Project Visit to Swati, Tigri Center on 30th June 2012

SWATI, a non-profit organisation, has been working for empowering women and children of nearby community for more than two decades. A respected group of workers of the foundation help empower woman through SHG (Self Help Group) and children by providing them coaching classes, remedial classes for drop outs and vocational training. The standing that the organization has in the locality is really incredible.

On 30th June 2012, a team of 23 CRY Volunteers visited Swati, Tigri Center, New Delhi. Overall the visit, which started at 10am and continued till 1:30pm, was divided into 3 major activities:
1) Interaction with 72 children, who gathered on the weekend especially for the event - The children ranged from kids going to play school to matured ones attending class 11th. The talent that the children displayed fearlessly in front of peers and volunteers far exceeded everyone's expectation.
2) Interaction with staff at Swati - The main credit for making the visit successful goes to staff at the center; the event would be impossible on the weekend without their whole hearted support. Fortunately, during the visit the volunteers got a chance to know more about Swati from its staff. Here follows a brief story of the organization as narrated by staff of the center:
"The tale begins nearly about two decades ago when they (founders of Swati together with its staff) started this centre and initiated with a survey to collect data of drop out children from school at all levels - Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary. After data collection they started enrolling the drop outs and providing coaching classes for enrolled students.  It was the trust between the community and foundation's members that was making things possible. Due to assistance from the organization, girls from the same community will soon graduate from various colleges of Delhi University. Recently a group of women from the community won a bureaucratic battle for a maternity centre, resulting in establishment of the center for benefit of the community. There are still some lacunae, such as absence of staff, to be filled to ensure proper functioning of the center. However, we are confident that we will win all battles."
3) Community Visit - Finally volunteers visited the community being served by the organization to know in depth the impact of the organization on the community. Volunteers were amazed by the fact that each block of houses, i.e., collection of houses on sides of a straight road in the community has its own Anganwadi. Overall, there are 32 such Anganwadis which work in collaboration with Swati to educate children.

Overall, the Project Visit was an incredible experience for volunteers. They got to learn how a social change can be brought at micro level with a group of enthusiastic workers.

Here are experiences of some of the volunteers:
a) "Visit to Swati was  a beautiful experience.We interacted with children from all age groups and involved them in various activities, the best part being children themselves were quiet enthusiastic to take part in all the activities, and many of them turned out to be very talented. It was a treat to watch them dance and sing. I am glad that Swati is playing such an important role in infusing these children with confidence and imparting them education so that they become the bright future of our country. :) "
- Manu Chugh
b) "Visit to SWATI, an NGO partner of CRY was an amusing and delightful experience. Interactive sessions with the kids and their active participation in various activities was a captivating part. A day spent with adorable and juvenile kids revive the old memories of childhood. I feel grateful to CRY to give us an insight and opportunity to be part of such an wonderful venture."
- Vaibhav Jain

Here are links to images clicked during the visit by:
Mahender Adhikari, Vaibhav Jain, Manu Chugh and Malini Minocha.

We, the volunteers group at CRY, wish the organization all the best in its pious endeavour and we wish to stay connected with it in future.

Compiled By: Rahul Kapoor and Divyanshu