Keystone I

A R e s e ar c h P u b l i c at i o n f ro m Wo r l d V i s i o n I n d i a

ISSUE NO. 1

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J A NUA RY 2 0 1 7

World Vision India

Key Stone – World Vision India’s bi-monthly research publication I am pleased to write the foreword for the first issue of ‘Keystone’ – World Vision India’s bimonthly research publication that seeks to share research studies and information linked to our work through area programmes and projects across the country. Keystone is the term used for the wedge-shaped stone at the top of a masonry arch or the round stone at the top of a dome. It is usually the last stone to be cemented into place during construction of the structure and holds the rest of the stones in place, thus enabling the structure to withstand force. The name chosen is aspirational - in that we would want to see research integrate and bring to light work being undertaken in other parts of the organisation that are often hidden silos, and quickly become the basis of our activities and programmes going forward.

Research, as an ongoing process of structured investigation, can throw up basic facts and various aspects of the impact of our programmes, the efficacy of our input models and the return on investment for sponsors and donors. Analysis of primary data generated within World Vision India’s activities, together with rigorous secondary research could bring much credibility to the articulation of necessary policy and regulatory changes and sharpen the focus of our public engagement. Publishing researched content will not only help us provide the much-talked-about “evidence” but also enable us communicate our impact, knowledge and expertise in a credible and convincing manner.

The discipline of regularly publishing high quality, researched content for dissemination across the organisation and to key stakeholders could facilitate a culture of careful reflection and thoughtful action across various functions. It would bring an attitude of structured and scholarly thinking in the organisation, thereby enabling the provision of objective facts, figures and their analysis in our documentation. Consequently, this can also serve as a channel to position World Vision India’s work with donors, support offices and the global partnership. As research at WV India is still in a nascent stage, we would initially focus on making best use of some of our existing data sets and develop their analysis into research publications. Going forward, we hope that the research we undertake could position us as thought leaders in the development sector.

In the first issue we have covered two impact reports, one highlighting World Vision India's work in Kottayam, Kerala and the other describing impact of the “Family Forum” initiatives implemented in Kerala and Orissa. We have also featured “Lessons from Jamui ADP” – the review of a community-based water management system and a policy briefing on the subject “Why India's National Health Policy Cannot Wait Any Longer?” We hope to include at least four such researched articles in each issue of Keystone.

Keep reading!

Community-based water security key to handling drought: Lessons from Jamui

Drought and water security When Stockholm Water Prize winner Rajendra Singh said earlier this year that the drought was man-made and not natural, he was pointing at India‟s inefficient water management, compounding matters for a country heavily dependent on rainfall. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) concurs - drought is no longer mere scarcity or absence of rainfall, but related to inefficient water resource management.i Even regions with high rainfall often face severe water scarcity – Meghalaya‟s Cherrapunji with over 11,000 mm of rainfall, now faces drought during winter.

Add to this the fact that in three of the past four years, India‟s annual rainfall deficit has been 14% (2015), 12% (2014) and 11% (2012). How does a country which ranks 141 out of 180 in the 2016 Environment Protection Indexii promote efficient water management?

With over 600 million of its 1.2 billion involved in agriculture, water scarcity can spell disaster for India. 55% of the net sown area in India is rain-fediii, which makes conservation of available water all the more crucial. The soul of India‟s agriculture productivity lies in its rural communities, where agriculture and related activities form the backbone of household incomes. The 2016 drought affected about 330 million people in India, one of the most severe so far.

For India to achieve water security – the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic developmentiv – the three main components are building of infrastructure, building of knowledge and community mobilization. The most critical site where the first two meet is the Indian village, thus making community mobilization key to change.

Community-based water security – Jamui’s success Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between community participation and system performancev. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, “as local water management and rainwater harvesting hold the key to drought mitigation, Government policies should emphasize communitybased water resource management. Community-based institutions, such as Water Users Associations (WUAs), can play important roles in managing water resources at the micro levelvi.”The country needs to ensure that its rural communities are active participants in the task of achieving water security.

Some villages in one of India‟s rainfed districts Jamui, on the Bihar-Jharkhand border, scripted a success story across ten years of community-based water management initiatives despite being drought-prone. The annual rainfall in Jamui in 1998 was 1204.60 mm, which fell to 663.7 mm in 2008; the district‟s rainfall has been recorded as below average for the last six years as per data from 2013.

It finds itself in the „severe‟ area in a study on the gap between existing supply and projected demand by 2030 (Figure 1). Jamui is one of the 167 districts identified by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) as needing immediate attention on extensive human and social capital building and infrastructure development for enabling access to natural resourcesvii. Jamui is one of the bottom 20 districts of the country in terms of economic development, according to the District Development and Diversity Index, 2015viii.

Figure 1: Gap between existing demand and projected1 supply in 2030 Percent of 2030 demand

1: The unconstrained projection of water requirements under a static policy regime and at existing levels of productivity and efficiency, 2: WFR –Western-flowing coastal rivers; EFR – Eastern-flowing coastal rivers

In Jamui‟s Chakai block, most of the population earn their livelihood by farming activities. Chakai block has a hilly and rocky terrain, and only 40.43% of the total land area is cultivatable. Additionally, Chakai had low rainfall, poor irrigation infrastructure, sparse water bodies, and heavy soil erosion.

Mono-cropping was the only way of farming in practice, creating an overt dependence on the kharif crop - paddy - and zero income in off-season. As a result, people live in poverty, resulting in food insecurity and migration to nearby cities.

However, community-based water conservation efforts have borne fruit in Chakai, initiated in 2005 and aided by the NGO World Vision India. In a span of over ten years, farmers belonging to the SC/ST and most economically vulnerable – a lion‟s share of the community‟s working population – came together to form farmer clubs which facilitated a participatory management of the available water resources. With water availability being the most pressing need, farmers were successful in creating water storage and irrigation structures, aided by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), MLA funds, Bihar Government‟s Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MNREGS) and other linkages and resources. In terms of infrastructure, irrigation wells, irrigation ponds, farm ponds, check dams, lift irrigation structures and canals were constructed.

Information-building was also a key factor, with farmers groups getting trained on improved farming techniques including multilayer vegetable cropping and System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Over 1000 farmers from 77 villages were trained by KVK on multiple cropping, mixed cropping, seed preparation, seed treatment, vermicompost, organic farming, low-water farming techniques and remedies to common crop diseases. Following this, apart from the kharif crop farmers also began cultivating the rabi crop (wheat), sugarcane and vegetables, which meant year-long cultivation.

Due to year-round availability of water, 912 acres of land were brought under irrigation and 2800 farmers reported increase in yield (as per 2015 data), and migration also declined. The proportion of families who were able to provide well for their children had gone up from 33.66% in 2012 to 67% in 2015, as per surveys. Farmers in Baratand village were able to increase the cultivable from 17.87 acres to 60.05 acres. The farmers groups actively participated in the gram sabha, used local resources and MGNREGS for the creation, repair and renovation of the water structures. With the water structures being community-owned, there was no monopoly over these, which facilitated equitable access. These groups meet monthly, share knowledge, keep accounts and maintain linkages with government bodies. Chakai recorded a reduced impact of the disaster on agriculture, especially

in the last two years. “Despite the drought, we are expecting a higher yield of 53 quintals in 2.6 acres this year as opposed to last year,” says Shyam Verma, one of the 31 members of the Gandhi Kisaan Sangh, a farmers group in Nawada village.

Way forward Water is a community resource. For the country, long-term water security calls for practical, locallyowned water management approaches – a bottom-up effort to scale up best practices at the grassroots. The National Water Policy (2012) called for a National Framework Law on astute water management, focussing on dealing with the local water situation and the need to manage water as a community resource.ix The Draft National Water Framework Bill 2016 recognizes the right to water for life and a people-centred management of water. The passing of the Draft Bill is critical to manage water as a vital and stressed natural resource.

Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) ensures that the community ownership of their at-risk assets is translated into active participation. It also promotes equitable access to water in communities, considering 48.4% of Dalit villages are denied access to water sources. The socioeconomically disadvantaged would be further pushed towards poverty if water security does not materialise. Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that yield from raindependent agriculture could be down by 50% by 2020. World Bank reports say rainfall variability alone could push 12 million people to absolute poverty.

As NDMA emphasises, preparing the most vulnerable people from the grass roots for better preparedness and response is crucial during droughts. If supported by capacity building of communities and local government, water infrastructure, and adequate budgetary allocations, most water woes could be addressed better. The Government‟s plans to drought-proof vulnerable communities by converging the three critical ministries (Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural

Development) and their flagship schemes need to be implemented effectively, with community participation at its core.

Equipping the community increases awareness, brings them closer to their rights and entitlements, helps them realise key linkages and ultimately makes them resilient. To make rural India immune to perennial losses from droughts, deliberate and strategic community involvement is indeed the way forward.

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i

Sarojitha Arokiaraj and Bestin Samuel (World Vision India)

http://www.ndma.gov.in/images/guidelines/droughtguidelines.pdf

ii

http://epi.yale.edu/reports/2016-report

iii

http://nraa.gov.in/pdf/Rainfed-final.pdf

iv

For more details: http://www.unwater.org/topics/water-security/en/

v

“Water Management Institutions for Enhancing Water and Food Security - Design for Better Adaptiveness” by Vaibhav Bhamoriya and Vasant P Gandhi, India Infrastructure Report 2011. vi

Drought Manual, Ministry of Agriculture

vii

The NRAA set up by the Ministry of Agriculture to address drought mitigation in the country has identified 167 districts as needing immediate attention for enhancing productivity and livelihood based on a Rain-fed Areas Prioritization Index. viii

“Report for India and Major States,” District Development Diversity Index Report by US-India Policy Institute and Centre for Research and Debates in Development Policy. ix

http://wrmin.nic.in/writereaddata/NationalWaterPolicy/NWP2012Eng6495132651.pdf

Why families matter The impact of Family Forum in Kerala & Odisha

Content

Introduction

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World Vision Indiaâ€&#x;s investment in Families

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Methodology

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Impact of Family Forum

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Transformed relationships Protection of rights of children Planning, executing and monitoring Ownership and Sustainability Partnering for development Way Forward

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Introduction However, in the context of extreme poverty and oppression, the family that is supposed to provide the needed protection, is under a threat of disintegration. Many issues like migration of adult male / female, bonded labour, children participating in economic activities, life-threatening diseases or death of a bread winner render the child in the family more vulnerable and weakens the family system.

In any society the family remains the fundamental unit of care, protection and development and also a place where values are passed on. It is also a place where children learn their rights.

The UN General Assembly Session on Protection of Families states that the internationally agreed development goals, especially those relating to the reduction of poverty, education of children and the reduction of maternal mortality, would be difficult to attain unless the strategies to achieve them focus on the family. It also adds that the family should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.

Even in the development context, there are programmes targeted specifically at women, mothers, children and young people and they don‟t cut across each other. Indicators are measured in terms of “Households” rather than the “family” where actually the child thrives.

As Search Institute puts it, families profoundly shape the lives of children and youth. Yet, too often, they are left on the sidelines in school, organizational, and community-wide efforts to improve young people‟s outcomes.

When the family unit is stronger, they are able to provide well for the members‟ economic and emotional support, health and educational needs and the much-needed protection in times of shocks. We also see family as a place where social determinants are reinforced like, gender discrimination, domestic violence and abuse.

“We will strive to provide children and youth with a nurturing environment for the full realization of their rights and capabilities, helping our countries to reap the demographic dividend, including through safe schools and cohesive communities and families.”

Sustainable Development Goals Paragraph 25.

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World Vision India‟s investment in families The objectives of the Family Forums are

Globally, through its „celebrating families‟ model, World Vision supports the equipping of families to create a safe and loving environment for children‟s well-being and nurture.

 

World Vision India‟s journey of investing in families began 20 years ago. Family Forum (FF) was started in Alleppey ADP, Kerala in 1996. This started as an informal group of 10 - 15 families in a village that meets every month in order to develop co-operative and collaborative attitude among communities. Soon it was implemented as a development initiative with focus on strengthening neighbourhood relationships and for social and economic development.

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to enhance the coping ability of families and communities to strengthen relationship within families and communities to address issues like domestic violence, alcoholism, gender issues and political and communal issues.

“I would like to explore ways to increase our ministry to families, including fathers. We talk about

Later, the members were given exposure to leadership skills, encouraged to participate in Gram Sabha and to participate in the development activities in the village. Over the years, the capacity of the communities were built and they began to participate in the local governance.

our work in terms of „children, families and communities‟. But historically our primary focus has been on children and

This was implemented in different Area Development Programme (ADP) locations in the state of Kerala gradually and in 2005 in Odisha and later in few locations in West Bengal. Through this initiatives, ADPs were able to nurture caring communities

communities, and not so much on family”.

Kevin Jenkins – CEO, World Vision International.

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What is a Family Forum?

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Family Forum is an informal group of 10 - 15 families in a village in order to develop co-operative and collaborative attitude among them by resolving issues of common interest and implementing programmes for the total development of the members.

Participate in people‟s planning process at ward, Panchayat level, attend Grama Sabha and participate in the development activities taken up in their areas, link with GOs and NGOs for their family and community development.

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Organize study classes, arts and sports, important day‟s festivals etc.

How did we do it?

Family Forums are guided by principles that

Family Forum has three levels namely: Neighbourhood groups at unit level (10-15 families), Representatives from village level Units form together as groups at Panchayat level and Panchayat representatives form the unit at District level, District Family Forum is registered and this registration covers the legal validity of the unit.

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Promote relationships based on equality and respect for diversity and encourage mutual assistance and peer support.

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Complement existing services, build networks and linkages, and advocate for policies, services and systems that support families‟ abilities to raise healthy children.

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Recognize the importance of nature so as to protect and preserves it for future generation.

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Value the voluntary nature of participation promotes peace among community members

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Seek to improve their practice by reflecting on what they do and how they do it.

What does the Family Forum do? 

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Meet weekly for a minimum of one hour is convened regularly in different homes on rotational basis.

Discuss family needs, social needs, common issues which are general in nature in the beginning. Small group activities like chits, group farming, sharing technical skills etc are done.

Complicated issues may be taken up only after group attains maturity or after building up group solidarity.

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Methodology Participatory techniques used for the data collection are as follows:

A thematic review on FF conducted over the period of 2015 and 2016 in the states of Kerala (14 locations) and Odisha (6 locations) with more than 500 community members.

The objective was to study:

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Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with Family Forum Members

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Key Informant Interviews (KII) / FGD with Children KII with PRI Representatives

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The impact and sustainability of Family Forum

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Contribution of Family Forum towards addressing family and community issues

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KII with FBO Leaders (Only in Kerala locations)

The evaluation has recorded significant impact in the aspects of family enrichment, child well being, holistic development of communities, community empowerment and sustainability and transformed relationships.

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SWOC Exercise with FF core group leaders

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SWOC with former ADP Staff

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Success stories from FF

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External Expert‟s observation and feedback

Through a qualitative method, data was collected from participants (children‟s, parents/caregiver-male & female, PRI members, NGOs& FBOs representatives) randomly selected from 10 ADP locations where World Vision India has worked. We are currently operational in only one of the 10 locations chosen for the study.

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Impact of Family Forum Transformed relationships

In Wayanad (Kerala), Family Forum Units are an integral part of the De-Addiction Movement which has rehabilitated more than 3000 families. Simultaneously, in Ranpur (Odisha) there is a reduction in caste and gender based discrimination. In Mayurbhanj (Odisha) the Family Forum Units were able to ban alcohol in their village.

Relationships are central to World Vision‟s understanding of poverty and transformational development. Equitable, just, peaceful, productive and inclusive relationships within households and communities have impact on economic, social, political and environmental aspects of life.

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Evaluation findings have shown that Family Forum Units have enabled in building communities that care for each other and are empowered to face challenges. 

Participation in Family Forums has enhanced the leadership capacities of the communities and they participate actively in the local governance with better community participation and better understanding of the local issues. Members have been elected as Panchayat Members and Sarpanch.

Caring Communities:

Family Forum Units are playing a significant role in building peace in their respective communities, resolving conflicts and building an environment of caring for each other. There are evidences of sharing of community resources and positive gender relations.

Children are protected and valued and vulnerable persons are taken care of. All the Family Forum Units studied, reported that due to this initiative, the unity among families and in their community has been improved and there is a sense of inter-dependence and caring for each other all over. 

Empowering families and communities to access social services, participate in local governances:

Family Forum Units are taking active part in the Gram Sabhas where village level issues are discussed and planned for execution, and in the Panchayat level the schemes are executed. Around 200 Family Forum Members have been elected to PRI in Kerala and many in Odisha.

Promoting a culture of participation of families and the communities in addressing issues that affect them:

Strong, well-functioning families… can help reduce poverty, improve the well being of

Family Forum Units are involved in addressing regressive practices in their respective communities. This includes Alcoholism, Casteism, and Conflicts. Community issues like Cleanliness, Sanitation and Hygiene are also monitored by them.

mothers, promote gender equality and uphold human rights. " Ban Ki Moon, Former UN Secretary General

The Family Forum of Donekbadi Village in Daringbadi is a testament to an entire village caring for each other. When Longa Pradhan got addicted to alcohol, his family of six depended on the mother for survival with the meagre money she earned through her daily wage labour. Sometimes even the children could not have regular meal and went hungry. Being aware of this situation in one of the meetings, Family Forum supported the family with food and money and also counselled him. Now, Longa Pradha is one of the regular members of the family forum. The family has a livelihood, enjoys good health and they are able to save for their children‟s education as well.

As shared by the Family Forum Member – Brajabandhu Nayak, Donekbadi Village 7

Family Forum - Building leaders Chinnamma Pappachan is sixty years old. Her family is from a very poor economic background, with her husband being a farm labourer. However, none of this stopped her from contesting in the local elections, and securing victory as the President of Ayemenem Gram Panchayat in Kottayam, Kerala.

Chinnammaâ€&#x;s is not a standalone story. In the recently-held local body elections in Kerala, 42 members from different communities that World Vision India works with have been elected at various levels of leadership like, Gram Panchayat, Block Panchayat and District Panchayat. The numbers are the result of Family Forumâ€&#x; which has empowered many from backward contexts – mostly daily wage labourers, and encouraged to participate in the process of governance.

"Though I belong to a very poor family, being part of the Family Forum gave me an opportunity to learn about many things. It has built a strong foundation in my community. There is no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, political affiliations or gender," says Chinnamma. Her dream is to strengthen the health system in her area. The family forum has equipped her to handle the task ahead even if this is the first step she is taking in the local governance, she says.

"Though I belong to a very poor family, being part of the family forum gave me an

opportunity to learn about many things. It has built a strong foundation in my community.

There is no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, political affiliations or gender."

Chinnamma, President, Ayemanam Gram Panchayat., Kottayam

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Protection of the Rights of the children

Simultaneously, the Family Forum Units of High Range (Kerala) have initiated Bio-Cultivation through Group Farming and Organic Farming as a joint effort.

Family Forum Units are involved in protecting the rights of children. They have created awareness among parents on educating the girl child, malnutrition, accessing higher education, preventing early marriage etc. In certain places, FF Units are monitoring the functioning of children clubs, run educational coaching centres and are independently organizing annual weekly programme for children called “Life School for Transformational Development” (LSTD).

A Family Forum of Pathanamthitta ADP has initiated Shayadri – a Livelihood Training Centre for the community where they train unemployed youths and women on various livelihood initiatives. Till now they were able to train thousands of people to gain skill and knowledge and have livelihood opportunity.

The Family Forum Units have initiated SHGs among the member families, generating resources and are providing loan to their members during the time of needs.

FF Units are also working with various partners including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Education Depts. and Child Protection bodies. In all the 3 locations of Odisha, FF Units were able to stop early marriages and have minimized absenteeism and increased the access to higher education.

A FF Unit in Odisha (Saratchandrapur – Mayurbhanj) where the families are basically small farmers and agricultural labourers have generated an amount of INR 3,30,000/- which is rotated among the members of the FF. In Kerala locations the Family Forum Units have initiated small savings and internal loaning, individual and group economic development activities.

The Family Forums have initiated Jana Banks (People‟s Bank) for the financial security of their members where the members are able save their earnings in these banks and get loans in time of any crisis or need.

Planning, Executing and Monitoring the developmental initiatives of their community Family Forums visited in Kerala are monitoring the Children Clubs and are running the annual weeklong LSTD programs by themselves without any external support. Sahayan Valley Family Forum (Kerala), High Range Family Forum (Kerala) and Pathanamthitta Family Forum (Kerala) constructed village roads and bridges, implemented Drinking Water Projects, received sanitation facilities and housing through their collective efforts.

“In those days, we were standing before Mahajan‟s (house for loan, but now we have savings and we are the Mahajan now”

In Thalasseri (Kerala) the FF Unit members volunteered to take care of the people affected with Cancer through the Palliative Care Units established by the Government Health Department and are also trained in counselling in palliative care.

– Sarojini Pradhan (Ranpur, Odisha)

Kishanadahi village, Odisha did not have a single graduate till 2004. However, soon after World Vision India‟s intervention the Family Forums took efforts to educate their children, especially girl children. Girls weren‟t allowed to go out of the village and financial strain added to this burden too.

Now, early marriages don't happen in our village, girls are encouraged to complete higher education, there are children who have completed B. Tech, MBBS and other professional course. As Family Forum, Units we encourage girls to pursue and complete higher education.

As shared by Malkamani Singh and Budhuramsingh from Kishandahi Village, Odisha.

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Partnering with various agencies for development

Ownership and Sustainability Priorities for development and well being of children are owned by the Family Forums and they continue engage with government and other actors to sustain the development activities even after World Vision Indiaâ€&#x;s work has ended.

Family Forums are able to partner with various NGOs, Government Departments, Panchayat, Block Development Offices, FBOs and other stakeholders to initiate various community development initiatives in the community.

A scorecard was used to measure ownership and sustainability and rated the FF Units using select indicators. Applying this scorecard, 64% of the FF Units in Kerala fall in medium category of ownership and sustainability whereas in Odisha majority of the FF Units fall in the low category of ownership and sustainability. Though in many of the locations the meetings are not so regular, but the Family Forum Units have continued the process of development after World Vision has phased out of the location by partnering with agencies and Govt. and have carried down a process of self-help in sustaining the development process.

They were able to tap various available resources from different stakeholders for the benefit of the families including children. The partners also include Kudumbashree, Jana Bank, Odisha Livelihood Mission, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and NABARD.

PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT FOR A DREAM BRIDGE

Malarickal is a target village of ADP Kottayam. More than 175 families are living there. We have been working here for the last 15 years. From the very beginning, the concept of FF was shared to the people and they organized FF Units in the village. 6 FF Units are actively functioning in the village (Souparnika, Akshara, Thushara, Vaishanavi, Karuna, Harishree). These members belong to different religious faiths, and are members in different political parties.

Malarickal village is separated from Kottayam main land by Kanjiram River. People of this village depended on ferry service to go to nearest town for all their daily needs. Children have to walk more than 5 kms daily to reach school. Patients need to be carried from interior parts on cots. All these hardships are within a 20km radius from Kottayam town.

They came up and requested the Govt. for a bridge to solve this important issue. Finally after the continuous effort from the part of our FF leaders Government sanctioned INR 9 crores and started the construction of a bridge.

The latest of this effort is the fact that even though the bridge is constructed approach road should be completed to make the bridge useful to the public. The bridge is constructed at a high altitude because Kanjiram River is a major boat route connecting Kottayam and Alleppy. Major earth filling is required to construct the approach road. The women of the FFs came together in large numbers demanding Govt. to complete the approach road. All local media highlighted this news with importance.

- As shared by Kottayam ADP Team, World Vision India.

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Way Forward

The evaluation has recorded significant impact of Family Forums in the aspects of family enrichment, improved child well being, holistic development of communities, community empowerment and sustainability and transformed relationships. We have learnt through this experience that if Family Forum Units are strengthened and mainstreamed, they can be a great model to promote sustainable development.

The following are some of the lessons learnt: 

Family Forum should be integrated with the CBO Model to enhance the participation of the families in the development process providing equal opportunities to all including children.

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With reference to the WV CBO guideline, FFs should be the basic unit from which CBO structure emerges which will contribute to the empowerment of the Gram Sabha (PRI System).

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Family Forums should be initiated/connected with an issue based group activities. This will help the Family Forums to be engaged and will be connected to the development process which will be based upon their vision, mission and objectives.

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FF should be an intentional focus to strengthen Family Enrichment and value formation. This will also help in initiating various value based models including Men Care Model, Celebrating Families etc.

Exposure to leadership skills, enhanced participation and Gram Sabha and as leaders of local governance, Family Forum members are promoting value based governance in their villages.

By caring for the most vulnerable, Family Forums have taught us that we have more lessons to learn from the communities we served in the last many years. We hope to carry forward those lessons in our work in the future and build an environment where children thrive.

“In a family, a person learns a sense of the common good and

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There should be a robust Monitoring System and Documentation Plan in place.

experiences the goodness of

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Need to contemplate on setting up a Support System for the Closed ADPs for certain period of time for the sustainability and engagement.

family, a person is unable to

living together. Without the emerge from his individualism, since it is the only place to learn

From an informal group of 10 - 15 families in villages, Family Forum Units have grown to be a model of sustainable development, not just improving the well being of children but also in building transformative relationships.

the power of love to sustain life.”

- Pope Francis

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Prepared by: Sarojitha Arokiaraj & Sudipta Ranjan Ram Evidence & Learning Division World Vision India

National Office 16 VOC Main Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai 600024, Tamil Nadu, India

New Delhi Liaison Office 16 Pandit Pant Marg, CNI Bhavan, 4th Floor, New Delhi 110001, India

worldvision.in/blog twitter.com/wvindia facebook.com/worldvisionindia 12

Right to Health: Why India’s National Health Policy cannot wait any longer A whopping 17,000 lives were lost to malnutrition in Maharasthra’s tribal belts in the last one year alone, according to an RTI replyi. Acting on the Bombay High Court’s directives, the Mahrashtra state government submitted a report on September 21st 2016, which stated it did not have enough gynaecologists, general practitioners and other doctors in tribal areas to improve the health condition of people particularly women and children. When public health facilities fail to reach the most vulnerable – who are also the most deserving – they do not have much of a choice but to die. And then let their bodies be carried home on bamboo poles, by family members who walk distances of 10 kms or more.

Where has India gone wrong in terms of ensuring a healthy life to its most disadvantaged?

Towards the end of September 2015 at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York, world leaders committed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reaching the furthest so that ‘no one will be left behind’ was the most important agenda of SDGs. By 2030, the ambitious UN Goals aim to ‘free human race from the tyranny of poverty and heal and secure the planet’. These comprise of 17 goals and by 2030, these aspirational goals will determine the development course each country, and the consequentially the world, will take.

India was a key part of it all. The country was moderately, if not successfully, on course in achieving few of the Millennuium Development Goals, (MDGs) the precursor of the SDGs. It did remarkably well in meeting the goals on poverty, access to drinking water and in eliminating gender disparity in education at the close of MDGs last yearii. But when it came to the Goals on the health of mothers and children, India was way off-track. The story is not vastly different in the case of SDGs, as a look at the SDG index suggests. The index was created by Bertelsmann Stiftung and Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) to assist countries in getting started with implementing the new SDGs. India ranked 110 out of 149 countriesiii. When it comes to Goal 3 – ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages – India is either in the ‘caution lane’ or ‘seriously far from achievement,’ as per the SDG index.

This is not to downplay the significant progress India has made in health over the past few years. Concerns still persist, with the biggest being the rich – poor divide when it comes to access to health. According to Countdown’s Equity Analyses Report 2015iv for India, mothers from the wealthiest quintile were 65 % more likely to receive healthcare during pregnancy as opposed to the poorest quintile. Various indicators on health also showed similar differences, clearly showing how unequal health care access was.

“The true test of our commitment as a global community to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda will be in its implementation,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had said.

Implementation continues to be the biggest challenge in the world’s largest democracy.

Ensuring health equity requires a drastic revision of priorities at the highest level. For India to improve its standing when it comes to reaching the unreached, India’s Draft National Health Policy, 2015 is of monumental significance. Health needs to be made a legally enforceable framework, with a universal coverage and backed by the proposed and much-needed budgetary allocation of 2.5% GDP, if India is to reach the last mile.

The country could take a leaf out of its Right to Education Act (RTE) implementation, which enabled a near-universal access to education, especially including the most vulnerable. Of the children enrolled in schools between 2007-2008 and 2012–13, 56% were girls, and 32% from

disadvantaged groups of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Number of children out of school and dropout rates reduced substantially, though not evenly, across all social groups.

Right to Health, similarly, could drastically improve the access of millions to a healthy life.

The draft National Health Policy formulated by the Government in December 2014 aims to address the ‘urgent need to improve the performance of health system’, especially to address the high inequity in health outcomes and the healthcare costs that push over 63 million Indians to poverty. The policy proposed that the Centre enact a National Health Rights Act which will ensure health as a fundamental right, whose denial will be justiciable. Now, the centre needs to take seriously the Supreme Court’s directive to take a final call on the National Health Policy. If India needs to keep its word on the global stage it needs to remind itself that improving equity in healthcare is essential so that ‘no one is left behind’. To realise it, the National Health Policy will indeed be a welcome step forward.

(Written by Sarojitha Arokiaraj, published in Huffington Post in October 2016. Read at http://www.huffingtonpost.in/world-vision-india/why-indias-national-health-policy-cannotwait-any-longer/ )

i

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bombay-hc-concerned-over-17000-deaths-due-tomalnutrition-in-maharashtra-3042795/ iiii

Millennium Development Goals, India Country Report, 2015

iii

SDG Index & Dashboards, A Report July 2016 (file:///D:/SDG/sdg_index_and_dashboards_compact.pdf)

iv

http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/documents/2015Equity/India_equity_2015.pdf

IMPACT REPORT World Vision India’s Work in Kottayam, Kerala

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

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World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Foreword A humanitarian organization committed to the causes of children across 6252 communities in the country, World Vision India works through development interventions, humanitarian relief and advocacy. This is a brief overview of World Vision India’s work in Kottayam district in Kerala, where we have been working since 1995.

This report captures the key interventions that the organization and the community has made together, the impact it has had on the lives of the people, key learning from our work in the district over two decades. Working closely with the communities, partners and the government, we have strived to ensure that no one is left behind in the development process.

Through the following pages, we hope to take you on a quick journey through our work, the impact, and the way forward.

Research and Strategy Management World Vision India

December 2016 Chennai

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World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Content

1. Introduction

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2. What did World Vision India do in Kottayam?

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3. Breadth of Impact

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4. Depth of Impact

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5. Sustainability of Impact

--- 9

6. What helped us most?

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7. What could we have done better?

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8. Quality of Evidence

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9. Conclusion

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World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Introduction Kottayam district is situated a little south to central kerala bordered on the north by Ernakulum district, east Idukki district, south by Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts and on the western by Vembanad Lake. Agriculture is the principal occupation of this district. The important crops cultivated in the district are rubber, pepper and paddy. Majority of people are Hindus in the villages where World Vision India works while Christians constitute 30 – 40%. Muslim population is below 10%. Flood is a common disaster in the low lying areas of ADP target areas.

World Vision India began its work in Kottayam district, in the Indian state of Kerala, in October 1995. The operational area covered 16 villages from three different blocks in Kottayam. The target population has been largely farm and non-farm daily labourers and others engaged in related forms of rural employment. With four key projects aimed at promoting economic development, education, and WASH apart from child sponsorship, the stated programme goal for World Vision India has been to help the target communities of Kottayam “move as an interdependent and self-sustained community with harmony and peace.”

Family Forum is the basic community-based organization (CBO) in the operational area.

Family Forum units are formed in all locations where we work. Our Child Sponsorship

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programme creates a special relationship between children, families, communities and sponsors - which helps in the transformation of all towards fullness of life, with dignity, justice, peace and hope.

Sponsorship activities focussing on children’s groups developed children’s reading, writing and numeracy skills and also enabling them to save some money for their need and ease the financial burden of the parents.

Through over 21 years of working with multiple villages and communities across the district, World Vision India has been fortunate to contribute to their progress and development in various aspects of life. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ “One aspect I appreciate about World Vision India’s work is that they treat all of us equally, regardless of gender, caste or religion.” (Joseph – 53 years) ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

What did World Vision India do in Kottayam?

Kottayam falls among the higher rungs of developed districts in the country, with the proud distinction of being the first district to achieve 100% literacy. However, pockets of the districts still experience poverty, health and educational challenges – which World Vision India worked towards addressing. The regular income sources of Kottayam, like agriculture or fishing or petty business face lots of challenges to sustain their regular employability and income. The paddy fields situated below the sea level and the high cost of cultivation for marginal farmers, compounded by monsoon floods, raise huge challenge for small and marginal farmers. The rich-poor divide was 6|Page

glaring, and socio-economic inequalities were persistent.

World Vision India’s work in Kottayam focused on the areas of Economic Development, Education, and Water and Sanitation, with Child Sponsorship being a key tool. To enhance the performance of communities in these aspects, World Vision India supported them through vocational and skill training, counseling, career guidance, infrastructure support, drinking water facilities, livelihood assistance, and self-help groups. Some of the most notable interventions included Family Forum, Life School for Transformational Development (LSTD), Aksharamuttam, Balanidhi, Children’s Clubs and Neighbour Education Programme (NEEP). On the whole, these activities significantly

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

contributed to helping the community move up the ladder in most of the development indicators.

Breadth of Impact The population in World Vision India’s target areas was estimated to be 60,028. Majority of people are Hindus in the target villages, and Christian’s presence is 30 – 40 %. Muslim population is below 10%. People residing on the eastern bank of Vembanad Lake and adjacent places face the challenge of flood during the six months of monsoon and the remaining period will be facing the withdrawal problems of the flood. Since the district is the basin of Meenachil river and the tributaries water logging is very common. The water level will remain above danger level, sometimes more than two weeks together. Continuous submerging of water affects the economy, agriculture, health and the education of children.

A good majority of people depend on daily labour as their livelihood. Mostly their job is related to the farm sector activities. The monsoon rain and floods affect these activities and they remain jobless for six months or more. The major occupation of people are agriculture and fishing in the lake and waterways and related petty business.

Mostly child vulnerability is related to the low level of income of the families and prevalence of waterborne disesases. Another major issue is consumption of alcohol by the male population.

This issue has major impact in the family life.

This affects the family atmosphere and education of children. Good portion of the daily earning is spent for alcohol leading the family 7|Page

from poverty to poverty. The community is dependent on these natural resources of water for fishing. Few others are entirely dependent on the low lying paddy fields and the climate change and environmental factors are severely affecting their livelihoods.

The following groups are identified by the community as the most vulnerable    

Households headed by women and the destitute Alcoholic patients People and children living with disabilities Economically vulnerable families unable to meet the basic needs of the family.

-------------------------------------------------------“Members in the Family Forum pool in with contributions when somebody is sick or in need of financial help in the community. One of our members was diagnosed with cancer a few years back, and we were able to bear part of the treatment costs. The education needs of a 12-year old orphaned girl were also born by us. We now support a few students who are pursuing a degree in Nursing, by paying their fees.” (Jyothi – 36, Family Forum president) ---------------------------------------------------------

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Depth of Impact Education As per the evaluations conducted, 81.43% of the children between 11-13 years are able to read and comprehend. Further, 85% of them are able to do subtraction and division in mathematics. 100% of the children are enrolled and are attending school. Additionally, World Vision India’s work has enabled many deserving students with educational assistance, and many of them have got employed after having completed their higher education.

children in the community. We found that the communities had improved economic status, improved health status of children, had enhanced interest for education and were able to provide better education for them.

Child Participation and Protection

In one of the most important interventions of the programme, children come together regularly as children’s clubs. Members with different strengths and from different backgrounds were able to come together for various activities including savings scheme, library, education facilities and release of a handwritten magazine. The coming together of children encouraged a sense of unity, inclusiveness, friendship, mutual respect and acceptance, conflict management and confidence. The children’s groups were actively supported by parents, elders and CBOs.

Economic Development As part of the evaluation process, an exercise called Moving out of Poverty Analysis (Ladder of Life) was conducted with 500 household and more than 70% of households in the target population moved upwards in their economic status. The results of a caregiver survey showed that the basic needs were met for 78% of the 8|Page

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“Recently, one of the little girls in our community was taken into a room by an older male relative.

Once they were in, he bolted the door. The girl, sensing something wrong, screamed out loud, and the neighbours rushed to the spot and saved the girl before any abuse could happen. The training that our children received through World Vision India regarding keeping themselves safe has been critical.” (FGD, Kottayam

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World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Sustainability of Impact

Local ownership

There are clear plans for how local actors will continue mutually accountable dialogue and action on child well-being priorities after World Vision India’s engagement in Kottayam has ended. Regarding water-related issues in the area the community members took joint actions like strikes in protest and submission of memorandum. Such joint actions are planned as per the need and the situation demands.

Conflict resolution has also been a highlight there were some conflicts related with land boundaries but solved within their community without the involvement of police or the judiciary. A World View assessment revealed that:   

The community is empowered to work for their development Problem solving capacities within the community has increased Women are highly empowered to avail their rights and privileges

Partnerships World Vision India has been proactive in terms of partnerships during the course of their work in Kottayam. The partnerships have been crucial in ensuring wider reach, deeper involvement and broader scope. The government has been our biggest partner, with many collaborative partnerships closely with the government.

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-------------------------------------------------------“Safety of women and children was a big issue here.

World Vision India’s initiatives like Family Forum and LSTD have created a change in the communities, by facilitating strong community relationships and awareness building.” (FGD, Kottayam) ---------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------“I’ve been a sponsored child from Class Four. My father had health problems and was unable to work hard, so we could not meet all our needs. Though I was good studies, my family situation meant I could not fulfill my ambitions. Attending World Vision India’s career classes after Class Twelve was a turning point in my life. With the guidance I received, I joined for a degree course in Nursing.

With the financial assistance I received from World Vision India, I was able to complete the course.

Now, I am working as a staff nurse in Bangalore.”

(Arya 23 years) ----------------------------------------------------------

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

According to the closure assessment, the partnerships ranged from government ministries and elected representatives to church leaders and ICDS. Most of the partners have been associated with World Vision India over the years. Given below is a glimpse of some of the partnerships.

S. No

Partner

Area of partnership

1

Integrated Development (ICDS)

2

Local Churches Kottayam

3

4

area, most of the partners identified the work structure, methodology and staff capacity as the organisation’s biggest strength. They plan to carry forward the momentum gained from their partnership with World Vision India even after the ADP phases out.

Duration of partnership 2005-2016

Role of the partner Identification of beneficiaries, logistics

Child Protection

2011-2016

Involvement of church members, especially youth

Jan Sikshan Sansthan, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)

Vocational skill training

2001-2016

Conducting training programmes

Elected representatives

WASH, Economic assistance, Awareness building, Women Empowerment

2015-2016

Idenitification of beneficiaries, administrative support

Child Scheme

in

Addressing malnutrition, Anganwadi resourcebuilding

Some of the other partners with whom World Vision India collaborated with in Kottayam included Banks (for credit linkage), Department of Police ( skill training of youth), Kudumbasree (women empowerment), KVK Kumarakom (farming guidance), Veterinary Department (livestock care), Schools, Colleges and other NGOs. With an overwhelmingly positive impression of World Vision India’s work in the 10 | P a g e

Impact Improved infrastructure in Anganwadis, better nutrition status, higher awareness of child rights Unity and positive relationships among churches, creation of a combined, wider platform for raising awareness.

Self-employment for community members, leading to additional income and overall economic development Improved sanitation levels, Better relationships within the community, Empowered families

The partners interviewed also pointed out follow-up of beneficiaries, facilitation of market linkages, a higher focus on participation of men in the community and context-specific programmes for regional/local needs of development.

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Transformed relationships

Social accountability

Family Forum has been one of the key initiatives behind the series of transformed relationships witnessed by World Vision India’s target communities in Kottayam. FGDs have shown that the participation in Family Forums as well as LSTD is proportional to a higher expression of caring for others in the community.

Community members are found to be caring others who are in need and value the children and their decisions also.

The community members and civil society develop a greater sense of their own agency, and their power to impact systemic and sustainable change, by holding each other and governments to account. Men and women were found to be active participants in community leadership and decision-making. Community leaders have been elected to the PRIs from many villages. So that they are involving in the decision making process.

Resources are shared with people who are in most need irrespective of their family, relation or social status etc. “We provide clothes and money when one of our church members was hospitalized”- Susamma. The men attitude towards women is positive. Women also respect men. Children are valued in our community and in their families. Children are listened to, and their interests are taken into consideration while taking decisions in the community.

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Household and Family Resilience In the context of Kottayam, which witnesses severe annual floods, the target communities are now able to prepare for, mitigate and recover from disasters, adapt to external factors and progress out of poverty. Economic status of the vulnerable families increased as a result of World Vision India’s EDA initiatives.

Through a caregiver survey, we found that basic needs were met for 78% of the children in the community. We found that the communities had improved economic status, improved health status of children, had enhanced interest for education and were able to provide better education for them.

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Case Story – Asha (38 years) Asha is a mother of two, staying in one of the villages where World Vision India’s Kottayam ADP works. Her son is in Class X, and her daughter in Class VIII. Her husband is a bus driver, and the family struggled to meet their needs a few years back.

Asha, a housewife, was introduced to the Family Forum in their locality by World Vision India staff and she soon became active in the group, becoming the convenor. Since she was interested in stitching, she received training from World Vision India on embroidery and stitching. Recognizing her skill and need, World Vision India provided her with an embroidery machine which costs INR 8000, and a loan of INR 15000 for a stitching unit. She also received a loan from the State Bank of Travancore, under a scheme for women entrepreneurs. She set up a small shop, and started working, gradually making profit.

Now Asha has a scooter, an auto-taxi, and four women working under her in her garment shop.

Her business is going well, and the family is financially stable. “I am happy that I received help at the right time from World Vision India,” she says.

“Nobody is ready to work hard these days. If someone does, they will indeed rise above poverty,” she adds. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

What helped us most?

As a community-based organization, the single most important factor to which World Vision 12 | P a g e

India could attribute its success in Kottayam to its strong community connect. There was a deliberate effort to foster strong relationships with families in the target areas, which has proved to be the foundation for successful community bonding. This factor, built mainly through the Family Forum initiative, has been instrumental in the effective functioning of SHGs, CBOs and grass roots leadership which emerged through the course of Kottayam ADP’s life cycle. Focus on families, thus, was evidently one of the best practices.

--------------------------------------------------------Case Story – Bindhu (42 years) “I am Bindhu from Malarickal village of Kanjiram area. My family consists of husband and two children. My husband Sasikumar is a daily labourer and he is the only breadwinner. My elder son Shyamkumar is an Electrician and daughter Chippy is doing her degree in commerce. We are a family of very limited means.

The most important issue we faced in our area was lack of drinking water. We had to travel 1-2 kms to get pure drinking water for the family needs. It was very difficult to manage household maters as we had to spend a lot of time to fetch water. World Vision assisted to install a Water filter unit. It was implemented by the Family forum with the financial assistance from World Vision India and technical support from Bodhana an NGO. The WASH training organised by World Vision with the help of BODHANA another NGO in our village helped to understand the importance of water

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

management. They have demonstrated how to maintain the Water filter unit installed by us in the house.

As a result, we now have pure water for household use, and we are able to save time to be spent for fetching water. The possibility of contacting waterborne diseases has reduced, which has resulted in improved health, especially of my child.”

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According to partners and beneficiaries, a higher focus on and involvement of men as well as senior citizens in World Vision India’s programmes is desirable.

Localized methodologies could be beneficial for specific grass root interventions. A higher investment from World Vision India’s part in the areas of facilitating market opportunities for the skilled youth, career guidance for the educated and in a more rigorous beneficiary selection process were called for by the partners. This could prove to be a huge boost to our interventions and usher in more comprehensive impact.

What could we have done better?

The assessment brought to light a few areas which were identified as challenges.

Programmatically, the transition from MED to EDA was not received well by sections of the target communities, raising issues of exclusivism and ownership. There were also social and industrial undercurrents in the target communities which sometimes generated hostility to World Vision India’s work. One of the key challenges was the recurring floods, which caused difficulties in sustaining the momentum of development. The distribution of gifts like livestock meant cow dung and other waste would spread through the floodwaters and create pollution as well as health concerns.

Having access to more rigorous technical expertise in terms of addressing local developmental issues and programmatic interventions could have helped, according to the staff.

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--------------------------------------------------------“Women never got out of their homes or worked in public before World Vision India started working with them. Now they work, bring additional income to the families, and are confident to voice their opinions in any forum.” (Mariamma – 58 years) ------------------------------------------------------------------

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Quality of Evidence The closure assessment was conducted in November 2016, whereas the household sample survey was conducted in the month in January 2014. The sampling design utilized twostage cluster sampling based on the WHO standard 30 cluster sampling methodology. 30 cluster were selected out of 94 communities scientifically. World Vision - prescribed common tools has been used along with Design Specific Indicators interview Schedule. Find below the sample size against the prescribed tools.

Quantitative data includes CWBT, YHBS, Flat Tool, 30 Cluster Sampling Quantitative Survey. 

CWBT tool = 900 House Hold Sample (30 Cluster x 30 Household)



YHBS Tool = 600 Youth Respondent (30 Clusters x 20 Respondents – 12-18 Years)



Flat Tool = 210 Children (30 Clusters x 7 Children – Age group 11- 13)



DSI tool = 900 House Hold

The qualitative data was gathered from the field through engagement with beneficiaries, partners and staff. The following tools were used for quantitative data collection: 

Focus Group Discussions (FGD)



Key Informant Interviews (KII)



Most Significant Stories (MSC)

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In order to achieve a comprehensive assessment of the programme, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used so that the evidence presented was both factual and narrative.

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Conclusions World Vision India’s work in Kottayam has left a lasting impact in the communities since 1995.

The leadership skills acquired by the community members and the vastly improved financial status of the families are bound to ensure that the villages are well on track in terms of selfsufficiency and progress. The activities undertaken in the communities – ranging from training events to infrastructure support to economic assistance – were key to building trust with the community, and guiding them out of vulnerabilities. The support of external partners including the local government, NGO partners, private entities, churches, civil society and academic institutions was significant in ensuring the momentum created by World Vision India was sustained through the years.

The deliberate focus on families through initiatives like Family Forum has helped World Vision India reap rich dividends as the work in Kottayam moves to a close. As the most fundamental and integral unit of the community, family was identified the primary site of behaviour change and the starting point of a transformative development narrative.

Additionally, World Vision India’s emphasis on government collaborations, rigorous internal audits, unbiased treatment of people and strong grass root connect contributed to its successful project cycle in Kottayam. The lessons from Kottayam can indeed be a pointer for many projects in the future, not only for World Vision India, but also for anyone wishing to make a lasting change in the lives of vulnerable children and communities.

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--------------------------------------------------------“Mid-term reviews help take work forward with more clarity, and provide opportunities for course correction.” John, World Vision India Kottayam.

--------------------------------------------------------“Our organization will be affected by World Vision India’s departure from Kottayam, as we enjoyed a highly fruitful partnership.” (Shakkeela, Jan Sikshan Sansthan, Kottayam)

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“World Vision India’s staff members have been very friendly, available and approachable. All of them treat us with respect, and all of us are treated equally.” (Kochumol – 40 years)

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“World Vision India phasing out of Kottayam is a sad thing for us, but the development initiatives they had started rolling and the lessons we learned will stay with us for a long time.” (Chinnamma, Local Government, Kottayam) ----------------------------------------------------------

World Vision India

- Impact Report – Kottayam

Prepared by: Bestin Samuel, Mathew M World Vision India National Office – 16 VOC Main Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai 600024, Tamil Nadu, India Delhi Liaison Office – 16 Pandit Pant Marg, CNI Bhavan, 4th Floor, New Delhi 110001, India

worldvision.in/blog twitter.com/wvindia facebook.com/worldvisionindia

india@wvi.org, www.worldvision.in

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