Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh: Health workshop concludes at Kitabghar, Baapudham
Zinnia Balli
Chandigarh, March 23, 2024: Vrinda Sheel started her journey with the girls at Kitabghar, Baapudham in the summer of 2023 when she conducted a writing workshop with the students. This March Vrinda concluded a health workshop with the girls and has established a ‘Comfort Cabinet’ at Kitabghar.
The summer health workshop for the girls of Kitabghar at Baapudham concluded on March 23 with a prize distribution ceremony, and the inauguration of a ‘Comfort Cabinet’. 37 Students participated in the workshop. All students received a lunchbox as a participation prize.
The workshop was led by Vrinda Sheel, a grade 10 student from Indiana, USA. Prizes were handed over by Vrinda and Pramod Sharma, founder and coordinator of YuvSatta, a local NGO.The health workshop was for girls in grades 6-10 at Kitabghar, a Learning Center run by Yuvsatta, for girls at Baapudham Colony, Sector 26, Chandigarh.
These girls come from underprivileged families and do not have access to proper and consistent education due to financial hardship. Vrinda’s goal was to provide the girls with an opportunity to share the health issues that they face at home and in their community.
The entire workshop was conducted with distance learning tools like Zoom Meetings and WhatsApp for exchanging documents and graded papers. The on-ground support was provided by Ms. Sukhbir and Mr. Pramod Sharma of Kitabghar.
The Comfort Cabinet will provide some essential items that the students need and don’t have access to. At the inauguration ceremony, the students were given shampoo, soap, sanitary napkins, toothbrushes, and nail cutters. Vrinda’s family and friends donated Rs 15,000 for the awards and comfort cabinet items for all participants in the workshop.
Pramod Sharma added “the comfort cabinet is a great resource for our students, who lack some basic necessities at home. We are very pleased that Vrinda tried to understand what our students need and is leading an effort to help them. This will have a great impact on their physical and social wellbeing”.
As part of the workshop, 37 students answered three short questions on the most important health issues facing them; provided a list of health and personal hygiene items that would help them daily; and some things they can do to promote better health and personal hygiene in their neighborhood. It was interesting to see the responses.
Many students listed tobacco as a cause of poor health. They also mentioned the need for proper immunization. Students mentioned basic things like brushing their teeth and washing hands frequently and keeping nails clean. Reena Mentioned that people should not spit on the roads, people should use toilets and restrooms to relieve themselves.
Anuradha mentioned how the most important thing is to find water and soap to take a bath every day. She also mentioned the importance of washing hands after using the bathroom. Manu mentioned how people should not wash clothes or bathe in a way that pollutes drinking water, and also the importance of not leaving open garbage on the streets.
Vrinda plans to continue working with the students. She is very interested in helping the girls in their education and careers. And for that the first step is basic health education and awareness. Vrinda said, “Their answers were inspiring and showed the value that healthcare brings to lives. My wish is to help instill these values into these students and their communities by helping them be aware, and also by providing for their basic needs from time to time through the Comfort Cabinet”. Vrinda said “I am so fortunate to be able to visit my students in Bapudhaam. In the summer I did the award ceremony by Zoom, but it is so satisfying and touching to be with the students today and finally get to meet them!”
Vrinda plans on conducting another workshop this summer. As per Vrinda, “It was amazing to see the drive and resilience in these girls. It was a very satisfying and deeply moving experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a small difference in the lives of these girls. I really hope I can continue to learn from my new friends and also help them as they work hard to make their dreams come true!”
Vrinda is a 10th grade student She lives in Newburgh, Indiana, USA. Vrinda enjoys reading, tennis, swimming, and biking! She participates and has leadership positions in her school's student council, local library teen board, and executive committee of the Teen Advisory Council in Evansville.
She also conducts a reading workshop at a local elementary school in the USA where she helps children in 2nd and 3rd grades refine their reading abilities. She has also established a ‘Comfort Cabinet’ at the local school where she provides 22 children with basic hygiene items.