Ashraya’s annual festival showcased amazing work & culture of denotified tribes & marginalized communities

Pune : Policenama online – Ashraya’s annual festival | Ashraya Initiative for Children a non-profit organization working to empower the denotified tribes and other most marginalized communities of Waghris, Mahar, Matang, Pardies, Sikhligar, etc in Pune, curated a most amazing event that showcased their work at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Koregaon Park recently. (Ashraya’s annual festival)

It was not a regular event of a school or any organization. This event gave a holistic view of an ideal school, an ideal vocational organization, or an ideal program run by students and community members. A school as we imagined, which is filled with colors, hopes and inclusivity. An event where children and community members were part of everything, from strategizing, to organizing to presenting, children took leadership to a whole new level. More than 550 children and 600 community members organized the event alone.

The vision of Ashraya is to empower these underserved communities through, Education, Health, Vocation and Societal empowerment. The purpose of this event was to showcase the work done throughout the year by all the programs in Ashraya. The Education team, Health team, Mental-Health-Support program team, and Community-Sustainability team presented their work in the most interactive way.

One of the most colorful, lively and vibrant events was organized by each beneficiary of Ashraya. Starting with, there were stalls and presentations from the vocational program students, which included an exhibition of dresses, bags, jewelry, paintings, soaps, book-marks, ear-rings, candles, and other art forms made by Ashraya’s students and community members. Then there was tattoo making, mehandi, and nail-art done by the students of beautician-program.

Ashraya has the most unique schooling program for the most deprived children in Pune. Ashraya’s schooling program called Hamari-Shala teaches through methods of Experiential learning and Project based learning. This event just showcased their learning in the most engaging way. Students presented their story books and poem books authored by them. They exhibited their community projects and how they could use their learning in school to solve their communities’ problems. Children also demonstrated learning through their self-defense classes, music classes, and value education classes.

Students then exhibited how physical and mental health are one of the most important components of life. Even the delicious food for the event was prepared by the students and community members.

Esteemed personalities of Pune, like Dr Siddharth Dhende (Ex. Deputy Mayor, PMC), Mr Mangesh Gole (Social worker and ex-corporator), Mr. Vinod Pawar (Social worker and ex-corporator). CSR team members from Bajaj Finserv, Zs associates, Tomtom, Rotary club, etc., Mr. Sanjiv Tare (ex-csr head at tata communication) and Director at Ashraya Initiative for Children attended the event and motivated children.

We wish every school and organization to present their work through such interactive approaches. Ashraya and their team’s effort towards community empowerment were clearly visible in the event.

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