Youth Resource Cell: GSRI

This presentation showcases one of the youth groups
associated with the Youth Resource Cells project
(2008 ongoing)
The YRC project is a Thoughtshop Foundation Initiative,
in collaboration with Pravah Streaming Initiative
and with support from SRTT Fund for supporting
youth focused action
Youth Resource Cell GSRI
We are a rural youth group situated in Namkhana, Sunderban, 4 hours from Kolkata. To come to our
village you need to travel by train, van, boat and bus. The picture shows the boat journey to Namkhana.
There are approximately 300 families in the area, mostly Hindus. People earn their livelihood from
agriculture and are mostly from a lower middle class background. The picture shows villagers harvesting.
Our group was set up in 2000. It is involved in providing vocational training on computers, promoting
science and reducing superstition. The picture shows GSRI members breaking myths around snakes.
In 2007 we worked with Thoughtshop Foundation on a gender campaign and learned about the Youth
Resource Cell Project. Here, Jagannath is conducting a gender workshop at a school in Namkhana.
Our group felt it would be useful and exciting for us to be part of the project. Jagannath and Koyel
represented us at the Fellowship Programme. The picture shows a Fellowship session in progress.
Through 2009, we met every Saturday. We identified challenges confronting our community which we
want to address. Here, Koyel is conducting an Adolescent Health session with the girls in the group.
Girls in the area have traditionally been home bound and not had the freedom to travel. Over the past
year girls have slowly broken this barrier and have attended residential camps and travelled long
distances alone.
The training process has helped us; younger group members take more decisions and decide how we
want to implement our projects and address the problems of our community. Here, our group is
conducting a film screening and awareness programme on World AIDS Day (2008).
After the Aila cyclone in May 2009, we responded by provided essential foods to the affected families
staying in school buildings. Here, group members are giving milk to affected children
We also did a quick monitoring to identify areas where relief had not reached. We shared the information
with the local BDO.
We ensured that relief materials like bleaching powder reached the affected village.
Our group members learn techniques to raise awareness about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene issues at
the Environment Camp at Sagar islands, Sunderbans.
Our group members
Member
age
Member
age
Jagannath Samanta
22
Suman Jana
19
Agamani Jana
19
Pragati Maity
18
Koyel Mondol
16
Panchu Gopal Bera
18
Abani Jana
22
Chandan Jana
18
Moumita Das
18
Prasenjit Bera
18
Supriya Barman
15
Prasenjit Halder
18
Susmita Das
20
Balaram Samanta
17
Manasi Mondol
16
Arkaprava Mondal
18
Sampa Biswal
20
Bijoy Das
18
Susmita Mondol
18
Adyanath Biswas
18
Tarun Maity
19
Pranay Dolui
17
Srijib Bhanja
18
To know more about Youth Resource Cells
or the other youth groups involved in the project,
please visit thoughtshopfoundation.org/YRC.html
© 2009 Thoughtshop Foundation