On Sunday, 11th February 2024, the Seva Sahayog Foundation organized the Seva Manthan event at New English School. The event aimed to bring together individuals working towards the social development of society as a whole. This year, Seva Sahayog decided to focus on four important aspects: corporate social responsibility, village development (Gramoday), women empowerment, and education. Individuals working in these fields were invited to discuss the current status, updates, and future plans for their respective fields in terms of benefiting program beneficiaries. Seva Manthan, meaning “Churning Thoughts for service towards society,” was an initiative to foster connections among individuals and companies and to brainstorm ideas for societal betterment.
In this event, stalls of 11 projects were placed at the entrance to provide information about ongoing projects by Seva Sahayog. Attendees visited the stalls, interacted with project teams, asked questions, and learned about these projects, their scope of work, and future plans.
The event commenced with a prayer. For beneficiaries from Samutkarsh and Kishori Vikas, various outdoor games were arranged, including running races, hurdles, langdi, tug of war, and a 50-meter race, which saw participation from over 1000 girls and boys. A total of 150 participants received medals in various competitions, adding enthusiasm and energy to the event.
Additionally, a science exhibition was conducted by students, showcasing a wide variety of science projects ranging from holographic projectors to volcano and human skeleton models. These projects represented concepts such as syringe mechanics, rainwater harvesting, perimeter and area, and the human body’s functions. Some students even prepared number games and puzzles for the guests, displaying creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
All volunteers and guests gathered for Vande Mataram to begin with an energetic start. The CSR representatives were warmly welcomed by our volunteers and presented with jute bags as welcome gifts. These jute bags were produced by women engaged in Seva Sahayog’s women empowerment programs.
The CSR Manthan: A Conclave of Change-makers commenced, focusing on reflection. Subsequently, seminars on CSR, village development, women empowerment, and education commenced in their respective locations.
The CSR Manthan aimed to address educational challenges at the grassroots level, focusing on holistic child development and job creation strategies for slum dwellers. The conclusion of this manthan was to establish Self-reliant vastis through the creation of a guardianship unit with parents, past students, current students, and volunteers. Life skills and mentoring should also be provided. These are essential to the holistic development of the youth, overcoming their challenges. After all, it is the empowerment of the whole community that is instrumental in the creation of a safe and peaceful society. A total of 80 individuals – 60 CSR representatives from 35 companies, and 20 individuals from newspapers personals, CAs, and NGOs attended this meeting.
In Gramoday Manthan, discussions revolved around village and agricultural development, as well as enhancing opportunities for women and youth residing in rural areas. Strategies for sustainable employment and reducing migration were deliberated upon. 50 individuals from CSRs and individuals working for village development participated in the Manthan. Various challenges faced in villages, the work of the Seva Sahayog Gramoday program, and coming together to solve these problems were discussed, and the conference concluded with a question-answer session.
The Education Manthan aimed to promote goal-setting among students alongside overall development. Principals welcomed innovative educational systems, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between schools, teachers, and parents. The Manthan outlined demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing the educational needs of underprivileged children. Despite challenges such as limited attention span and literacy skills, efforts such as stage events, digital learning, and career guidance have shown promising results in enhancing students’ academic performance and overall well-being. Continuous evaluation and adaptation of strategies will be crucial in ensuring sustained progress and fulfilling the educational aspirations of these children. 58 school principals and teachers attended this Manthan.
The Women Empowerment Manthan focused on understanding women’s perspectives on empowerment and exploring avenues for entrepreneurship among project beneficiaries. Discussions highlighted increased employability and confidence among women, leading to family members respecting their opinions and decisions. Additionally, covered tech usage, Seva Sahayog’s impact, financial independence, role models, and confidence building. beneficiaries shared expectations from Seva Sahayog, focusing on financial literacy and independence. 70 invitees and 20 volunteers attended this Manthan.
The School Kit project 2024 was launched with the assembly of 1000 school kits by our dedicated volunteers. This year, our goal is to distribute school kits to 1,00,000 student beneficiaries across Maharashtra.
The event was attended by a total of 1000 student beneficiaries, 80 women beneficiaries, 258 dignitaries from various sectors, CSR representatives, principals, villagers, 300 volunteers, and 76 employees. Notable personalities including Girish Kulkarni, actress Vibhavari Deshpande, and government officials graced the occasion with their presence.
Overall, Seva Manthan served as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and empowerment, laying the groundwork for positive change in society.
