In the Indian city of Ahmedabad, many people are illiterate. Unable to read newspapers, the vaguest rumors go unchecked and can cause strife. Ahmedabad city has a history of communal violence, marked by the violent riots of 2002.
To address the compound need of education and of an alternative approach to violence, the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has developed Life Education Peace Centers. So far there are 9 such centers in Ahmedabad (population 6 million). 35 women attend each center daily for 1 hour a day. They receive classes on reading and writing that are very practical - for example, how to read bus numbers (so they can get to work) and how to count money (so they are not cheated when given their days wages). They also play games all aimed at facilitating cultural understanding and peace. The women are taught through cultural songs, stories giving messages of peace and unity, group discussions and games. Examples include food exchanges (where each woman brings a traditional dish) or singing of different religious songs. There have been 5 or 6 minor disturbances since the 2002 riots, but never in the areas with a peace center. Whenever there is the smallest disturbance, these women come out and try and stop it, explaining that there is no point in fighting. The women are messengers of communal harmony and unity in their families and in their communities, imparting training on communal harmony, religious tolerance, concepts of equality, generosity, peace, and development.
This project funds a new center in the area of Gomtipur in Ahmedabad. The funds cover the first year of expenses for the center. Following the first year, women are asked to contribute to the upkeep of their center, and this approach has proved successful for the other centers in Ahmedabad. In the first year, as well as funding the rent, utilities and teachers salary for the center, this project funds activities designed to draw women to the center. Specifically the funds for this project will be used for teaching materials and educational games as well as the travel expenses for an exposure visit for the women to teach cross-cultural understanding.
The life education classes are conducted by Vidhya Gauris every day for 1 hour at all the centers. Various topics include:
1. Importance of Gandhian values like simplicity, truth, non-violence, unity etc.
2. Customs of different religions.
3. Religious beliefs relating to nature.
4. Stories on social values, religious values, historical incidents, fantasy, national or international personalities, real successes, etc.
5. Benefits of savings, control over unnecessary expenses, information on various banking transactions.
The women will also do group activities during the classes, teaching their own expertise to one another, which they will then use to make marketable items in a group setting. They will then sell these items and distribute the profits amongst themselves. SEWA will help with the marketing of these products. In this way, the women’s income will become stabilized and they can earn while learning.
The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), has been working with the poor, vulnerable and self-employed women of the informal economy since 1972, with the goal of achieving self-employment and self-reliance for its members. SEWA has grown out of Textile Labour Association, which grew under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Therefore, SEWA has adopted the values and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi of simplicity, truthfulness and non-violence. Because it is the only trade union of its kind, working with women workers in the informal economy, SEWA has adopted an integrated approach. The members are not only organized, but are also able to understand the importance of savings, insurance, health care, child care, housing, etc. Today, SEWA works with 86 different trades in 4 categories. The total membership of SEWA is 1,256,944 . In Ahmedabad city there are more than 231,343 women members from different trades.
Ahmedabad city has a history of communal violence. After the 2002 riots, SEWA developed life education in the form of informal schooling as a grassroots movement for spreading peace, communal harmony, unity, and secularism among area residents in the most sensitive areas of Ahmedabad city. The project aimed at rebuilding peace, trust and communal harmony among human beings under the leadership of the women, with the goal of self-reliance. The classes help the women understand, respect and follow the concept of equality, morality and values of different communities. Moreover, it provides in-depth understanding of all religions. After taking lessons in the life education class, these women spread the message of communal harmony and unity in their families and communities. There have been real incidents where these women have stopped the possibilities of the riots in their areas.
The teachers who run the life education classes are called “Vidhya Gauri”. Vidhya Gauriben are selected from among the SEWA members (local community leaders). The Vidhya Gauris conduct meetings throughout the community to raise awareness of the life education classes. They conduct 4 to 5 meetings daily. They gather the women in the community, tell them the importance of unity and peace, and ask them to come to the life education classes at the Shantipath centers. Through the area meetings, not only the women in the community, but also more and more men understand the importance of the unity and communal harmony.
The life education classes are conducted every day for 1 hour at all the centers. The women members, who come and attend the life education classes at the Shantipath centers, are called “Ekta” women (Ekta means unity). Daily 25-30 Ekta women attend the life education classes. SEWA does not differentiate these women by their castes, all are welcome. Any female member over 15 can attend the life education classes.
Through the life education classes, women will mainly be taught lessons of respecting each other, communal harmony, religions, concepts of equality, generosity, peace, development etc. through games, songs and charts. The centers celebrate festivals of different religions, and invite religious leaders to give lessons on their respective religions. This enables every woman to understand the message of every religion deeply. They are explained the importance of values like unity, truth, simplicity, non-violence etc. for peaceful co-existence. They explain the importance of trade chains that how workers from different communities are dependent on each other for the work. Therefore, they understand the importance of the people of other communities and that all share a common livelihood.
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