My learning With Youth dialogue for CLCP in Community

[Ashish]

Subject - Community Meeting/Discussion
Date - 31/12/2025
Time - 12:00 PM
Duration - 120 minutes
Selected Issues - Masculinity and CLP
Topics Covered - Sharing the ARC, understanding and responding to CLCP, understanding concerns, explaining the importance of collective efforts

Activity - On this bitterly cold afternoon, I met with some young people from the community who were busy planning for the upcoming New Year. I had met most of these young people before, and they readily agreed to talk to me and give me their time. My objective was to share the CLCP model with them point by point and get their feedback on its potential effectiveness. Their responses were mixed. They listened attentively and asked relevant questions, such as why they should have hope when everyone doubts its fulfillment, and that they have always dreamt and tried to fulfill their dreams, but they never come true. They cited important issues like lack of resources, lack of social acceptance, discriminatory behavior, and lack of funds and a conducive environment for education.

I listened carefully because this was the kind of discussion I wanted, especially in a group setting, so that they could hear each other's concerns and discuss the positive and negative aspects. They divided themselves into two groups. One group said there was a lack of employment and money, while the other group asked what efforts they had made, like the rest of the world. They mentioned that people used to swim across rivers to go to school, and that even poor people's sons study and are studying now, implying that they hadn't given importance to education. Some said that not having any skills was a major problem, while others countered that if they had shown the same agility and strength in hunting that they displayed in other activities, they could have joined the army or won medals in sports. This internal conflict among the young people both surprised and taught me a lot about how a lack of awareness and proper guidance can hinder life's progress. My main point was whether adopting the CLCP model in a planned and phased manner within the community could help them achieve their collective dreams. Everyone agreed and highly praised the model, calling it an accurate guide. However, when I encouraged them to identify and appreciate their strengths under the SALT framework, most responded with examples of helping their family, friends, or strangers driven by compassion for human suffering.

When I asked why they considered these actions their best work, one young man explained that since no one had ever helped them, they found joy in helping each other and fulfilling each other's needs, or they quickly understood others' suffering and helped them in any way possible. I agreed with this sentiment (as I believe that people who have gone through similar tragedies find a kind of relief when they are together). When I asked about their concerns for the community (which I wanted to understand as the immediate obstacles in their journey of development/dreams), they listed six things that were lacking in the community: employment, insufficient housing for the size of families, lack of drinking water, drug use among youth, and lack of access to good schools (the schools nearby don't provide quality education, children are teased for smelling bad or being dirty, and they don't have the money for fees at other schools where the education is better), etc. However, I had to remind them of the problems faced by women that had come up in the ARC program, such as the lack of toilets in any of the houses, and early marriage and motherhood. They acknowledged these issues but said the government hadn't built toilets and they didn't have the space. One person said it would cost 40,000 rupees, so how could they afford it? (Here, it's important to note that everyone had a smartphone, and half of them owned motorcycles. The previous day, 14 people had collected 50,000 to 60,000 rupees to celebrate New Year's in Nepal, and they asked me where they could travel in Nepal.) This point taught me that a failure to prioritize can also hinder the easy solution of many basic problems.

However, it was good that everyone shared their thoughts and asked me to explain the experiment in more detail so they could implement it. I received assurances of continuous contact. In between, to help them understand the importance of collective effort, I asked them for examples. They described how they cooperate in building each other's houses, acting as daily laborers for one another, saving money by helping each other instead of paying wages. They also mentioned resolving family disputes through the panchayat (village council), sharing food obtained through hunting, and feeling safe traveling in groups outside their community due to their linguistic and cultural differences. They contribute collectively to fund the marriage of an orphaned girl in the community, and if someone gets a job for 10 or 20 days, they help their community members find work as well. They are now emphasizing their children's education, using their knowledge of mobile phones to their advantage. Some have started attending private schools thanks to the efforts of some missionaries and with the help of the Right to Education Act (RTE).

One thing was common among the young people: they all wanted to overcome poverty and earn money to fulfill their dreams (in all their conversations, I saw glimpses of them as vulnerable/helpless consumers, feeling that they have to buy everything but are unable to afford it). My success today was that I was able to connect CLCP with SALT and explain its seriousness/necessity, and make it a topic of discussion so that I could listen to them. (If the community...)

[shaikh nuzhat]

The biggest strength of these young people is that even in difficult situations, they do not leave each other’s side. They openly share their problems and weaknesses, ask questions, and discuss together. This shows that they think deeply and want a better future. Even with limited resources, they help one another, understand each other’s pain, and stand together. This unity is their real strength.

During this entire conversation, Ashish Ji explained CLCP and SALT in a very simple, clear, and practical way. He patiently listened to everyone and helped the youth recognize their own strengths, which made the discussion more meaningful.

Congratulations, Ashish Ji. Such honest dialogue and guidance build a strong foundation for positive change in the community. 🙏

[Ashish]

Thank you Shahrukh for such a power full reflection,thank you Rituu for your appreciation ..The conclusion of this discussion has been twofold: I learned and understood what the community's past experiences have been regarding the results achieved through trying to fulfill dreams and working together. The community's youth understood this phased approach as a completely new experiment and wanted to experience its impact, for which they felt excited to seriously implement CLCP and SALT in their lives.

[Shahrukh Atpade]

While reading this blog, the reality of young people in the community and their strengths clearly come to the forefront. The discussion beautifully reflects the integration of CLCP and SALT. I also personally engage in SALT discussions with men on the topic of masculinity, and I frequently encounter similar experiences. Many times, men are unable to express the real reasons behind their struggles, failures, and anger. One important point that clearly emerges from this blog is that understanding men and engaging in meaningful dialogue with them is extremely important. Instead of blaming, listening attentively, asking reflective questions, and helping them recognize their own strengths is the true strength of the SALT approach. Collective efforts, mutual support, and unity within the community are strengths that already exist. Dialogue itself is the most powerful tool for change. Such discussions guide men toward self-reflection, help them learn to set priorities, and encourage them to think in terms of “What can we do?” This blog does not merely share experiences; it serves as an important learning resource for those working closely with communities.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks Ashish. What were their conclusions at the end of the discussion?