Rural Development Program
RDP : - The Rural Development Project of YWCA Delhi was established in 1965 and since its inception it has been the face of community development outreach program in the semi-urban area of Najafgarh in South West District Delhi. The RDP has a holistic approach towards child, youth and women empowerment. It caters to vocational courses, education, health, nutrition, economic, social cultural and civic issues related to social development. RDP reports are a reflection of the mission & vision of YWCA of Delhi. Its programmes significantly engage the beneficiaries in proactive awareness leading to the empowerment of adolescent girls and children.
Justice Beyond Borders :- RDP works for women’s empowerment through a variety of programmes; the most important being leadership training for women, advocacy work on all women’s issues and community development. RDP empowers women who struggle for justice at all levels, it is a mission that is rooted in the reality of our society, be it religious or political. Our mission demands to change, working & breaking down barriers of class & caste. RDP organizes programmes and participates in seminars organized by Delhi commission for Women and other.
This year proved to be an extremely successful year for RDP. Recognition was gained by active participation of vocational students mainly girl in YMCA’s YUV Utsav Mela, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra’s programme etc., where other NGOs were provided a platform to give wings to their to their dreams and help in laying a strong foundation for the future of this underprivileged strata of the society.
The following programmes are conducted on annual basis under the aegis of our Rural Development Program:-
- Delhi Minorities Commission The Awareness Programme on Minorities issues was organized on 21st March 2016 by YWCA of Delhi, Rural Development Project with the financial support of Delhi Minorities Commission. Approximately 222 beneficiaries attended the Awareness Programme in the auspicious presence of Chief Guest, Shri Kailash Gahlot, MLA, Najafgarh; honorable Mr. Qamar Ahmad, Chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission; Mr. Abraham M. Pattiyani, Member, Delhi Minorities Commission; Mr. Ashok Shalley and Mr. T.K. Raina, Financial Counselors, Financial Literacy Centre; Mrs. Geetha Joseph Chacko, President, YWCA of Delhi and some key opinion makers from the community. They addressed the programme by motivating the beneficiaries of the area to act on the Rights of Minorities.
- RDP Production Outcome :- The products made by the RDP were put for sale in the“Y - HAAT” and it provided a new platform for RDP to exhibit its products in the Head office, making it easily accessible to everyone, throughout the year and not just on Chrysanthemum Show day. The Outlet response and RDP Production unit did remarkable work with team-based approach and this year the following two stalls were installed.
- Stall at SVIS The stall at Sri Venkateshwara International School (SVIS) was a great success with the kind effort and permission of Principal, Ms. Nita Arora.
- Chrysanthemum Show :- In the annual Chrysanthemum Show RDP put up a stall of their reed products, knitted garments, readymade garments, pickle, paushtik laddoos, spices which were really sought after and had more demand than supply which was a cause for great celebration.
Visioning with the Young Civic Education Workshops
- The Civic Education Workshops adopt a realistic approach for creating awareness on realistic issues faced by girls and students in daily social life. Workshops are conducted on topics like Child Rights, Tobacco, Seasonal diseases, Anemia with prominent and proficient speakers from respective fields to empower the listeners on these social issues.
- Butterflies meeting The Butterflies associate NGO organized a workshop on “Digital Story Telling” who trained children in creating digital stories which is a very modern and exciting medium enabling the children to express their emotions on issues very close to their hearts.
- Nutrition Awareness and Recipe Competition Nutrition Awareness and Recipe Competition was conducted by Members from Community Food & Nutrition Dept. of Min. of Women & Child Development, Mayapuri at RDP Centre. Out of 28 recipes, 6 recipes were given prizes. The competition gave a platform for all the community mothers to get a chance to showcase their inherent cooking traits in which they excel. From time to time as per the demand of students, RDP Nutrition Teacher conducted Nutrition Training in FSC as well as village centers which is a part of our income generation program.
- Be a Green Ambassador Initiative with the Rag Pickers communities The Rag Pickers initiative completed two years and LSE (Life Skill Education) sessions were conducted for the children. Under LSE, topics like ‘Bad Touch’, ‘Saying No’, communication, coping with emotion, relationships, decision making, growing up, and ‘Knowing Myself’ were covered. A/ AB Messages, Monthly PTMs were also a regular activity to create awareness on social issues like importance of education, common diseases, domestic violence, child marriage, child abuse, and relationship between parents and child. General health Camps, Civic Education Workshops,
- Dental Camps were also held to create awareness regarding cleanliness/ hygiene. Occasional festivals were celebrated along with Sports Day and Exposure Trip for Rag Picker children was organized. Change in lifestyle of girls are visible (above 14-15 years) with them taking up employment as domestic maids and helpers in factories rather than rag picking. The boys (above 14-15 years) are being employed in Dhabas as helpers instead of following their traditional line of work of being a rag picker.
- Women’s day and One Billion Rising (OBR) Women’s issues are the prime concern of our association. On Women’s Day, Female Foeticide was tackled with the theme of “Betiyaan Khilti Rahe” on 3rd March. The Rally began from FSC, YWCA of Delhi, Najafgarh to Dy. Commissioner’s Office, MCD, Dhansa Stand, Najafgarh. DC – Ms. Garima Gupta and RDP Committee member – Ms. Aruna Jacob and General Secretary, Ms. Shashi Obeid and other dignitaries from Delhi University and NGOs graced the occasion. The objective of the Rally was to sensitize the society about the declining sex ratio of the southwest district of Delhi.
- Celebrations :-RDP along with its Civic Education Workshops encourages children to get engaged in their respective social religious activities and celebrations. All celebrations like Diwali, Christmas; national festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day; and International Days like World Health Day, World Environment Day are celebrated with equal joy, enthusiasm and respect. Other than these celebrations, exposure trip and Summer Camp were also conducted to nurture the children.
- Empowerment of Women :- Six Self Help Groups are independently maintaining their accounts and assisted their 120 members by giving loan for their basic needs like birthday celebrations, to purchase electronic items, during delivery of daughter-in-law, and marriage.
- Success Stories
- All 16 students from last year’s Dress Designing class, are stitching from their home and earning up to Rs.10000/- per month.
- Students of Beauty Culture course have been placed in different Beauty Parlours of Najafgarh & nearby areas.
- SUCCESS STORY OF AZIYA :- Aziya a Rag Picker girl enrolled with RDP in the year 2003 in NFE and Cutting & Tailoring course under FHI Project. At the age of 14 she got married in 2004 and within a year she gave birth to a daughter. Her daughter is now 11 years and studying in 6th Standard. Since multiple marriages are allowed within the Muslim community, her husband married another woman. But Aziya took a stand fight against the practice of multiple marriages. She struggled a lot as a single mother while working as a tailor in Production Warehouse. It was a challenge for her to keep her child and manage all her basic needs of survival, education and care. Owing to the impact of our Educational Women’s Empowerment Programme; Aziya decided to remarry after six years. This time she married a Hindu man. She and her husband are working together in the same place and earning between Rs. 20,000 – 25,000. She has changed her lifestyle and she is no longer recognized as a rag picker but as a women who fought for her dignity and self respect. She is very happy with her present life which she in living with her family and has lot of community support for the same.