Development studies in social empowerment
Visthar, a non-formal academy of development studies, is focusing on gender
sensitisation and child welfare, while also educating the rural community on
their rights and the urban community on contributing to society.
They are like-minded individuals who believe that another world is possible. And
they seek to prove this by "extending ourselves and exploring new
dimensions". Visthar, sanskrit for expanse, is a non-formal academy for
development studies and a support organisation for people's movements in India
and abroad.
Development education is the force behind Visthar's multi-pronged programmes.
Educating the rural community on their rights - how they can attain and sustain
these ; simultaneously educating the urban community on how they can contribute
to the development of society. In this endeavour, Visthar has developed a unique
approach to both formal and non-formal academics.
Empowering
With its goal of empowering the community, Visthar has evolved a Rural Youth
Leadership Course. David Selvaraj, Founder and Executive Trustee, believes that
the large number of unemployed rural youth is "a potential creative force,
if not tapped, can lead to social unrest and violence".
Aiming to tap into this creative force, Visthar offers a nine-month course with
specialisation in three specific modules: Alternate Technology, Holistic Health
Practices, "that produce not doctors but barefoot health aids who can serve
the community", and Micro Enterprises that will ensure financial
independence.
Selvaraj firmly believes that this course will produce "a very
professional, skilled, cadre of people. Will I be able to provide them with
jobs? No! but I want to work to my optimal and that is training, educating,
equipping", says Selvaraj. Visthar plans to launch the programme in 2005.
Visthar's inter-disciplinary course on development studies aimed at sensitising
foreign university students, consists of a combination of travel, lectures and
hands-on work experience. During the 110 days of this semester course, students
physically travel through seven states, exploring the question of identity and
analysing the effects of globalisation. On the banks of the Ganges they learn
about Hinduism and Buddhism, and in Karnataka they have applied the Environment
and Ecology module by building a functioning gobar gas plant. Unfortunately this
course does not attract Indian students because,"Indian institutions do not
see this as being relevant",says Selvaraj.Cost, of course, is another
factor.
The proposed Training for Transformation is an inter-modular development studies
course for NO managers at Asian Level. The one year course is aimed at upgrading
perspectives and skills,with the focus on learning from other people's
experiences and examining development theories and good practices.
Foreign accreditation
Because of the bureaucracy involved in getting accreditation in India, Visthar
is looking towards accreditation from foreign Universities for these three
academic courses.
Visthar has also worked extensively in the areas of gender sensitising and
mainstreaming gender, in both urban and rural areas. Through story-telling,
painting,debates, role plays and skits, participants "look at their own
attitudes, assumptions and perceptions and how it affects their lives",
says Mercy Kappen, Co-ordinator of Visthar. Visthar runs several short term
(five days) and a month long course on gender and development.
The secular, non-profit organisation currently runs Child Focused Community
Development programmes in three Panchayats - Mandur, Bidarahalli and Kannur -
and 25 villages, with the goal of empowerment and self reliance. Issues tackled
have ranged from education and health to domestic violence against women and the
plight of commercial sex workers.
On its premises at Dodda Gubbi Post, Visthar runs residential programmes for
children of Devadasis and an integrated educational programme for children of
prisoners.
Education takes the form of site visits to private and government institutions,
street plays on issues of domestic violence and bonded labour and learning
English through theatre. In addition the children are introduced to agriculture
and the craft of re-cycling paper and pottery making.
The children are currently working on the lyrics and music for an audio cassette
in Kannada, and on water conservation.
Visthar has published a range of titles on culture, history and politics, and
also prints posters, cards and calendars with original artwork by noted artist
CF John. The six and a half acres of land sports a Resource and Learning Centre,
ideal for corporate conferences and training programmes, a well equipped
residential building, class rooms, an auditorium, amphitheatre, library and a
unique meditation centre.
Visthar can be contacted at DoddaGubbi Post, Bangalore -49, Tel: 8465294/295,
5926862 email: visthar@vsnl.com
DEBBIE RODGERS
VISTHAR IN ACTION
*The mission of Visthar is empowering the community. It has developed a unique
approach to both formal and non-formal academics. *Visthar has evolved a Rural
Youth Leadership Course to be launched by 2005 and targets the unemployed rural
youth. *It wants to educate the rural community on their rights, the urban
community in contributing to development and in the process adopting a
multi-pronged programme. *Visthar is looking towards getting accreditation from
foreign universities for their three courses: rural youth leadership programme,
interdisciplinary courses for foreign students and inter-modular development
studies for NO managers. *It works in the area of gender sensitising and child
welfare especially of devadasis.
[Deccan Herald, Thursday, August 12, 2004]