Orientation for Volunteers of Crompton Greaves

An Orientation for Crompton Greaves Staff was held on the 29th December, 2015 at their office at Equinox, Kurla. Around 25 Staff enthusiastically engaged with Mr. Cletus Zuzarte as he explained the Goals of Centre for Social Action and possible areas of partnership where the CG staff could engage in. 

Cletus also shared about the Women Empowerment Project which CG had supported through the funds released for Mumbai Marathon. 

Christmas Celebration for Children at Bandurpakhad, Kandivali on 22nd Dec, 2015

Christmas Celebration for Children

Date: 22-12-15

Venue: Holy Cross Chapel ,Bunderpakhadi

On 22^nd  December, 2015 the Mahila Mandal (Holy Cross) organized a Christmas Program for 42 Children from the area of Bunderpakhadi.  

The day began with an opening prayer which was conducted by Ms. Mishal Dabre (Staff of Centre for Social Action) then she spoke to the children on the theme environment and Christmas. Mr.Reggie(Gurav Garden) and his friends had sponsor gift hampers for  Children.

After the Christmas message children were given Christmas gifts and snacks. Children were very happy.

Mishal Dabre

Sr. Social Worker

Children's Christmas and Diwali Celebrations, St. Andrew's, Bandra - 17th Dec, 2015

On 17^th December, 2015 the St. Andrew's C.C.O. at Bandra organized a Christmas Program for marginalized children from the areas of Chimbai and Bandstand. Although it was just for a day, the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly. 

The day began with an opening prayer conducted by Sr.Sharddha with a ‘Power-point’ presentations. Ms Premlata (Staff of Centre for Social Action) then spoke to the children on the theme Personal Hygiene and self development. 

Then Sr.Suzen conducted an ice breaker game. The children got to know each other through this game called ‘Self introduction ‘and the children made new friends in the process of game.

Later the children were shown Videos by Deacon Anthony Alphanso on personal hygiene & self development which was followed by a short input on the same topic. He had an interaction with the children on this and they participated wholeheartedly. 

After this the children performed a short dance programme and enacted a Christmas play. It was very appreciated by all and enthused all the children. The children were very smart to put up such a programme solely on their own steam.. All the children were able to show their talents on the stage singing songs and doing skits.

A big thank you to our Parish Priest, Fr. Caesar D’Mello for his support and encouragement in conducting this one day program with less privileged children and also to all the CCO members, and our donors for making this day a pleasant one. Light snacks and lunch was served to the children.

Premlata Thakur

Staff, Centre for Social Action

CCO office, St.Andrew’s Church, Bandra

A Vision Unfolds…Becoming Home Managers!

“Visualizing a change from being mere ‘Domestic Workers’ to becoming ‘Home Managers’, is the dream that this program seeks to achieve and I want to see this change and also measure this change” is the challenge that Mr. Vinayak Dalvi, the CSR Regional Head of Crompton Greaves, put to the 18 domestic workers and the organizers. 

The eyes of the 18 registered participants of the “Domestic Workers Skills Enhancement Training Program” literally lit up with a hope as they looked towards the organizers, Centre for Social Action (CSA) along with St. Pius X CCO the implementing partner. Looking at the potential that this group held he promised that once they completed this basic course they could look towards specializing their skills with further advanced courses and CG would be happy to extend their support further to making this a reality.

An inauguration to this training program was held on the 16^th December, 2015 at St. Pius X School Mini Hall at 3.30pm. The program began with an introduction and the lighting of the lamp signifying a light that will enlighten the lives of the domestic workers as they seek to transform their lives through sharpening their current skills. 

The chief guests of the Inauguration of the Domestic Workers Skills Enhancement Training Program - Mr. Vinayak Dalvi and Ms. Bhawna Solanki from Crompton Greaves along with Fr. Cleophas Fernandes lit the lamp and inaugurated the Program. Mr. Cletus Zuzarte the Program Manger of CSA gave a brief of the organization and explained the objectives of the Training Program. 

The training seeks to enhance the current skills of the women through a basic comprehensive course on hospitality and care so that having enhanced their skills, gaining self esteem and an identity they will be empowered to discuss, negotiate and ultimately bargain with their employers for better emoluments.

Sr. Alison the energetic Director of St. Pius X CCO along with Mr. Sandip Hire the Social Worker from CSA regularly visited the various local bastis of Indira Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Salfadevi, Nahur Village, Gavnipada, Gaushala and Ramgadh and have developed a good rapport with the community. 

The domestic workers who meet regularly on one Thursday of the month were briefed on this proposed training program. 20 of the women registered for the program and hopefully those who did not attend would soon realize that they missed something good. 

Fr. Cleophas Fernandes the Parish Priest and Managing Trustee of St. Pius X CCO encouraged the women present to attend the training and gain from the opportunity placed before them and wished them the very best in well articulated Marathi. 

The inauguration ended with a word of thanks by Sr. Alison to the organizers and the support organizations. She exhorted the women to continue to attend with the same enthusiasm and learn in such a way that change is visible and their employers themselves communicate to the parish that this course has made a difference. 

Ms. Shilpa Kashelkar the resource person for the first session on Personality Development led the women through action songs and interactive games enabling them to develop a healthy self respect coupled with etiquette and manners that would help in them in their daily interaction within the homes that visit for work. The women left the hall with a sense of gratitude and expectancy towards all that they would learn in the coming four months.

~ Reported by Mr. Cletus Zuzarte

16^th Dec, 2015

A Healthy Woman is a Happy Woman - Babrekar Nagar, Kandivali, 9th Dec, 2015

A woman’s health is her last priority. This is what the social workers observed while working with women in the community. They rush to the aid of an ailing parent, child or spouse but always put their health last. With this objective in mind an, the CSA Staff  of thought asking women what kind of activities or sessions  do they want as a groups to be conducted for them.

So the women suggested that they wanted a workshop on Health. So the social worker Premlata made an arrangement to conduct the workshop on the Importance of Women’s Health. The resource person selected for the program, Dr. Evelet Sequeira is a Public Health developmental professional with an MD in Preventive & Social Medicine. Her career spans over 15 years in this sector and has worked with UN agencies (UNICEF), government departments, academic institutions and NGOs. She has been in the field of Self Development since the last 6 years and has been counseling people on Self Improvement, relationships, etc. She says that if you want to cure a person of a disease, you need to take out the “dis” in ‘disease’ and you will get “ease”. Through her workshop on 9^th December, 2015 with 20 women of Babrekar Nagar she helped them understand how simple lifestyle changes could bring about a change in their health and well being.

Dr. Evelet started with the food one must eat from morning to night and then proceeded to the topic of mental well being, the increasing risk of breast cancer and addressed several other queries of the women.Dr. Evelet being a joyous & bubbly soul kept the women entertained throughout with her simple tips, suggestions and positive thinking. After this she proceeded to different meditative techniques, breathing exercises, and very interesting healing and loving exercises. Some were individual exercises and some were group exercises .She explained how one must be able to love oneself first and then that love will spread to our family and others. Post these exercises the women felt relaxed, calm, and happy and some were also very emotional. Some even fell asleep during the meditative session giving them the much needed mental rest and break from household tensions and worries. She then performed a small aarti of the woman to make her respect the God within herself. 

Feedback from the women was positive as they had several queries about their health and many felt the need to tell their children and grand children about the things suggested. Most found the sessions very simple and light and felt the resource person really came down to their level and helped them understand basic concepts. There were 6 women who met the doctor personally and shared their problem with her.

The workshop was highly appreciated, with anticipation for more sessions like these in the future. We express our gratitude to the resource person Dr. Evelet Sequeira, who accommodated us despite her busy schedule. I in fact thanked the women for their contribution and coming in good numbers to attend the session on Health and benefited. Ms.Premlata Thakur (Centre for Social Action -C.S.A), Ms. Anucia for giving us the hall to have programme.And Amali who helped me in mobilizing women of Babrekar Nagar.

Premlata Thakur - Social Worker

Centre for Social Action

Legal Aid Workshop at Roshani Gruh Community Centre, Poinsur on 9th Dec, 2015

LEGAL AID WORKSHOP

Day/Date : 9-12-2015 Wednesday

Organizers: Roshani Gruh Community Centre ,Poinsur

Venue:  Our Lady of Ramedy Church hall

Resource Person:  Ms.Bhagyashree Joshi Mahale – Advocate 

A workshop was conducted by the Roshani Gruh Community Organization on the 9^th of December 2015. The topic was legal rights with a specific focus on the Domestic Violence Act (2005). The resource persons for the workshop was Advocate Ms.Bhagyshree Joshi Mahale. 

The session was very interesting for the participants as most of them knew a thing or two about the DV Act;  also she spoke about the Rights of a Woman at a Police Station, filing of Zero FIRs, things to keep in mind when filling an FIR, how to talk in the language of the Police, and other small tips that social workers could use in various cases. She gave information on property rights. Simple strategies and tips were provided so as to reduce mistakes that would otherwise hurt the client and her case. 

Although the workshop was a short one the participants felt empowered with more knowledge and information that they could take back to the community and their homes. Feedback from the participants was positive with a stress on more sessions on other laws as well.

Mishal Dabre

Senior Social worker - CSA