During our individual SALT visits, one day while walking around, we reached a temple near our office. At the temple, we saw a group of elderly men and women sitting together and singing bhajans. Curious about them, we asked how long they had been coming there. Some said two years, while others shared that they had been coming for three years. Listening to their stories and experiences, we felt inspired and developed a strong desire to conduct a SALT session with them. After returning to the…

While conducting individual SALT conversations in the community, our team found that an elderly group who regularly gathered at a local temple nearby our office. This observation gave an idea to me what if we created a space for them to share their voices collectively? After returning to the office, our team reflected and decided that conducting a Group SALT…

I haven’t written anything in a long time. Today, suddenly, I felt like writing.

Usually, when I feel alone, I call my close ones and talk to them. I share my problems with them. They give me different advice and suggestions—do this, do that. Trying to solve a problem by following everyone’s advice often makes things more complicated.…

The past teaches us, the present makes us think, and the future gives us a chance to change.

Mistakes give pain at that time, but the learning from them shapes life.

SALT helps people remember the events of their lives. When people recall the past, they get the strength to change their present and future. Conversation gives a person a chance to look at themselves and think about their decisions.

In Shelakewadi, I had a SALT conversation with a man. This conversation started…

On March 14 and 15, inspired by the entire village community, the residents of Gobinda Pala organized a two-day football tournament. The primary objective behind organizing this tournament was to foster harmonious relationships between their own village and the neighboring ones. Prior to this, we had organized a 'Gyan Mela' (Knowledge Fair), which saw the…

শীত মৌসুমে ব্যাসপুর দক্ষিণপাড়ার ২ টি টিম ও কাটাখালি পাড়ার ২ টি টিম তীব্র শীত পড়ায় কমিউনিটির মানুষের খোঁজ খবর নেয়। তারা প্রত্যেকে তাদের বাড়ির আশেপাশে কারা তীব্র শীতে কষ্ট পাচ্ছে তাদেরকে খুঁজে বের করেছিল এবং তারা সাধ্যমত তাদের পাশে দাঁড়িয়েছিল। তখন থেকেই তারা তাদেরকে নিয়ে ভাবতে শুরু করে।ওরা নিজের সাথে তাদের তুলনা করে। নিজেরা কত সুযোগ সুবিধা…

As Women's Day is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the world today, the women of Nandwal, known as 'Pratipandharpur' in Kolhapur district, have set a inspiring example. On the occasion of Women's Day, these women expressed their gratitude towards nature by watering the trees at the entrance of the village.These women showed awareness about public property and did their duty towards it.

Usually rallies, lectures or Haldi-Kumkum programs are organized on Women's Day.…

March 21st was the religious festival of Eid in Bangladesh. This year's Eid was really a little different for me. Like every year, I prayed Eid prayers, hugged everyone, and exchanged greetings. But this time, it seemed that not only the joy of the festival, but also some other feelings were working inside.

What I felt the most was the sincerity and acceptance I received from the people of the community. Through the SALT process, a kind of family relationship has been created with the…

That day in Charbin Para was unlike any other. The gentle winter sun, colorful decorations all around, and the festive spirit in the air made the entire community come alive with joy. It was the day of Saraswati Puja—a sacred occasion to seek the blessings of the goddess of knowledge.

The youth team of the community had been preparing for this day for a long time. Their plan was not only to celebrate the festival but also to distribute educational materials among young children, so…

After my mother’s death, Megha became my first child. She was only 10 years old then, studying in Class Four. As a father, I always had a dream that my daughter would study well and grow up to become a doctor. So, from an early age, I kept telling her that she must study hard to become successful in life. However, I never asked her what she actually wanted or what she loved.I believed that sending her outside for coaching or extra classes would help her learn better. So, I often told her to…

An attempt was made to have an individual SALT conversation with a 23-year-old woman from a marginalized community. When the facilitators arrived at her home, she was alone. They greeted her warmly and tried to start a conversation, but she refused to talk. The next day, they visited again, but this time she did not even open the door. This was unexpected, especially because all the facilitators were women. Feeling concerned and curious, the team spoke with a neighbor to understand the…

Report on Community Toilet Issue and Its Solution

Village: Folwariyan Tola, Maharajganj

Date: 16/03/2026

In Folwariyan Tola, Maharajganj, a community toilet was built about two years ago by the government and the Gram Pradhan for the people. The purpose of this toilet was to provide safe and clean sanitation facilities to the community.…

On 24th March 2026 when the Dhagagia Social Welfare Society (DSWS), India staff came together for a SALT conversation on Zoom, the first thing that struck me was that DSWS is a caring organization that holds a space the staff cherishes. For instance, Saloni said, how much she likes being in the organization, they have a lot of fun working together. Hriday da head of…

  When work first commenced in Moudihaat(Cluster–II)—located within the South Gouripur Gram Panchayat—in August 2025 using the SALT methodology, local residents identified severe filth and scattered waste throughout their neighborhood as one of their primary concerns. Due to the absence of a designated waste disposal site, refuse had accumulated in the…

On 21 January, I met Rohan. At that time, I conducted a SALT activity with him and we also discussed masculinity. During that conversation, he openly shared that he did not like painting and putty work at all. But because of family expectations, responsibilities of age, and the social pressure that “a man must do some kind of work,” he continued doing it. From his words, I understood that he was not working only for money; he also wanted satisfaction, mental peace, and to do something he…

March 8th... Across the world this day is celebrated as 'Women's Day' with great enthusiasm. In some places, speeches are delivered, while in others, garlands are exchanged. However, the women of Nandwal village in Kolhapur district decided to do something different and path-breaking this year. Two women's self-help groups (SHGs) in the village came together and decided that this year's Women’s Day should not be limited to a mere celebration, but should be observed by bringing joy into…

In 14 No Bamun Gheri Village, we recently initiated a Group SALT session with a group of men from the community. Before commencing the session, we engaged in a discussion about the nature of SALT and the rationale behind it. This helped create a comfortable environment where participants could freely express themselves. As the session unfolded, it became a powerful platform for sharing thoughts,…

During today's SALT session in the Basa Line area of Bhatpara Tea Garden, 32-year-old Anurag Gurung shared the biggest 'proud story' of his life. The story was so moving that everyone was stunned—eyes welled up, hearts overflowed. There was pride in Anurag ji's voice, not just of success, but of the triumph of humanity.

*Anurag's Proud Story*…

Grow Your Reader Foundation (GYRF) is proud to be a grantee of the Dhaka American Women’s Club (DAWC). At the end of last year, Manica, Chairperson of the FAWCO Foundation (of which DAWC is a network member), visited Bangladesh. She met with us and we shared about our ARC initiative, including the grandparents’ storytelling sessions, the…

“I now have fewer expectations from others,” said Ashika from UNICON Nepal, where she works as a community facilitator.

When I asked if ARC (Addressing Root cause initiative) had affected her life in any way, her answer surprised me. Ashika explained that she belongs to a spiritual group where she had heard teachings about self-reliance and expecting less from others. SALT provided her a way to practise the teaching in her own life.She began to see her…