To fulfil every dream, there needs to be someone who has to spark the spirit of fire (encourage and support) !

[Dheeraj Lepcha]

Hi everyone ! This is Dheeraj Lepcha on behalf of my colleague Rati Lama (SALT field) and Pancham Minj from Rural Aid NGO working with support from Global Fund for Children in Alipurduar District, Kalchini block (State of West Bengal, India). We had already started working on community sustainability and ownership in our tea gardens through CLCPC SALTs approach.

To fulfil every dream, there needs to be someone who has to spark the spirit of fire (encourage and support) ! 

As a result of continuous SALTs process with the community of Gangutia for their dream. Today , 4th January 2023, the community was able to inaugurate their free tuition for the vulnerable children of the tea garden. 

Background of Community Led Initiative:

With continuous SALT process with respected community; on 28th November during the community review of dream building and CLCPC cycle process, one of the young educated youth members shared and took responsibility to facilitate the Free Tuition Centre for the vulnerable children in the meeting of SALT. 

On this dream of Community; “Free Education for the needy Children”

While asked to the young youth and community members, the objective behind the free tuition center is that there are many vulnerable children especially the tribal indigenous community children who are weak and not benefited with proper education in different lines of tea gardens. So to enhance and support the proper and quality of education the youth members of Gangutia have approached for the free tuition. Education is only the way where the children can fulfil and protect their dream. 

Early, this free tuition was ran by some NGOs many times but unfortunately it lasted for one month or three months. We encouraged them to continue in future that, when we work ourselves in our own community with true heart and unity nothing can stop it. it build us self confidence, leadership and ownership within ourselves.

As a result today 4th January, the community of Gangutia led an initiative to inaugurate for Free Tuition Center for the vulnerable children in their own community with support of communities such Panchayat member, Panchayat Samiti member, ICDS, ASHA, SHGs, Parents, Adolescent children and local youth. 

A role of Rural Aid SALT facilitators ; As discussed of particular dream on Free Education for the needy Children during the SALT dream process, we played as supporting role to spark the spirit of fire (encourage and support) to the community members that when we work together we do much more quoted the sentence _”Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller.

After the inauguration, we had SALT with ICDS workers, SHGs, Parents and Youth members where we identified the different strengths and qualities of the participants' community. Out of all, we have identified the strength of an ICDS worker who herself testified that the children who have once studied in an ICDS center with her now became taken as professionals of defense. And always remember her when they come home on vacation and used to visit her and take blessings and say “Aunty this what because of your teaching in childhood, we are in this state, thank you !”

We as SALT facilitators encourage community participants to do more good works for the community, taking as an example that one seed of maize can grow and multiple of many seeds in one tree. So in this way, when we sow one seed of good work for the community or children we can bear multiple fruits in future.

And also encouraged the community with examples of Ladders where we can become at least one step of the ladder for the children or community to take steps on it for dreams or goals in their life and remember our good work when we exist or not like Salt in food.

(Supported & SALT Community Field  by- Rati Lama)

[Marie Lamboray]

Wonderful local response! Thank you, the stars of The Constellation "sparkling the spirit of fire (encourage and support)" for a better world!

Thank you, Dheeraj!

[Shahrukh Atpade]

very nice....!

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Hi Dhiraj, Rati, Pancham and team, thanks for this excellent work.

I liked the title very much, as you clearly bring out what is the role of the outsiders and what is the role of the community members. 

Also I liked the metaphor of the maize and the idea of a ladder. Please would you share more about what you mean by maize tree here.