It was around April 2013 when Mr Nitin informed me that
after leaving C.R.Y. (Child Rights and You) he will consult a few friends
and perhaps start something on this own. A short while later the name ‘Citizens Association for Child Rights-CACR’ was formalized and the logo was in the
process of being designed….I had been previously working and coordinating with Mr Nitin as
a AGNI K-east Municipal Education group leader since 2008 and realised that not
only he was an open-minded and affable person but also had a great passion to
work to improve the Municipal Education System throughout Mumbai.
Municipality schools (inner city) or popularly known as BMC (Bombay Municipal Corporation) schools are something
we or at least I used to associate with poor kids, bad school buildings,
plain uniforms, and pathetic teachers. I always thought that the only way to help these
kids was to give them money, distribute free meals, books, among other
things.
He further added that all these items essential for students’ education (books, pens, bags, water bottles, shoes, rain-coats, etc.) around 27 items were given to these kids free of cost by the corporation and helping these school students by distributing freebies and money was the WORST way of helping them not the best (contrary to what I believed previously). Sure it was a reality check for many of us in the audience and to this day I clearly recollect the surprise on many faces and the new found enthusiasm to work for improving our neighbourhood municipal schools…this is how our Education group was formed in K-east.
With Mr Nitin’s guidance along with
citizen volunteers from other wards (mainly H west and M wards) our education
group could improve the situation in few neighbourhood municipal schools of
Mumbai. Cleanliness and discipline in schools improved as well as we conducted
a student enrolment drive in slum areas to enrol around 100 kids in municipal schools.
At the time I was juggling several things --my job, pursuing a weekend management course, and volunteering with Municipal Education group like stated. But In my heart the thing that made me happiest was the impact that we could create by working in schools as a team and the small positive changes we could make in few student’s lives.
At the time I was juggling several things --my job, pursuing a weekend management course, and volunteering with Municipal Education group like stated. But In my heart the thing that made me happiest was the impact that we could create by working in schools as a team and the small positive changes we could make in few student’s lives.
So when Mr Nitin asked me to join CACR I agreed. I liked
the cause we were working for and enjoyed working with the team members (most
of them were known to me from our CRY and AGNI association).
This July as
CACR turned ONE I also complete a year with the organization.
 |
| Our Anniversary Function Cake cutting |
It has
been a great learning curve for me far greater than working for my 2 previous
organizations. Also I enjoy working with start-ups for the energy, autonomy,
and the innovative ideas that the people bring in. Sure there is a downside too
--you are the planner, executor, critic, and promoter of projects, the
resources are few and work is ever-increasing, pay is low, and things progress
at a rapid pace. But the trade-off is worth it. I am far richer in knowledge,
content creation, collaboration, handling social media, and understanding and
communicating with people from different walks to life today than I was a year
back. I have the team members at CACR and especially Mr.Nitin to thank for this
improvement. Moreover, as a participant in conferences and round-tables I have been
overjoyed to see so many other individuals, NGos and organizations working in
remote areas of rural Maharashtra with merge resources to improve quality of education.
Kudos to all of them!
While on this journey I have been delighted to know and meet
few admirable and “CRAZY” people. I call them “crazy” because even in today's pessimistic
world they are mad enough to believe that they can change the world…they can
do something to make it better and that madness is infectious. Hats off to Mr.
Nitin, Mr. Shailesh Gandhi, Vidya Vaidya, Mani Patel, Meena Kaura, Mr. Deepak, among
many others for doing their bit to change the status quo.
Have you heard that a citizen’s initiative could get 6.5 Cr
Rupees sanctioned for schools building repairs?
OR
A handful of citizens could
stop the commercial exploitation and harassment of young students going in an illegal
school for a decade?
OR
Few students and senior citizens come together to impart Basic Computer skills to more than 1300 students in just few months?
Few students and senior citizens come together to impart Basic Computer skills to more than 1300 students in just few months?
Well, these are just a few things we at CACR have achieved. This is a living proof that people can accomplish a lot if they come together. We have to make our democracy work by playing a participatory role in it. Not just by merely criticizing our government in front of our TV sets as we watch the news.
I believe making transformation happen
and being persistent in your efforts for bringing about positive change is the
MOST TOUGH job in the world and we at CACR have set out on a long difficult
journey to do just that. I hope that many more people will join us and further
strengthen our efforts.
Do contact us on connect.cacr@gmail.com to know how you can be part of
this citizen’s initiative and put a smile on many faces.
See ya!
Richa,CACR
This is first article in the series of volunteer journey's with CACR on our first anniversary
The second article can be read HERE
