Indian Dreams Foundation

Indo-Japan Youths Cooperation

dkajfgasd — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:20:34 +0000

Children should be moulded from a young age to become better human beings in the long run. This belief was further affirmed when we recently hosted a delegation of Japanese high school and university students from Tokyo and Hiroshima in one of the adopted government schools in Agra. We renovated this primary school in Baluganj, Agra, to significantly improve its overall condition so that the children can have an elevated schooling experience and safety and hygiene are no longer questioned.

We enjoyed this delegation immersing themselves in the culture of India. As they arrived, the girl champions of IDF welcomed all the delegates with flower petals, followed by putting ‘Tika’ on their foreheads. The delegation was led by a university teacher of mathematics who explained the purpose of their visit to India and, in particular, the primary school in Agra. They intended to have these high school and university students witness the education system in India at the grassroots level. With the peculiar socio-economic situation of government schools, this interaction could help these delegates learn how such schools function and how they uplift underprivileged children with education. According to them, such experiences develop the students and make them aware of the nuances of the world around them. This was also an opportunity for the primary school kids to learn about Japanese culture and have an informal interaction with the delegates.

IDF has pioneered children’s education for years and knows how to engage kids well. We organized an interactive drawing session for the delegates and kids, where they could let their imaginations run wild and break down the barriers of language through art. Seeing how quickly they connected and bonded over their shared love of creativity was incredible. Such activities inculcate the feeling of oneness and further embed the habit of sharing, being proactive, and, most importantly, appreciating the differences among each other. This activity had a significant cultural exchange, with the school kids learning about famous Japanese cherry blossoms, sushi, and anime culture. So it is undoubtedly true that art transcends borders and languages.

To commemorate this special event, we created the International Youths Friendship Tree, where each delegate left a painted handprint as a symbol of togetherness and cross-border alliance. Seeing how they all came together to create something beautiful and meaningful was heart-warming. We were beyond grateful to see some delegates showcase their art skills by painting on the library walls. With such pieces of Japanese culture left by them in the library, they have certainly left a mark for the school kids to remember them by.

As the delegation bid farewell to the school kids, staff, and the IDF team, we handed them hand-woven friendship bands as a token of our gratitude. We were honoured to host this visit and show them first-hand how NGOs like ours work alongside the government to bring about social change by advocating for education, equal rights, and opportunities for all. In short, this visit truly celebrated the power of education, cultural exchange, and the impact of working together for a common goal. Moments like these remind us why we do what we do, and we’re excited to continue making a difference in the world, one child at a time.

Shattered dreams as Promising teen, Gudiya dies from illness

dkajfgasd — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:49:20 +0000

The death of one of our most promising teens by the name Gudiya continues to highlight how far along we have come as an organization yet how far off we stand, in terms of fighting poverty, and lack of awareness in India’s marginalized communities.

Born and raised in a family of three Gudiya lived in one of the most disadvantaged corners in Agra. However, coming from such a community did not deter her resolve. Amid challenges, Gudiya aspired to save her mother from the slums and the meagre wages she had to earn as a housemaid, to provide for her. Hence education became her new ticket and the dream which would get her out from the nightmare she lived in.

Gudiya’s father had run away when she was 12 and figuring he was also trying to search for green pastures, Gudiya knew all too well it would take more than her need for a father, to convince him to return.

Nevertheless, the pursuit of education, especially for a girl, coming from a poverty-stricken background, also proved to be a difficult journey.

Sooner, she would be confronted with the cultural stereotypes and social taboos she had grown accustomed to including, girls had no right to education, girls could not access equal health or growth opportunities as compared to boys, and the early marriage which fortunately Gudiya had escaped.

One day as the team from IDF was mapping through the community, Gudiya’s resolve and passion for education outdid her. Her mother was ready to fulfil her daughter’s dreams and aspirations, and that is when she enrolled Gudiya in the IDF education program

Thirsty for education, Gudiya would put all her efforts and hard work to become the best student in her class. Passing the 10th board exams with a score of 75% would only prove how Gudiya yearned to fulfil her dream of becoming a teacher.

However, fate held other plans in store. At the height of celebrations, Gudiya fell ill. Due to lack of information or awareness, the reason for her illness could not be confirmed, although it was suspected that she suffered from tuberculosis and anaemia.

The lockdown due to Covid-19 rendered her mother immobile, and against all efforts, she could not visit the doctor on time.

Gudiya passed away in the prime of her educational life, leaving behind a younger brother a desolate mother and a runaway father.

To think that if her mother knew what was happening, Gudiya’s could still be alive, tells us more on the urgency and level of seriousness we need to embody when creating awareness around daily issues faced by people in marginalised communities.

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Blog Writer:- Lynda Chalkar

A self-proclaimed humorist who gets easily intrigued by creativity, art and nature. I have a passion for social change and I am happiest when writing, communicating and supporting a cause that affects people’s lives positively.

Girls’ education and empowerment

dkajfgasd — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:48:24 +0000

The declaration of results of the class 10th and 12th examinations by the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has bought much joy among the student clan who burned the midnight oil to achieve prestigious scores and secure a bright future for themselves. Amongst, lakhs of students who appeared for the exams only 70.06% of class 12th and 80.07% of class 10th were able to go through the career shaper exams. The declaration of the results has bought joy to the Indian Dreams Foundation as well as our ‘Gemstones’ that is the girls being sponsored under the ‘Honhar Ladki Program(HLP)’, have demonstrated a remarkable performance.

The girls despite facing several odds such as extreme poverty and lack of family support continued their hard work and have become the perfect example of girls who have broken the confinement of the walls buildup for them by their community. According to the girls” The credit of our success goes to Indian Dreams Foundation, whose project ‘Honhar Ladki’ has made us achieve formal education”. Honhar Ladki Program is one of the outbreaking projects of the organisation aiming at education sponsorship and mentoring of the poor girls residing in the slums of Agra.

To achieve gender equality in these backward communities. The program started in 2011 with the sponsorship of only five girls and has made rapid Progress. So far, more than 700 girls have been sponsored. The program targets school dropout and poor girls from the marginalised communities through systematic surveys and after the successful enrollment of the girls adopted a multifaceted approach to ensure active learning and desired outcomes. The continuous support and motivation by the team IDF have made several girls overcome their limitations and display a remarkable performance in the board exams.

Among our gemstones are girls like Heer, who is a 15 years old Muslim girl, daughter of wage labour who has secured 80% marks in the class 10thexaminations, despite facing several cultural taboos, which make it difficult for her to leave her house premises to study.

Our other Gemstone is Monika, who is a 16 years old Balmiki girl, daughter of a rag picker. For her, going to school was a distant dream. IDF identified her as a girl with an immense potential, who has the power to dream. So, her education is being sponsored for the last five years under Honhar Ladki Program. Team IDF’s efforts and Monica’s hard work paid off today as she has managed to pass out class 10th successfully with 74.16%. Our other star performer is Gungun a cheerful girl, who lost her childhood due to the pathetic living conditions, she was subjected to.

Gungun is a 16-year-old daughter of an alcoholic father and belongs to the Muslim community. Considering the adverse economic circumstance of her mother Gungun along with her sister Lucky is being sponsored under HLP for five years. Both the girls have managed to clear the board exams this year with good marks. To witness Gungun and Lucky securing the exams with 67.5% and 66.5% respectively is indeed gratifying for their mother who wants her daughters to lead a prestigious life. One of the significant milestones of our achievement is to witness the success of Sanjana, a 17 years old, SC girl who has carefully escaped child marriage along with her sister. Her father is an alcoholic and a continuous perpetrator.

To make Sanjana and her sister achieve their dreams, team IDF had to put tremendous efforts by providing extensive counselling to Sanjana’s father to make him drop the idea of getting his daughters married and to allow them to continue with their education. Both Sanjana and her sister are highly determined individuals and have a will to achieve success in their lives, so they put in considerable efforts in their studies and managed to clear class 12th with good scores. Sanjana has passed class 12th this year with 54.2% marks and has become an epitome of change in her community. Some of our other gemstones like Priyanka, Komal and Sangeeta of the SC community have faired well with 56.66%, 62.5% and 61.20% respectively.

However, for team IDF it is just the beginning of the journey to achieve 100% literacy among the underprivileged girls residing in the Urban slums, as our organisation strongly believes that education is a passport to a bright future and a more glorious life.

Blog Writer:- Lynda Chalkar

Raksha Bandhan Festival

dkajfgasd — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:46:45 +0000

Community sisters from the IDF project in Agra celebrated the Raksha Bandhan festival by highlighting the support that the NGO has generated for women in slum areas.

The sisters symbolically adopted IDF founder Punit Asthana as a brother, giving him handmade Rakhi they created at the IDF resource centre. Punit described feeling a sense of oneness during the celebration, along with pride in having been able to aid women living in slum areas through his organisation. IDF plays a pivotal role in offering women respect and support which might be unavailable from their families, or within their local neighbourhoods..

The Raksha Bandhan festival, sometimes known as Rakhi, is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of Shravan. This year’s festival date, 3 August. One of the most popular festivals in Northern India, Rakhi is synonymous with sibling love and protection. Sisters tie Rakhi (sacred thread) around their brothers’ wrists to symbolise their enduring bond. Brothers promise to take care of their sisters all their lives, while sisters pray for the wellbeing of their brothers.

While the IDF celebration maintained the traditional essence of the celebration, in adopting the IDF founder as their brother, the sisters who took part also emphasised the importance of the work the organisation is doing to target UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, gender equality, in the region. IDF plays a pivotal role in these women’s lives through a range of projects which not only assist girls and women but focus on helping them develop independence through access to quality education, as well as health and hygiene programmes. By taking care of some of these basic needs, IDF aims to empower women in local communities.

The community sisters celebration of Rakhi was a poignant and emotional celebration of what IDF has achieved so far, but also a reminder of the organisation’s future aim to make an even bigger impact on gender equality in India.