Barli Development Institute for Rural Women Holds 97th Graduation Ceremony

On 9th November 2009 the 97th Graduation Ceremony of Barli Development Institute for Rural Women at its Campus in Indore.
Dr. Mrs, Archana Ranka, Head, School of Law, DAVV Indore, the Chief Guest, presented Certificates to 75 rural & tribal young women who completed six-month training courses. 30 trainees were also given solar parabolic cookers donated by Terra Foundation from Spain.
These young women had come from 28 villages of Dhar, Alirajpur, Khargone, Badwani, Harda districts of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. She encouraged them to know more about their their rights and stand for justice and continue their studies after going from here so that they will become successful mothers
Dr Mrs Chhaya Matange, eminent Musician and Ayog Mitra of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights commission while presiding over the ceremony commended the enabling learning environment of the Barli Campus and the dedicated efforts of the Institute to develop these women as local human resources . UNICEF (M. P) Consultants Nagesh Patidar from Shivpuri and Mr Kripa Shankar from Guna, the special guests called these graduates as role models and leaders for their communities and they also stated that they are planning to send their volunteers for training communities in Shivpuri and Guna.
Manager of the Institute Mr. Jimmy McGilligan said “ in every village people have mobile phones, once you own a mobile phone, you start spending money but the moment you own a solar cooker it starts saving your money, your time, your health and the health of your environment, therefore we hope those of you who are taking solar cookers home will be helping their communities saving all this.”
Dr Janak Palta McGilligan, the Director of the Institute, welcomed the guest and gave an introduction of the Institute that it was established by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India in 1985. It is a Baha’i inspired NGO committed to promote education, gender equality, the harmony of science and religion, Unity , harmony ,Peace and protect the environment .Barli Institute is striving to reach the unreached and the most neglected rural and tribal women and empower them by training as social change agents of their communities .She informed by now more than 5000 trainees have returned to their communities and helping about 500 communities. Institute trains them using a holistic approach integrating literacy ,health , personal and community Development Income generating skills and most of them come as illiterates and after 6 months they sit a 1.5 hour written examination for Institute of National Open Schooling.
Madhumita from Orissa, Beenu and Neetu from Bihar, Chhanna from Khagone, Banni Dawar from Alirajpur were among many of those who very confidently came up to the microphone and shared their experiences of positive changes they recognized themselves before and after the training, including the level of knowledge, skills, social behavior etc. They also sang self composed folk songs on various themes of development and messages for their communities.
International Interns from Canada Ms Samar, Ms Laura, Intern from India Ms Mitushi and volunteers Kahlil from USA, Basile From Switzerland and Louisa from UK also shared their experiences, members of the Board of Directors Pro Shirin Mahalati and Dr. Geeta Handa also gave their inspiring messages to the trainees to continue spreading their knowledge among their families and communities by practicing themselves what they had learnt at the Institute.


During the ceremony 30 Alsol 1.4 solar cookers were handed over to 30 graduates of the institute, these solar cooker are donated by the Terra Foundation in Barcelona Spain for the benefit of Barli's graduating young rural and tribal women. The trainees pay only 1000 rupees for the cookers and undergo 4 days compulsory training on maintaining and using the solar cookers, also how to use it to generate income by cooking and selling packed snacks etc.
Ms Anjum Sood the Deputy Director gave the vote of thanks and Dhedi Bagdhare conducted the programme.
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Barli Graduates get Solar Cookers from Spain

During the 97th graduation ceremony on 9th November 2009 at Barli Development Institute for Rural Women 30 Alsol 1.4 parabolic solar cookers were handed over to 30 outgoing graduates. These solar cookers are taken to their homes by the graduates by choice after paying 1000 rupees and taking 4 days training in maintaining and using the solar cooker. These Alsol I.4 solar cookers have been gifted to the Barli Institute by the Terra Foundation based in Barcelona Spain for the benefit of Barli's outgoing village and rural young women graduates.
Unfortunately the 4 day cooking training was a real washout owing to the effects of cyclonic storm 'Phyan' which narrowly missed the city of Mumbai on 11th November, resulting in widespread heavy rainfall over the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh for more than one week.
The training started inside by showing them Imma Seifert's video on how to maintain, care for, cook, bake, fry and do all the many other thing the cooker can be used for, this was a really good beginning, the young women could see the idifferent items being cooked, they would also see the heat retaining baskets n use, as it was raining outside time could be taken to answer their many questions. The Spanish version of this video film can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/v/buSULoF9kdQ&hl=es

For the 2 years a team from the Institute goes out to the villages and assembles the the solar cookers. earlier the graduates were trained to assemble the cookers at the Institute as part of the training, this proved difficult as it takes 2 days to train her and when she goes to the village she has to only assemble one solar cooker, then in the village the untrained male members of the family interfere and mistakes are often made.
As the weather was not suitable to give training in cooking and several trainees taking solar cooker were from distant states of Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, is is difficult to send the barli team so far. Training was given in assembling the cookers to these trainees. the others would also learn how to maintain the cooker and use it safely.

It was still raining when the graduates and Institute team to assemble reluctantly left the campus not knowing what the situation would be like in the villages. The team comprised of Sakeram Dawer, who has 10 years experience of working with parabolic solar cookers including manufacturing Scheffler reflectors at Barli, and two volunteers Basile Roux from Basel Switzerland and Kahlil Guilbaud from Miami USA, both have been volunteering at the institute for several months and experienced in working with the solar cookers.
Below are some pictures of of the Barli Graduates and family members with their solar cookers at the respective homes in the villages.

Below are some pictures with the solar cookers in the villages, graduates and their family members with assembly team of Barli volunteers and staff.
On returning from the villages Volunteer Basile Roux Wrote:
"It was a fascinating experience of rural India.
We went for three days in the countryside to help install solar cookers in approximately ten different villages.
We slept on site in the houses of the villagers, and left in the morning at around 7 a.m. for the next village.
We were riding a motorcycle and the landscape was gorgeous.
It was very different from urban India: no pollution, hardly any mosquito, and the villagers proved even more curious about foreigners than people from the cities.
It was really a great experience, not very comfortable, but hugely interesting."
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Graduation Ceremony of Trainees of Extension Centers

Graduation Ceremony of 51 Trainees of Extension Centers of Barli Development Institute for Rural Women held in Village Govindpur near Kanker in Chatisgarh
On 19 September Director and Manager of Barli Development Institute traveled to Kanker in Chatisgarh for the graduation ceremony of 51 trainees of the 3 Extension Centres held in Panchyat Bhavan, village Govindpur near Kanker in the State of Chatisgarh.

Graduation Ceremony at Govindpur

Arriving at Govindpur Extension Centre on the morning of 19th September 2009 they were warmly welcomed by the trainees and the staff of the Extension centers and taken inside the training centre and shown around and were heartening to see the training centre and the spirit and enthusiasm of all the trainees and the staff who were busy preparing for the graduation ceremony of three batches of more than 50 trainees who had just completed their training programme conducted in 3 different villages in Kanker district. It was also observed that they used village common centre (venue ) and had most of the furniture and tents from village level local neighbouring institutions rather than renting for the function. This increases the level of community participation and sense of ownership.
Mr. Avinash Champawat IAS, Collector of their district Kanker was the chief Guest of the graduation ceremony (His wife Mrs. Neha Champawat is IPS officer posted as Superintendent Police in Dhamtari, the neighboring district of Kanker.)
Just as he arrived he got very interested to know more about the parabolic solar cooker that was displayed at the venue and spent quite sometime with Jimmy McGilligan, the manager of the Institute who told the collector that Barli Institute, among all main components of its programmes, is also committed to promotion of solar energy in communities of its trainees. He was then shown around the training centre by the trainers and he interacted with the trainees.
Soon the graduation ceremony started and many of the graduates shared very interesting stories of changes that the training has brought in them .The collector presented the certificates to all the graduates and in his address he encouraged the trainees to be fearless and that he was extremely happy to be there to see the progress that they have all made as a result of grassroots based community development programme through these women who are also sharing their learning with their communities.
He also commended the role of Barli NGO as the Government cannot do all the development. He also assured all the women of all his help and he will be happy to collaborate with Barli Institute in any of its activities in future.
Ms Lata Yadav the training in welcomed all the guests and gave an introduction of the extension centers and explained the word Barli with its literal meaning of the Bhilali word as Central Pillar that holds the house and the Institute considers women as the Barli of a family and the society.
The director of the Institute congratulated all the graduates for successful completion of their course and wished each one of them to return to their villages to become Barlis share all the knowledge, skills and experience in a way that they may establish love, unity and peace along with prosperity and specially educate the children and make sure to have violence free society as a result there will be no conflict, no naxalism. She also encouraged them to go to the authorities and utilize all the government schemes.
The manager of the Institute also expressed his happiness over the progress made by these centers and he wished to live to see them growing from strength to strength. Mrs. Manna Sharma shared her experience of how she went to Indore from Tripura and undertook training and now moved to serve the women in this area.
Some of the outgoing trainees like Ramtu Mandawi, Padmani Gajbala shared their experiences of learning about health, importance of being good human being, children’s education, and HIV AIDS and they were also happy that they have learnt cutting and Tailoring. Another local trainer Ms Maheshwari also expressed her sense of achievement of becoming a trainer after taking training at one of the extension centers earlier.
Vote of thanks was given by another trainee turned trainer Ishwari Devi.


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Parents Visit August 2009

On 28 to 30 August 2009 Parents of the Young Rural Women taking Training at Barli Development Institute for Rural Women visit their Daughters.

A parents meeting was organized at Barli Development Institute for Rural Women from 28- 30h August 2009. This has now been a practice for about 18 years in that approximately half way through the 6 month training programme, the parents and guardians of the trainees/students are invited to the Institute for 3 day meeting to witness the work of the Institute.
107 members of families of the trainees came from 30 different villages of Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Bihar. they were all warmly welcomed by all the staff. On 29th the Director Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan introduced all the members of staff to the parents and their respective roles in training the young women. Many of the parents and family members and the trainees also introduce themselves and spoke about the training the young women receive at the Institute.


They were extremely overwhelmed to see their daughters involved in gardening and vegetable growing, cleaning, making the food with the solar cookers, reading and writing and learning many other skills like cutting and tailoring.
Maliki Kharat’s father Mr. Badadu kharat said that, “I am so happy to see my daughter able to read and write and now also speaks Hindi.”
Bunny Dawar mother Mrs. Gurli Dawar said, “we could never imagine that our daughter can learn to read and write and she will be an inspiration for many more girls who would like to come and get training from this institute.”
Babita’s father was impressed to see his daughter chanting a prayer in Hindi so nicely, just after 3 months when she came she was illiterate.
Nanti’s brother pointed out that he appreciates the love, unity and harmony among all the trainees.
Pooja’s father Sham said, “When my daughter was at home she was illiterate now she can read and write and at the Institute she has also learnt home remedies for the various diseases.”
Madhi’s father Ramesh said, “My daughter learnt the use of tailoring machine and many good things, I am happy to see the change and improvement.”
Sangita’s father Silad from Alirajpur said, “The atmosphere here is very nice my daughter has learnt to read a book in the class in three months. She was fortunate to come here. Geeta’s mother Meera said “my daughter came here just to learn cutting and tailoring but it’s amazing to see her learning so many things and above all her personal behavior has improved.
Brother of Artti Taroly Mr. Antar Singh from Badwani said that in villages people don’t think about their daughters but seeing this institute I can say really women are being empowered.
Neetu’s father from Bihar said, “I came here not just to see my daughter but also to visit the Institute. The environment in the Institute is very nice. Happy to see that the girls are given such good education, they can make a better future.” Urmila’s brother Chandra Sahu shared “After coming here I am really happy that she is learning and doing her best its all because of the love and care she gets from the staffs here.”
Indra said, “A women should be educated and literate because mother is the first teacher for her child. If she is literate she can easily take care of her family she can also take decision about how many babies she needs to have.”
Neetu said, “In Institute we learn unity, service, consultation, co-operation, health and development and we can by this be helpful to our families and the community.”

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Barli Development Institute for Rural Women Installs Solar Cookers in Village Harsola and Jamli near Mhow

On May 24 2009 Barli Development Institute Rural Women installed SK 14 parabolic Solar Cookers in Harsola and Jamli villages of Indore district by handing over to 5 needy, desirous rural and tribal women members of Self Help Groups supported by State Bank of India.

Dr ( Mrs.) Janak Palta McGilligan, Director, Barli Development Institute for Rural Women, Indore introduced the overall activities of the Institute and its objective of promoting Sustainable Community Development through training of rural and tribal women as social change agents for their communities. She said taking solar energy to villages through women is just one of its priority as Institute believes that conserving and protecting the environment is a spiritual responsibility of human beings. These cookers have been given under their project sponsored by school children through an NGO PLAGE in Austria . The Institute has a policy that it does not give technology without training the user and it insists on nominal contributions by them so that they use it and value it.Women from Harsola and Jamli were, selected and sponsored by the State Bank of India.

They were sent to Barli Institute for 5 days training on how to use and maintain the solar cooker, also how to use it as an income generating tool, by cooking and packing snacks for sale during March 2009. Each solar cooker costs Rs 7000/ .PLAGE has subsidized heavily, by donating Rs 5000, State Bank of India has given these women a loan of Rs 1500 at only 4 % of rate of interest while the beneficiaries have paid Rs 500 each. The Institute has already more than 350 such cookers in use among the rural and tribal communities.

Addressing the women Dr. McGilligan said that there is scarcity of water in our part of the world, but solar energy is unlimited and we can get it free of cost. We should all use solar energy. The changes reported about these solar cookers in the lives of women and their families who are using, is remarkable. They are running Solar tea stalls, cooking midday meal on these cookers for their livelihood They are saving money and time by not having to get fuel. It saves time, energy, health, and dignity as there is always a fear of rape on the long distances to isolated areas to collect firewood..Using solar cookers is also much safer than conventional cooking methods because there is no risk of fire, gas leaks or explosions. The users are also very happy that the cookers being such a status symbol, more men have started cooking.

The women who received the cookers in Harsola Mrs.Shivkanya Bai,Smt Ramkanya Bai,andSmt. Rekha Kumre, and Smt Prbha Wati and Smt Sunita in Jamli had solar cooked rice and tea on their solar cookers that was served to all the guests and the members of their communities. Branch Mangers Sh R. K Ratnawat Harsola and, Mr Rajesh Mehta , Jamli welcomed and honoured special guests, Mr. Jimmy McGilligan, Manager of the Institute and his Solar energy team members Harindra Goluguri, Rajender Chauhan, Sakha Ram and Smt Nanda Chauhan.

Mr. R Senger field Officer of the Jamli. branch of the bank and Mr Himanshu Joshi at Harsola branch gave the vote of thanks after th programme.

By Janak McGilligan Director

Barli Developemt Institute for Rural Women.

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96th Graduation

On 15th of May 2009 Barli Development Institute for Rural Women holds Graduation Ceremony for the Trainees of it’s 96th training Programme Barli Development Institute for Rural Women held the Graduation Ceremony for its 96th training course of Community Volunteers of six months duration. 86 Women from 41 villages of Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Khargone, and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, and from Bihar, Tripura and Chhattisgarh received their certificates.
In her welcome address the Director of the Institute Dr. (Mrs.) Janak Palta McGilligan, having welcomed the guests said “Barli Development Institute for Rural Women is a Bahá’í-inspired NGO working since 1st June, 1985. In bhilali dialect the word ‘barli’ means the central pillar that holds the whole house. This is the concept behind the name of the Institute that the woman is a barli on which rests the family and the whole society. If the woman is empowered then the whole society will be empowered. The residential training programmes of the Institute in Indore are free of cost. The Institute has three Extension Centres in Chattsigarh run by trainers who are also Barli graduates.
The main objective of the Institute is to empower young rural and tribal, socially and economically disadvantaged women who never had an opportunity to go to school or a few of them who dropped out of school. The Institute has been focused on its programmes of facilitating the process that each trainee can become ‘barli’ of her family and community. This is done by using a holistic curriculum systematically developed by interweaving literacy, health and hygiene, personal and community development, vocational skills such as cutting and tailoring, tribal handicrafts, batik and block printing, typing and computers, environmental education and kitchen gardening. The Institute does not consider the trainees merely as beneficiaries, therefore trains them as Community Volunteers and Grassroot Trainers who return to their villages as social change agents
The Guests were welcomed with gift of colourful mobiles made from reused waste material from cutting and tailoring training.
The Chief Guest was Padamshree Abhay Chajlani, Chairman of Editorial board of Nai Duniya newspaper group.and Dr. Sunanda Jain, an eminent gynecologist and social worker.
On this important occasion, a number of the trainees, several who had never gone to school, recalled their experiences of learning at Barli in the presence of the guests, beaming with confidence.
Miss Keru Sastia told those gathered that she came as an illiterate, and is now leaving with theability to read and write.
Hindu Tomar, from Alirajpur district, showed the audiance some of the items of clothing she learned to make in the cutting and tailoring training
Mrs. Mamta Rawal from Chattisgarh shared her experience about the training at the Institute.
Binu Kumari from Bihar shared her experiance while studying ‘Learning to develop myself and my community’
Uma Solanki shared her learning about Environment and Cleanliness, how she learned to make fuel briquettes from waste paper and leaves of trees, and making batik brushes from hair fallen after combing
Miss Kari Jamare talked about the importance of childrens education
Miss Yashoda Alawa from Dhar district spoke about the use and importance of solar energy
Miss Reena and a group from Khargone sang a song about the use of solar cookers in their villages
Program Officer, Miss Vijayshree shared her experiences of preparing the trainees for the ‘Cutting and Tailoring’ exam under National Institute of Open Schooling’. She said that during the first three months of the training the trainees learn literacy and they are then prepared for the exam in the remaining three months.
Mrs. Manna Sharma from Tripura said that all at the Institute are like a family. Just as a mother holds the hand of her child to teach walking, in the similar way the trainees are taught at the Barli Institute Trainees are encouraged to develop their capacities
Radha Chouhan of District Khargone shared her experience of training other trainees and said that when she came she wondered how she would be able to teach others, but then she gradually gained confidence. Along with training others she learned a great deal herself
A volunteer at the Institute, dressed up in a Sari, Ms. Maya Rose Chouhan from Australia, spoke in Hindi that she had learnt Hindi, Indian food, Indian dress Indian culture & she enjoyed a lot at the Institute during her period of service and she conveyed her best wishes to the trainees for their future progress.
Miss Noori, trainer for ‘Cutting and Tailoring’ shared her experience of teaching tailoring to the newly literate trainees.
Ajma and a group from Alirajpur sang a song about literacy
During the ceremony Padamshree Abhay Chajlani released the Literacy Book “Aao Padhna Likhna Sikhe Aur Sikhayen”. This book is published by Macmillan Publishers India Ltd, with the financial contribution fromTwo Wings Foundation, Linz Austria. The Deputy Director of the Institute, Ms. Anjum Sood, while introducing the Literacy Book ‘Aao Padhna Likhna Sikhen aur Sikhayen’ and the process of its development, said “it is an achievement of the Institute that this book is being released today. This book is the documentation of the experience of the last over 24 years in teaching literacy that includes exercises for the participants as well as instructions for the facilitator, it is written in such simple language that anyone can use it for conducting literacy classes in the villages. Literacy is fundamental to the development of intellectual and social empowerment.”
Shri Abhay Chajlani, while addressing the trainees said, “You are very fortunate to have been trained very systematically at Barli Institute. You will be able to pay your respects to the Institute only when you use and practice all these skills and knowledge.” He further said that three things are very important to show respect to one’s Nation – use of your own language, attire (dress), and food. You are the light of the country, maintain your cultural values, be determined, awaken the spirit of understanding in each other and make your families strong.
Dr. Sunanda Jain, an eminent gynecologist and social worker presiding over the function said that ‘When we loose wealth, it can be regained, if looses health, it is a big loss & the biggest lost is if we have lost our character. As women you should take good care of your health as you are the holding force of their families and if you are weak the families could break apart. She also emphasised that if one looses one’s character then everything is lost. You have learnt about all three at Barli Institute; take all these three messages to help your self and your communities. Share with others on your return to your villages.”
Dhedi Bagdhare conducted the programme, and Vijay Shree gave a vote of thanks.
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