We joined with more trainers to take things forward

Hello!

In today’s post:

• The need to create a pool of digitally well-versed, community-level trainers
• A few picture-stories
• A personal update

Too many initiatives sometimes become about one person.

The most well-intentioned group often becomes over-reliant on one or two individuals. In many cases to the detriment of that work. Having observed this in movements, networks, NGOs, trade unions – I had often told myself I would try to not go that path. To not become that single strong leader whose power is significantly more than that of anyone else in the group.

With the digital awareness trainings that I conducted in Vidarbha, too.

Even as I had designed the course, piloted it (taking the effort to ensure there was always a local person in the role of a co-trainer or co-facilitator), tested it and taken it to 1000 people, I was conscious I should not become the only one or the holder/disseminator of such knowledge.

One tried and tested way for me to achieve this was to create a pool of master trainers. People qualified and confident to carry out such trainings with good results. This was something we had done several times with social audits of public welfare schemes. Training of trainers.

Working without funds or any kind of power (sometimes even friends to brainstorm with) was challenging. I knew the initial phase of work would have to be through strong partnerships with other local organizations or institutions.

And the opportunity came by in the form of the widely-known NGO, Khoj

I had first known about the NGO called Khoj in 2013.

I had heard of them in the context of their award-winning work in forest rights and malnutrition in the tribal areas of Melghat (known as a tiger reserve) situated in Maharashtra, India.

While I searched for like-minded people and groups in Vidarbha, the names of the founders Purnima tai and Bandu bhai naturally came forward, given their long history of committed work in the region of Vidarbha.

A single phone conversation with Bandu bhau established that he and I were on the same page. He was disturbed seeing tribal youths who were heavily addicted to their mobile phones. He told me of a case of suicide due to gaming addiction. Payment frauds were common, he described. There was definitely a strong need for awareness-building and sustained training/engagement by qualified persons in the digital space, he concluded. And that he had been in search of the right person to host such trainings with. Dates were discussed. KHOJ’s strong presence in the community meant they already had a pre-identified group of 40 persons who could be developed as Master Trainers. These were people who were committed to working amongst the tribal people that they lived with. Some of them were social workers and leaders.

An intensive digital training, one hoped, would add a new dimension to their existing body of work.

Accordingly, a two-day syllabus and plan was designed. I worked with Milind & Asit so we could divide topics between us, create space for games, interactions, learn through creative participative forms including role-plays and skits.

For me, personally, this meant a lot. It was important for me that ideas live their own life. That they get carried forward into communities. Through the language and lens of community leadership, rather than mine or anybody else’s.

Two weeks later, it was the day of the workshop.

As with every such interaction, when we go in as trainers, we are often the ones who end up learning the most. I came to know of agriculture-scheme scams and new payment fraud methods. I learnt about how the tribal communities interact with social media. Above all, I cherished the bonds, the friendships, the relationships with a group of very talented and intelligent individuals.

Personal updates