What I learned...

[Shahrukh Atpade]

It was decided to facilitate SALT with teenager children in Vashi village, Kolhapur district, India. Anganwadi workers also facilitated with me. In the beginning, everyone introduced themselves well. After that started a SALT conversation.

What I learned......

I facilitate SALT with everyone as a facilitator. But today on 10th Dec 2022 when I went to facilitate SALT with the children, SALT conversation triggered discussion around gender. The children shared a lot about this issue, they are telling with a felt need to bring about a change. But they know that they cannot achieve a gender transformative change on their own. They said that older and powerful people are in powerful positions and the voice of the youth is not valued.

I am thinking that when some change has to be brought, which is required, not everyone in the community will support to bring that change, and then those who want to do something also take a step back.

I got to learn that, if no one will ask us what is your dream, then no one will even tell you in this busy world. But I am getting this chance and I am getting a chance to do something new and connect with people through this SALT. I learned that in this fast-paced world, you need someone to take out time and ask you about your life, about your dreams, about the dreams of your village. And we are doing that work through this SALT. People are also happily participating in it.