A WONDERFUL JOURNEY

[RUMPA GUPTA]

 

Some time back in one of the meetings with an organization, we all were asked to describe what our regular work day is like. Well, after giving it a brief thought, I said I do not have a regular work day. My work days are rather medium or large!! I mean, not a day passes for me when I don’t learn anything. Every day I meet people, talk to them, learn so much from them and get inspired from them. Do u think it’s a regular work day.. Nah, don’t think so!! Consciously or unconsciously we build a relationship with the people which is much deeper, much more firm than a social worker and beneficiary relationship.  

The last quarter has been full of happenings in our community. Well, undoubtedly it was tiring for all of us but at the same time I feel it was an extremely satisfying experience. Not that we alone did some magic, but magic was created when we journeyed with the people, the residents of the community.

We strongly believe and have tremendous confidence in the community that when they have opportunities and willingness to talk to each other, they can do a lot by themselves. Then our role is not directing but accompanying them and supporting them in every way possible.

Be it a recent birthday party celebration in the community or a small discussion with some of the mothers struggling with issues of lack of child care in the community, I was at times so tempted to problem solve but, tried, tried my best to not to jump in but stimulate more discussions around it and creating opportunities for the community to resolve it. For eg, in a discussion, where mothers were busy stating all the problems they were facing since there was lack of child care facilities in the vicinity. We, facilitators asked a very simple question what do you think can be done together. And that was a breakthrough and then the mothers started focussing on their strengths rather than the deficits. And this gave all of us an opportunity to learn from each other and we saw a lot of hope and positivity in whatever we were trying to do together.

Recently, we did a dream building session with a group of resident volunteers in the community.  It was truly amazing to see how they share some common dreams about their community. One of the youths was so agitated and expressed lot of concerns about the youths in the community. The facilitator acknowledged her agitation and asked casually what according to her can be done, promptly she said, all these things affect her as well and she wants to do something, but alone she cannot.

I think, this is what we call the ‘power of we’ and working together to achieve the dreams that the people see for their own community.

Thus, I happily say the people I work in partnership with make my every day really large...!!

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks Rumpa for your blog and look forward to more! I remember a quote from Gerard of your organisation, Beyond Social Services - "...when NGO staff try to do things for the community, the effect is opposite. We are kind of disabling them."