| 3-day Workshop on International Literacy Day (6-8 Sept. 2011) |
| A three-day workshop to celebrate the International Literacy Day was organized at the Barli Institute’s campus 6-8 September 2011. The workshop was honoured by the presence of eminent educationists, literatteurs, poets and social workers. This included renowned poet and scholar Prof. Dr. Saroj Kumar, eminent social worker Mr. Krishan Malhotra, folk-poet Shri Narhari Patel, President of Lioness club (Indore) Mrs Manju Mandloi, educationist Mr Radheshyam Negi, writer Mr Rupesh Kumar Sharma among others. |
| On the first day the inaugural session began at 11:00 am occasion. The guests were welcomed by hand-made artefacts made by the tribal women. The institute’s Director Mrs. Tahera Jadhav, addressing the trainees congratulated them for their remarkable achievement of learning to read and write in such a short span. She said that Barli Institute being a Baha’i inspired NGO is committed towards holistic education of rural and tribal women. She quoted from the Baha’i writings as: “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education alone can cause mankind to reveal its treasures and enable it to benefit therefrom.” She hoped that all the trainees will spread the light of literacy when they go back to their native places in remote tribal and rural areas. |
| A group of trainees (Pooja, Renuka, Ranu and others) performed a beautiful dance on the theme based on devotional song. While another group (Rekha, Kanta and others) sang 2 inspirational songs on the occasion. A Bhilali song was also chanted by Laxmi and group which gave a glimpse of the tribal dialect and their culture. |
| The chief guest Dr. Saroj Kumar expressed his delight on seeing the confidence in the trainees. He said that each one of them is a potential-future sarpanch and would bring waves of change in their respective villages. Special guest Mr. Krishan Malhotra (renowned philanthropist) and Mrs. Janak Palta McGilligan (past director of institute) congratulated the trainees and wished them success in their future endeavours. |
| In the afternoon session, the trainees were shown a learning-oriented film on the theme of inclusive literacy, which was liked by one and all. The program was conducted by Mr Yogesh Jadhav, Chief Operating Officer of the Institute, during which he updated the audience about the latest statistics about literacy status in world, and in India. |
The second day of the workshop began at 10:00 am with interactive workshops, wherein the trainees got to know various dimensions of literacy and its utility in everyday life. The workshops were conducted by using innovative methodologies like: peer-tutoring, participatory learning and group study exercises. |
The concluding session was organized on 8th Spetember with the celebration of the International Literacy Day. The Chief guest for this session was renowned folk-poet and artist Shri. Narhari Patel and guests of honor were Lioness Mrs. Manju Mandloi, (President Lions Club), and Mrs. Jyotsana Khandelwal. Special guests were educationalist Shri Radheshyam Negi and author Shri Rupesh Kumar Sharma. Inaugurating the session, the Director Mrs. Tahera Jadhav said that Literacy Day is a very special day for the Institute because most of the women-trainees were illiterate when they came to the Institute three months ago, but now they could read and write in Hindi. They have learnt cutting and tailoring, organic farming and about maintaining good health and use of solar energy. She congratulated the trainees for their achievements and said that they are now a part of the literate population of the world. Quoting from Bahai Writings she said that: ‘Knowledge is like wings for mankind and ladder for his ascent’. |
| Thereafter the trainees presented cultural songs (Rekha and group), and dances ((Janu and group) and also shared their experiences. Special guest Mr. Rupesh Kumar Sharma said that each woman-trainee is a lamp of knowledge and they should enlighten other lamps and spread knowledge when they go back to their villages. Educationalist Mr. Negi congratulated the Institute for its excellent work. He addressed trainees in their own Nimari language and said that they should be proud of their linguistic heritage. He said that they should benefit from the teachings of Institute and imbibe as much as possible. |
| Lioness Mrs Manju Mandloi said that the Barli Institute is changing a number of lives in remote areas of the country which is a commendable job. Lioness Mrs. Jyotsana Khandelwal said that each trainee is like a torch that can set ablaze each village with knowledge and bring true happiness. |
| Chief guest Shri. Narhari Patel said that true independence can be achieved only through knowledge and literacy. His songs which were sung in local Bhilali and Nimari dialects dramatically enthused the atmosphere. He praised the efforts of the Institute for empowering rural and tribal women since past 26 years. Ms. Elisa Kohnlein, (from Germany) a volunteer serving at the Institute, recited a poem in Hindi which was praised by all. The women-trainees presented beautiful songs and tribal dances on the occasion delighting the audience. Three trainees of the institute Ms. Gyarasi, Ms Syani, and Ms Jamna shared their learnings of the workshop. They were felicitated with mementos by the Lioness Club members. |
| The workshop created a new interest about literacy in the minds of the institute's trainer/staff and the 92 tribal women-trainees who came from 41 villages of districts : Alirajpur, Badwani, Khargone, Dhar, Sehore, Dewas of Madhya Pradesh and Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. It is noteworthy that about 80 % of these trainees were illiterate before they came to the Institute in June 2011, and within a span of three months of their training, they have learnt to read and write. |
