The staff and volunteers of Nandini believe that a relationship has to be first built with the people in the villages for only then could it be expected that they trust the knowledge being given to them and accept and imbibe it in their lives. Keeping this in mind, Nandini has a detailed list of activities that it performs in different villages so as to involve the residents of the village and motivate them to take control of their village.
When visiting these villages, the core values that the Nandini team focuses on imparting to the communities are varied, but all tie back to the basic fundamentals of personal and environmental health and hygiene.Here is a look at the activities that volunteers and staff engage in the villages they visit...
- Prabhat Feri – Through an early morning procession, full with chanting and music, the ideals of our message are intertwined spiritually with the people of the village.
- Gram Safai – For two hours every day, the Nandini staff and volunteers spearhead a village wide cleaning campaign of a neglected part of the village filled with waste. A particular emphasis is placed on engaging all segments of the village population, including women and children. Another common activity is cleaning the public restrooms and then painting them to give them a new and clean look.
- Village Rally – At each stop, the youth and children of the village are mobilized and, while chanting many environmental slogans, proceed throughout the village in order to bring awareness of the cause to those members of the community who may still be skeptical.
- Waste bin Recycling – An activity that is a favorite of the international volunteers is where old waste bins from around the village are collected. They are then cleaned and repainted and distributed out to all of the shopkeepers to affix to the front facade of their shop. The connection between the shop owners and the volunteers is so pure that the language barrier is no hindrance.
- Primary School – A focused, interactive presentation is conducted with the primary school students where they are educated about the basics of personal hygiene and sanitation.
- Women’s Outreach – The women of the village, whether through individual outreach, or addressing existing women’s groups, such as SHGs or micro finance groups, are presented the basics of home sanitation and the vital role they play in the overall health and hygiene of a household.
- · Village Youth – While all of these activities take place on a typical Nandini visit, the responsibility of maintaining this momentum is always given to the youth of the village. These young men and women are motivated to dedicate a minimum of one hour of their time, as a group, to continuing the message and activities of the Nandini van, every week.
- Tree Plantation – During the monsoon seasons, the benefits of a green environment are not only explained, but are applied. The people of the village, along with the Nandini staff and volunteers plant trees all throughout their village with love and dedication.
- Engage Unemployed Youth – The Nandini staff go door to door in the village accepting monetary donations from village citizens who see the value of their message. These total funds are then matched by the Nandini project. This total sum then serves as an honorarium for unemployed youth in the village who would like to stay engaged with keeping their village clean and healthy. These young men are compensated with these funds to maintain the village waste bins and tend to the trees that have been planted throughout the village.
- Personal home stays – During these village visits, the volunteers, both international and domestic, are placed with families throughout the village to offer an opportunity for the volunteers to connect with members of the community on a personal level, while imparting practical and applicable knowledge in the areas of home and personal sanitation.
- Multimedia Show – Every night, the side facade of the Nandini Van transforms to a stage and movie screen for the entire village. Through an LCD on the side of the van, a projector, and an audio system, the villagers are treated to a series of presentations, jokes, skits, and videos talking about the issues of environmental health and sanitation.
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