Aide et Action in North East India

Aide et Action celebrates Zero Discrimination Day today, 1st March 2024. Through this day, we stand by our priorities in aiming to create a space for equity, promoting equality before the law and celebrating people irrespective of their age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour or profession!

An exhibition was organised at Kampith High School on occasion of National Science Day on 28th January, 2024 facilitated by school authorities and Education Facilitators of Aide et Action, with this year’s theme was “Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat”. The exhibition saw participation from students, teachers, and community members such as the Gaon Panchayat Secretary. Students showcased their creative ideas and knowledge through science posters and model experiments on topics such as STEM, Biology, etc. Activities were also conducted by the Aide et Action team, relating topics to the students’ academic curriculums. This was done to attract both students and teachers towards Science, while being able to relate it to their text books in a fun way.

CHANGE STORY:

Mebajuri Dohtdong is a resident of Umroi Village of Ribhoi district, Meghalaya, and is the eldest daughter among six siblings. Early on in her life she had to halt her studies and drop out of school due to the family's financial constraints. Her mother, the sole earner of the family, works at a tailor shop where Mebajuri assisted and helped out in order to make ends meet for their large family.

Wanting to do better not just for herself but also for her family, Mebajuri set out to search for any opportunities to come her way which could help uplift her financial circumstances. Armed with an interest and understanding in tailoring, she immediately registered herself for Aide et Action's training program in the trade Fashion Designing & Tailoring through its Enterprise Promotion for Sustainable Development (EP4SD) initiative at no cost, which she had found out about through an acquaintance.

She began absorbing all the knowledge and honed her skills under the guidance received from this training. Mebajuri's commitment and eagerness to learn set her apart, making her a standout student. Soon, with her newfound skills and confidence, Mebajuri transitioned into a full-time role in the tailoring business. Her acquired proficiency not only elevated the quality of her work but also contributed to the growth business as she have started her own tailoring unit in the village. Mebajuri's dedication and the comprehensive training she received played pivotal roles in transforming her from an apprentice to a skilled tailor.

Reflecting on her journey, Mebajuri shares, "Enrolling in the training was a turning point in my life. The guidance and knowledge I gained not only refined my craftsmanship but empowered me to pursue tailoring as a full-time profession. I am grateful for the support and education that equipped me with the skills to contribute meaningfully to our family business. Today, I take pride in the garments I create and the positive impact on our tailoring shop's success."

27th February marks World NGO Day - a day celebrating the global impact made by NGOs in addressing pressing world issues, promoting sustainability and facilitating social justices.

Here at Aide et Action, our focal themes on Access & Quality Education, Lifelong Learning & Livelihood Education, and Child Protection are the efforts we contribute towards shaping a better and enriched society.

Aide et Action organised the Closing Ceremony of the Micro Enterprise Promotion Project (MEPP), supported by SIDBI, on 31st January, 2024 at Umsning Block of Ribhoi district, Meghalaya. The programme was attended by youths & SHGs - as well as representatives from SIDBI and DCIC, who raised awareness on DCIC’s Vishwakarma scheme which the budding entrepreneurs could avail. Awareness on marketing platforms such as ONDC and on GST was facilitated by resource person from SIDBI during the second half of the programme. Towards the end of the ceremony, three of the most promising entrepreneurs among the participants were awarded with certificates.

📢 Aide et Action is hiring for the position "Accounts and Administration Officer"!

📍 LOCATION: Based in Guwahati, being open to travel extensively to the field as and when required

⏰ LAST DATE TO APPLY: 1st March, 2024

✏️ TO APPLY: Please send us your updated CV along with a Cover Letter highlighting your suitability for the position to the email - [email protected]
with the subject line: "Project Accounts & Administration Officer - SAQEL".

Incumbents are also requested to kindly provide details of their current/last
drawn salary in the cover letter.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply! 🙋‍♀️

For further details, please click on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hjIiGZIU8nzMJGql2D97CRoFfagu39in/view?usp=sharing

Aide et Action organised a STEM workshop in collaboration with the school authorities of Chandakuchi Public High School at their premises on 12th February, 2024 in Nalbari district. During the workshop, groups of students demonstrated their collaborative STEM activities to the audience, which included teachers, students, and CRCC members. Students of the Hub School and nearby schools eagerly attended the workshop, which was filled with practical demonstration of each science activity and sparked lively discussions amongst them and teachers. The teachers and CRCCs too actively partook in the workshop and games, encouraging the school authorities to continue initiatives in STEM and Coding activities for their students throughout the academic year.

A Demonstration Unit was inaugurated through Aide et Action’s Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program (LEDP), implemented with support from NABARD at Miripothar Gaon of Lahoal Block, Dibrugarh district on 15th February, 2024. Training on Bamboo & Cane crafting for 90 women was implemented to be trained on producing products like table lamps, gift boxes, jewellery items, vase etc. After receiving the trainings, these women have started production and have been selling their products in local markets, exhibitions, fairs & melas.

The demonstration unit has been constructed under this project in order to enable the women to have a space for carrying out their production. This inauguration of the unit was conducted in the presence of Shri Promoy Bordoiloi (District Development Manager of NABARD, Dibrugarh district), Shri Ankur Ranjan Gogoi (Branch Manager, Indian Bank) and Aide et Action representatives.

Aide et Action organized a STEM Workshop at Nagrijuli High School in Baksa district from February 9th to February 12th, 2024, inaugurated in the presence of the Head Teacher and Assistant Teacher. The workshop saw participation of around 82 students belonging to classes 6-9. It was conducted with the aim of promoting inclusive education around STEM subjects, and fostering innovation among students using STEM kits.

POSITIVE / DEVELOPMENT NEWS:

“India’s soil is so rich; we have hundreds of varieties of rice and other crops that people are unaware of. This unawareness is one of the reasons leading to their extinction, and I wanted to do something about it,” recalls Mahan.

As the son of a farmer, Mahan Chandra Borah, born and raised in the Jorhat district of Assam, did what he knew best — farming. He started researching and growing different indigenous varieties of rice in his ancestral field. The result was the formation of Annapurna Rice Library — a hub of not only preserved indigenous seeds but also all things ‘rice’.

“I always loved reading and I would go online to look for papers on farming and seed saving. I read articles and papers on how there are many indigenous rice varieties that are going extinct. I also noticed while India has lots of resources in agriculture, no one was trying to save them,” he says.

By 2008, Mahan had already started to set up a ‘rice library’ in his home. “We currently have more than 500 types of seeds preserved and grown organically,” he says. The library is also a gene bank of indigenous seeds that are fast disappearing not only from Assam but also from other parts of northeast India; and the rest of the country as well. It boasts a wide range of varieties of rice such as Bhao Dhan which has a cooling effect on the body, Dol Kosu which can treat fever and Navara — a rice variety from Kerala which has medicinal properties. Some varieties are also aromatic, sticky, black, flood-tolerant and hill rice, even some with medicinal properties.

Farmers from northeastern parts of India come to the library and they are free to take the seeds in small quantities and grow them at their farms. The library also has records of information about each variety and how they can be grown, free of charge. Mahan also visits schools within his district to spread awareness and host seminars to tell the younger generations about the existence of these rice varieties.

SOURCE: https://www.thebetterindia.com/331636/assam-farmer-starts-rice-library-grows-preserves-indigenous-rice-varieties/

Maths Education Facilitators of Aide et Action’s Barpeta district participated in an in-house STEM Module Refresher Training at the district office on 8th February, 2024. This session was facilitated by Shajan Ali Ahmed, an Education Facilitator of Barpeta district, which was conducted to boost effectiveness of the Education Facilitators in employing basic STEM concepts and activities at the field level.

The Regional Manager of Aide et Action, Guwahati Regional Office - Pranab J Panging -made a field visit to the district offices of Baksa and Nalbari to learn more about the challenges at the ground level.

The team had a fruitful interactive session on the approaches that have been adopted at the field levels as well as an review of current initiatives taken up.

This 26th January marks India's 75th Republic Day and Aide et Action wishes everyone on this auspicious day, pledging to uphold the ideals of our Constitution and work towards a brighter and more harmonious India! May the spirit of freedom inspire us to build a future that is prosperous, just, and inclusive for all!

This 24th January, Aide et Action celebrates National Girl Child Day and wishes all the young girls of this nation to dream big, live courageously, and fly high in the sky!

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📢 Aide et Action is hiring for the position "Regional Coordinator"!

📍 LOCATION: Based in Guwahati with frequent travel to project locations (Darrang, Sonitpur, Kamrup M, Hojai, Nagaon)

⏰ LAST DATE TO APPLY: 31st January, 2024

✏️ TO APPLY: Please send us your updated CV along with a Cover Letter highlighting your suitability for the position to the email - [email protected]
with the subject line: "Regional Coordinator".

Incumbents are also requested to kindly provide details of their current/last
drawn salary in the cover letter.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply! 🙋‍♀️

For further details, please click on the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FS_G61zkerMNWo9TtKTpIzCoTW9E7Ov8/view?usp=sharing

This 12th January, Aide et Action celebrates National Youth Day by celebrating the youths who are the hope of today and the joy of tomorrow - a day dedicated to all the young people of the world and a tribute to the spirit of young minds across the nation.

POSITIVE / DEVELOPMENT NEWS:

‘How can we make travel comfortable for women?’ - this was the question Diptendu Roy thought as he was now pursuing a project that he felt deeply passionate about — making clean public restrooms accessible especially to women travellers along India’s highways. While he knew that this wasn’t the first startup to think of this idea, personal experiences served as his motivation and laid the foundation for 'Eloo'.

Neha Sharma, a resident of Gurgaon, says, “There have been several instances when I have ended up with a bad bout of urinary tract infection (UTI) that required me to take antibiotics.” Many women feel this pinch when they travel. Some choose not to drink water, and some choose to hold their urine in until they reach their destination, both of which cause more harm than one realises.

“Creating a comfortable travelling experience for women along highways was my primary aim in building this startup,” Diptendu says.

This pilot project is an outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding between self-help group (SHG) Bolpur Mahila Mahasangha, and the Raipur-based startup launched in 2018. Using old decommissioned buses, the startup launched their first prototype in Shantiniketan. He says, “These restrooms are unique because we are using these old buses to create them, which also means that our set-up costs are significantly cheaper. The restroom in Shantiniketan has three washrooms for women, one gender-neutral washroom, a bathing area, and a changing room, which also doubles as a breastfeeding area.”

The restrooms are managed by the women of Bolpur Mahila Mahasangha. In an attempt to supplement their income, the front portion of the restrooms is used as a pantry. Women from the SHG are encouraged to sell light refreshments and beverages as well. The current functional restroom has been set up in Shantiniketan, and the next few are being built along the highway in Chhattisgarh.

SOURCE: https://www.thebetterindia.com/286008/journalist-converts-old-buses-into-public-restrooms-for-women-safe-travel-eloo/

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I am Manna Khatun from Dibrugarh. I am very excited to share my journey on this platform. After completing graduation in Geography from Dibrugarh University and Diploma in Computer from National Institute of Information Technology Dibrugarh, I immediately joined as a faculty of APTECH (Applied Pavement Technology).

My journey in the development sector began in 2014 when I first joined Aide et Action as an Accounts & Administrative Officer in JFPR9168-IND: Livelihood Improvement for River Erosion Victims in Assam (Micro Enterprise Promotion for Youths) in Dibrugarh Project office where I was able to guide, monitor and provide handholding support to the entrepreneurs who wanted a fresh start and also for those who had already established their own ventures in different trades. Here I trained more than 350 youths till 2018. It gave me an understanding and opportunity to work in different areas, improved my interaction and networking skills which ultimately helped me learn how to manage project implementation within the development sector.

I was then offered my current role as Field Officer in the year 2021 under the project “Noipunyo” – Cluster Development for Livelihood Enhancement in Dibrugarh District, where I am able to implement project components and ensure deliverables are met. In the same year I was engaged with NABARD where I have trained 180 SHG member in "WEAVING (ERI AND COTTON)” and BAMBOO AND CANE CRAFTING.

My journey with Aide et Action since 2014 till date has been incredibly rewarding; it has been a platform where I have learned Personality Development Programs, Focus Group Discussion on various important topics, events, Team Building, etc. and has given me the space and scope to expand my experience.

I give my gratitude to each member of Aide et Action for providing me the opportunity for working with them the last 9 years, and especially to the homely atmosphere and friendly colleagues in the workplace. I hope to continue and being a part of this organization for many more years to come and would like to reach out to each and every individual in imparting knowledge in livelihood education.

MOMENTS CAPTURED FROM THE GROUND:

A Certificate Distribution Program was held for the trained SHG members at Jamira Kopua Gaon under Barbaruah Block, Dibrugarh district on 22nd December, 2023 in the presence of the Block Coordinator, Jeevika Sakhi.

A 1-Day Block-level Orientation & Training Programme was organised at District Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Karimganj in Karimganj district on 26th December, 2023. A total of 35 participants were present during the programme, with frontline workers such as AWWs & ASHAs, joined along with Assistant Commissioner cm DCPO, Protection Officer, CWC Chairperson and CWC members.

The programme had an interactive session with its participants on topics concerning early child care, child protection and about Alternative Care as well.

A Convocation Programme was conducted at Umnsning Auditorium of Bhoirymbong Block, Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya on 15th December, 2023. Chairman of Umsning Town Dorbar, Ms. Darishisha Nongrum, Mr. Sunil Kumar Rai, Project Manager SEPL, Village headman and President of Women Wing Umsning Town circle were some of the invites guests present at the Programme.

The Programme was conducted for two successful batches of vocational trainees from the Bhoirymbong block, including students of Electrical Repairs & House Wiring, Fashion Designing & Tailoring, and Beauty & Wellness trades.

Students showcased products like table lamps, manual gysers made by the Electrical Repairs & House Wiring, dresses designed by the students of Fashion Designing & Tailoring was also displayed, and makeup done on these students by the students of Beauty & Wellness trade. This programme was a platform which gave students not only the chance to display what they had learnt, but also learn to act together as a team during the event. The stage performances also helped generate new ideas and innovations among the trainees and guest.

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Pinki Bezbaruah, a 3rd grader of No. 4 Adla LP School in Baksa district, was initially struggling with fundamental concepts of the language and encountering difficulties in reading and writing. When Education Facilitators identified these issues with Pinki during assessments, they first began by initiating discussions with Mr. Dimbeswar Bezbaruah, the former School Management Committee (SMC) president, who also happened to be Pinki's father.

The Education Facilitators believe with the right support and attention, Pinki would be able to adapt to age-appropriate levels in no time. Mr. Bezbaruah supported the idea, and so the team committed to Pinki's academic development. Employing a variety of teaching and learning materials and innovative techniques, the EFs aimed to help Pinki grasp challenging subjects. Pinki's progress was gradual, but her determination remained steadfast throughout the journey.

Over time, Pinki's transformation became evident. She gained confidence in her reading abilities, overcoming paragraphs and stories with newfound ease. The journey from struggling at the beginner level to reading almost any text showcased the power of dedicated teaching and unwavering support. Pinki Bezbaruah's story stands as a beacon of hope and change, highlighting the profound impact the proper individual attention, teacher's guidance and a father's unwavering support can have on a student's life.

POSITIVE / DEVELOPMENT NEWS:

Sivakumar Modha, an innovator who has dedicated his life to ease the pain of handloom weavers, decided to give up my MCA plans and focus his attention among the handloom workers, learning how to work the loom, weaving and in the process understanding what the weavers were facing in their day-to-day lives.

“This continuous process of lifting huge weights causes knee and back pain. By the time the weavers reach the age of 40-45 years, they cannot weave anymore. At that age, they do not have other skills and remain without a livelihood. Their earnings become zero,” he says. "Women workers have it worse. In addition to weaving, they have to also take care of their households and this can include physical work."

His innovation—the Modha Pedal Operating Machine for all Jacquard-based handlooms, which was launched in January 2022—recently received the Jury’s Special at the Aarohan Social Innovation Awards instituted by the Infosys Foundation.

“It’s a machine that is fastened to a loom and using its pedal switches, the weaver uses his big toe to work the motor fitted to it. No load is felt by the weaver on his knees and back and he can work for longer periods without fatigue. With this machine, even older people or physically disabled can use the hand-operated switch and work without having to worry about pain,” he adds.

Aided by Hyderabad-based NGO, P***e Srujana, which invested in the project, Modha has sold 220 machines so far. Priced between Rs 15,000-27,000, Modha admits the machine is out of reach for most weavers. He’s hoping that banks and financial institutions step forward and offer loans to weavers to buy it.

SOURCE: https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2023/12/sivakumar-modha-tech-help-handloom-weavers

A 1-Day Block-level Orientation & Training Programme was organised by Aide et Action and supported by UNICEF at Algapur Block of Hailakandi district. A total of 34 participants were present during the programme, such as AWWs, ASHAs, SHG members, CWC members, DLSA executive, DCPO of Hailakandi and District Coordinator of IGSSS, Hailakandi.

The programme had an interactive session with its participants on topics concerning early child care, child protection and about Alternative Care as well.

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Learn about the various terminologies, communities, schemes, and more in this brand new segment where you can become well-informed regarding the Development Sector!
Today's topic is: ! 🚶‍♀️🪡🧵

Read on to know more! 🔍

MOMENTS CAPTURED FROM THE GROUND:

Glimpses of the Convocation Programme conducted by Aide et Action through its Enterprise Promotion for Sustainable Development project at Khasi National Dorbar, Mawkhar of East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya for the vocational trainees of the Electrical Repairs & House Wiring, Beauty & Wellness and Fashion Designing & Tailoring batches.

The pass out trainees put up various kinds of performances on stage. Certificates were also distributed to all the trainees, and a cake cutting session was done to commemorate the event.

MOMENTS CAPTURED FROM THE GROUND:

A 4-day pickle making training was conducted by Aide et Action through its 'Enterprise Promotion for Sustainable Development' (EP4SD) initiative in the Baghamar Block of Biswanath district for 30 SHG members, spanning from 21st November to 24th November, 2023.