

Follow us on: facebook.com/vanvasi 

Little Efforts together can Make a difference..

Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram (PKA) Kolkata is continuing on its path to spread awareness, spread light… If you really feel you can provide something to society then it’s your valuable time.

The Youth Wing organised 'Saksharta Camp', a unique training camp for our vanvasi brethren. Around 50 vanvasi students of classes 9 and 10 visited Kolkata and underwent coaching between 13th and 18th August 2014 at Kalyan Bhawan, 29 Ward Institutional Street, near Maniktala Post Office, Kolkata. Below are some pictures of this event:

Saksharta Camp ~ Teach for a Cause---

Dear Friends,

This is your opportunity to make a difference in the life of vanvasi children. We are organising'Saksharta Camp', a unique training camp for our vanvasi brethren. Around 50 vanvasi students of classes 9 and 10 will visit Kolkata and undergo coaching between 13th and 18th August 2014. Venue: Kalyan Bhawan, 29 Ward Institutional Street, near Maniktala Post Office, Kolkata.

How can you contribute?

- Teach the children or interact with them! 

- Assist volunteers or simply observe the camp! 

- Sponsor the expenses a child for an year!

​

Objective of 'Saksharta Camp'?

In this camp we will coach these children in English, Mathematics & Science, their weakest subjects and conduct soft skills development programs to motivate them to touch greater heights.   

Who are these children ?

These vanvasi children live in hostels run by VKA (Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram) in remote tribal areas of South Bengal and attend nearby schools. VKA supports them till high school and bears all their education and living expenses. These expenses are raised through private donations / sponsorship (around Rs 7000/- p.a. per child). Each hostel houses around 30-40 vanvasi children and there are 200+ hostels pan-India.

Why are they so special ?

They are bright young minds who have the potential and zeal to succeed against all odds in life. They were 'identified' at a tender age by VKA's volunteers working at the grass root level (core tribal areas) and were brought to VKA run hostels to receive formal school education. Many among these children are the first generation in their family to receive formal education.  

For participation & more details contact our Youth Volunteers workforvanvasi@gmail.com. 

Medical Camp at Bankura, West Bengal

Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram (PKA) Kolkata organised a 2-day Medical Camp on 19-20th July’14 in Simlapal and Ranibandh Blocks of Bankura district, West Bengal. 

On the 1^st day, 19th July, the camp was organized in Butsahar village, a place deep in forest area and about 25 Km from Garhbeta station. Around 450 patients, mostly tribals were provided medical services and treatment. The doctors identified 53 patients with eyesight problem and they will receive spectacles in about 20-30 days. Further 44 patients were identified with Cataract and other eye problems which require surgery or advance treatments. These patients will undergo surgery and treatment in Kolkata. 

On the 2^nd day, 20th July, the camp was organized in Nachana tribal village, 10 km from Ranibandh once again in deep forest with picturesque landscape. Around 390 patients benefited from it, out of which spectacles will be issued for 48 and eye surgery will be conducted for 32. In both places about 10 children were identified with cleft lips/palate. They will also undergo surgery in Kolkata in next 15 days. 

​​

PKA’s 24 member team left Kolkata on 19^th July’14, saturday morning and returned on 20^th July’14, sunday evening. It comprised of doctors and medical students from CMC, NRS, KPC, AIIMS. It was assisted by groups of more than 20 volunteers from local villages at each campsite. PKA is thankful to all the volunteers from city and villages, doctors & sponsors for making the camp successful.

​

We are on the lookout for more volunteers. If you wish to participate / sponsor in our forthcoming camps then please contact workforvanvasi@gmail.com.

Follow us on: facebook.com/vanvasi