“Hearts over Horizon” – NGO Conference in India

During the weekend of January 26, 2007, thirty-five Indian NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization) from all over India converged in Rajkot, Gujarat to connect their hearts with those from thousands of miles away residing in USA – The Share and Care Foundation. This was an attempt to continue work towards the common goal of service for rural masses of India to close the gap of “Haves and Have not”.

The weekend meeting between Share and Care, its strategic partner - Life and its long-term partners was convened to begin celebration of Share and Care Foundation’s Silver Jubilee and its long-term partnership with the NGOs, discuss their successes and challenges, share experiences and chalk out programs and plans for the future.

Over One Hundred representatives attended this two-day meeting from 35 NGOs, staff and management from Life and 5 key members of Share and Care.  As communicated earlier, on Saturday morning, January 27, 2007 plenary session attended by over 100 representatives, Share and Care Foundation took this opportunity to create awareness about Share and Care future thrust based on the analysis of the environment in rural India. Share and Care stressed the need for concentrating its activities to accelerate development of rural youth, empowerment of the rural women and associated basic healthcare activities. A guest speaker, an expert on NGOs governance presented very interesting views about characteristics of a successful NGO.

Specific activities encompassing the three major objectives as above covered in conjunction with each group of NGOs working in the individual field during the breakout sessions for each of the 3 major areas. Each NGO was requested to present its work to date, plans and challenges. Share and Care session chairs and moderators summarized the observations during each session to arrive at a list of action items towards achieving common goals of all attendees. Attendee’s feedback stressed the value of this type of meeting and need for convening this meeting on an
annual basis.

We believe, this meeting created more friendly, better understanding of each others need, effective exchange of vital information, potential formation of a self-help network of NGOs conducting synergistic activities with aligned goals, platform for operational improvements and focus on needs as well as priorities.  A team is being formed to develop follow-up plans and address the specific action items with an ultimate goal to sharpen our focus, improve performance, stretch our grants further and make the activities sustainable, systemic and replicable.

--- Yogini Shroff 

Nine-year-old Santosh Jadeja, a second grade student at a municipal school in the village of Bhimora, saw a doctor for the first time in his life during the Share and Care organized Medical Shibir in January 2007.

Santosh, a first generation learner, comes from a family of migrant laborers who move their home (a temporary hut) constantly in search of work. The residential school at Bhimora with bare minimum amenities provides Santosh some stability in his life and opportunity for basic learning. Santosh’s family income is less than a dollar a day. He is one of the estimated 400 million children/youth in the rural India deprived of basic healthcare leading to lack of overall development…

Though nine-years-old, Santosh’s physical development is around normal 6-year-olds. When examined, Santosh found to have lice in his hair as well as various kinds of skin infections including eczema in his limbs. He is severely anemic and malnourished, and his teeth have cavities. His eyesight is poor and he needed glasses.

Santosh has only two pairs of clothes so he cannot change clothes everyday, and he has to wash his own clothes. Due to lack of hot water, Santosh cannot take bath and clean himself every day, especially during the winter.

He sleeps with 200 other boys in a very cramped space, also used as a classroom during the day. Santosh is expected to carry out many daily chores leaving him no time to play and relax. Because the school has no equipment, Santosh has never played any games. 

Santosh is generally very happy, contented and playful child. Santosh exemplifies the fate not only of his 850 schoolmates but also of some 400 million children/youth living in rural India. Share and Care expects to mitigate this gap with your active support and involvement!

--- Jayant Shroff & Sally Bair