On July 10 as usual reached village by 11 am. Surprisingly no volunteer turned up. At around 12 volunteers started coming and by 12.30 we started our regular session, which started with a lecture on discipline :). Imparted some basic computer knowledge like MS office etc. I was very keen about these volunteers learning excel and applying the acquired knowledge for updating the illiterates attendance and progress in the system which was lying at Sakshar Bharat office in the village. It was not in working condition. I have been requesting all the people right from Sarpanch to get it repaired. Luckily the computer repairer responded on that same day, but we do not know when he would repair it. With the promise that we all would assemble by 5 pm to list out the names of all the illiterates who have been learning on regular basis we got dispersed.
The objectives for this Sunday were to:
1. Update the excel with right information as many volunteers were replaced etc.
2. Invite youth associations for the evening event
3. Demonstrate short film to motivate the villagers
4. Distribute Charts to illiterates (Telugu Alphabets)
Requested Sunanda, who arrived around 4 pm, to take the help of Meenakshi, Sakshar Bharat Village coordinator, and update the excel. Without blinking an eye she did it and used pivot also.
Requested youth association representatives to be present during the evening program.
In the evening, as usual Sarpanch was in two minds whether to organize the program inside the Gram Panchayat's office or outside. Upon my insistence he organized, though very late, outside. He had to arrange for mats for the villagers to sit, power connection for connecting projector and system and a sound box. Sunanda was organizing the projector every week.
We started the program with a video from Sakshar Bharat, which I collected some time back, which had some songs and short films. The first film was on the importance of education. An adult who was supposed to attend evening learning centers stopped going and mocked his wife who encouraged him to study. This same man was insulted by people when he was trying to board a wrong bus because of his illiteracy. He then took a firm decision of continuing his education.
The second drama was related to the importance of education for women.
Both the dramas were very keenly watched by the villagers and we hoped that it really inspired them. Later, I addressed them and told them that a short film with themselves was being made in the coming week. Informed them that we were left with 41 days exactly for the exam and promised to show them how easy the exam would be during next week's program. While distributing Charts (Telugu alphabets) announced to them that the next Sunday definitely gifts would be given to all the regular attendees.
Observed during the program that youth was not present and not to mention about the planned chief guests, SIs, which I mentioned in the beginning of this writing :)


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