Bap GVK/VK

Workshop & Trainings

 Camcorder based training was organized by Gyan Vigyan Kendra, Bap on 20th May 2006. The training had 16 participants. It was conducted by persons having long expertise of working in the field of media. The purpose of the basic training was to learn, apply & share basic principles and practices especially in relation to camera and videography; enhance scientific & communicative awareness and sensitivity within the context of modern technology ;capacity building to empower adolescent girls by understanding and acquiring skills to use camera as medium of learning and expression ;and enhance creativity, exploration, chance and space to fairly express themselves.

 Training of adolescents & community members on the issues of water & drugs was a major event in Bap Block. The training programme apprised the participants about the various perspective of water [importance of clean water & water born diseases]. Furthermore, the impact of drugs, ranging from diseases to economic & social aspect, impact of drugs on lives in its various angles were also discussed. Amongst the 223 participants, there were 29 girls, 30 boys and 164 men.

 Another important workshop organized on 17-18th August was about the indigenous system of medicine. Emphasis was laid on how a common man takes local treatment. Whole session was designed on experimental basis. An interesting thing noticed about this workshop was large participation, 35 girls, 45 boys & 55 other community members.

 As in case of womenfolk of rural communities the effort in regard to the health activities has been on organizing one day health training to enhance the understanding about menstrual cycle, venereal diseases, methods of family planning and child vaccination. It was noteworthy that female nursing staff along with community women’s took part in the discussion.

 Like in Kishanganj block, the major activity of GVK/VK in Bap block was the participation of adolescents in National Children’s Science Congress 2006. After interaction with Department of Science & Technology officials, large number of adolescents & school students, GVK incharge took the initiative for preparation of projects. Projects were made on different issues like:

• Past & present diversity of crops in villages.
• Natural calamities and its impact
• Biodiversity of waste material

 After initial screening, 9 projects were finalized and they were presented at Jodhpur State Level Children’s Congress on 24th November. The project on “Diversity of crops in past and present “prepared by adolescent scientist Shri Mukesh Suthar was selected for state level presentation at Jaipur. It was noticed that 45 adolescents, 21 of them girls participated in the science congress. State Level Science Congress gave a letter of appreciation to GVK.

Gyan Vigyan Chetna Yatras

A very interesting thing was noted in Bap that GVK is actively taking part in dissemination of message of science by initiating Gyan Vigyan Chetna Yatras. These yatras culminated in the form of village level science fairs. The purpose behind this yatra was indeed to create an space, both physical and intellectual where adolescents and community members can be sensitized to the wonders of science and mysteries of our environment.

As a part of science fairs, models and charts of various system of the body and health were displayed. Discussion with adolescents and community members were the highlighting features. Moreover, models of electric generator, water turbine, diesel engine, steam engine and microscopes were also kept and their principles were explained. In Sanguri and Akhadna village, labourers who were working in famine affected areas also participated and decided to get rid of narcotics. A brief description of Gyan Vigyan Chetna rallies organized in different villages is given below:

Table: Report of activities held in Bap Block related to GVK/VK

Reaching out to new areas / persons

Communication plays a key role in creating awareness and spreading the message to newer areas and persons. Various modern as well as traditional communication tools ranging from the use of DTH, puppetry show, theatre, television & films are widely utilizing by GVK / VK in delivering the message to adolescent persons and community members.

As per the requirements, a communication team consisting of adolescent girls and boys has been formed which is trying to put different kinds of communication strategy. By installing DTH in GVK, adolescents are new being able to watch more than 100 channels, especially discovery, national geographic, animal planet & many more. It could be helpful in building their scientific awareness about the nature, environment health etc. Organizing puppetry show and theatre are really noteworthy in reference to overcome the problem of unscientific beliefs, superstitions, issues of water, health & sanitation etc.

Table : Brief description of participants

Exposure visits

By organizing exposure visits, it was tried to inculcate a sense of curiosity and inquisitiveness to know about local flora & fauna. As a part of exposure visit organized on 18th May, 2006 girls collected a lot of information regarding local floras and prepared the list of medicinal plants. Medicinal importance of plants in reference to Kair, Ber, Sangri, Neem, Aak and Tulsi were discussed. Girls also showed their interest to know about their local fauna. In this exposure trip, 13 adolescent girls & two teachers participated.

Adolescents also visited central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur where they learned various methods of enhancing availability of organic manure.

Click on the following link to learn more about GVK/VK