Gram Vikas and Goonj Collaboration meeting scheduled to work in the core areas of Goonj as follows:
- Gram Vikas to strengthen field-level support to better integrate the Gram Swabhiman Approach during the initial phase of WSGP mobilisation.
- The CfW concept will be incorporated into the WGP mobilisation process across operational areas.
- Evidence and good practice documents will be developed to enable larger organisational partnerships and future scale-up.
- Community institutions will be supported in driving community development through the CfW approach.
In the very beginning a small presentation was shared in order to understand the context and background of the collaboration. Briefly discussed the above mentioned major four areas of collaboration with Goonj. Specifically it’s to integrate the Cloth for Work concept in GV’s operation areas in the initial mobilisation process of WSGP. Majorly Gram Swabhiman components focuses on the following components:
*** Community-Led Action:** The initiative encourages collective participation in identifying and solving local issues by realising the resources, strength and opportunities around the community.
- Leveraging Local Resources: The approach focuses on using existing, underutilized local skills and materials.
*** Cloth for Work(CFW):** Understanding the concept of CfW at the ground level adopt the Goonj model “Cloth for Work” this approach often involves a barter system where community efforts in development work are exchanged for support, reinforcing that aid is earned, not just given.
Later, Mr.Suresh Kumar from Goonj discussed the brief of Goonj organisation and its style of working along with community approach. As he discussed Goonj aims to build an equitable relationship of strength, sustenance, and dignity between the cities and villages, using under-utilized material as a tool to trigger development with dignity. We envision growing as an idea across regions, economies, and countries using urban surplus material as a tool to address basic but neglected issues of the financially and materially poor, involving them in designing and implementing their own solutions, with their own efforts, knowledge, and dignity, and material as a reward for their participation.
He also discussed building and maintaining a connection of empathy, dignity and valuing between the people of the poor and the rich in the community. Leveraging and empowering the available resources, wisdom, knowledge, skills and efforts of the community people. Some of the major core principles also discussed deepening the understanding of Goonj working ethics and principles.
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Listening to the rural communities with humility, treating people with dignity and respect. We facilitate, nudge and empower our partners and communities environmentally and socially to infuse new life and vitality into their communities.
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How to become responsive to constantly learning, incorporating and addressing the reality of changing communities, contexts and deepening relationships.
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The community driven strategies are built from the context, cultures, knowledge, wisdom, resources, needs, and aspirations of the rural communities that Goonj works with. At the end of the discussion Suresh explained the process of community work as it flows from demand generation to intend kits and distribution of kits followed by post distribution work.
Live Demonstration of Gram Swabhiman Approach:
The team visited Arsiling village to deepen their understanding of Gram Swabhiman in action. Chitaranjan from Goonj led the discussion, highlighting how the approach focuses on recognising and valuing local resources, strengths, skills, and community assets. The aim is for villagers to appreciate their own capabilities, take pride in their resources, and understand their role as custodians. By doing so, they can tap into their inherent potential and take ownership of their development journey. And not bringing that we the rural people are poor, rather community people are economically weak.
Annexure-1