Anusmitha Raju, a 21-year-old woman from the Vettakurumba Tribe in Wayanad district said, “Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru provided me with an opportunity to discover my potential through a three-day training programme on ‘Self and Society’. Now, I feel motivated to speak confidently to my community members and listen to their concerns”.

“The youth had a unique opportunity of sharing each one’s personal experiences in life and the concerns and struggles of their communities. Personal sharing helped the participants to build bonding and unity. Each expressed a feeling of ‘empathy’ for one another and committed themselves to work towards empowerment of the community”, said Mabitha KM.

“Exclusion from mainstream society is a problem faced by a close-knit tribal community. Hardly any learning takes place among the tribal children as the medium of education in schools is totally different from their own language and culture at home. The children lack motivation for higher education and are deprived of opportunities, as there is no guidance and support. But these three days of capacity building training programme opened up a new window for them to express themselves freely. It gave an opportunity to explore new opportunities and potentials. The participants were extremely glad that they had been selected for this programme for the first time”, observed Sr. Lilly, the State facilitator of programmes, Kerala.

The three-day Capacity building training was organized for youth from 2 to 4 September 2022 by the Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru in collaboration with Tribal Unity for Development Initiative (TUDI), Joint Voluntary Action for Legal Alternatives (JVALA), and Kumbalery Ooru Educational & Charitable Trust. 17 from Paniya, 8 from Kattunayakan, and 2 from Vettakurumba, a total of 27 tribal youth benefited from this training.

Sr. Lilly ED

Programme Facilitator, Kerala