Research

So, as I said I am doing research for MVF and the 'National Council for Educational Research and Training' as they have chosen MVF as a successful community based organization. To give you an idea, here's the main guidelines:
-identify significant features of selected organizations in promoting the participation of the community and local bodies at the elementary school level
-study the processes adopted by the organization in promoting the role of the community and local bodies in achieving the UEE (enrolment, retention and quality)
-identify and document appropriate strategies adopted by organizations for promoting community participation at the school level and its implications for future policy formulation.
I talk to kids, parents, past employers of child labourers, women's groups, youth groups, gram panchayats (village gov't), camp students, camp teachers, gov't teachers, MVF employees, community volunteers, various other community groups facilitated by MVF, elected representatives and gov't officials!!
I spend 3-4 days in each of 4 districts and I'm going to my last one tomorrow! I go to very small villages that I would never get to see without doing this research. For example, when I ask what are the school problems a few ppl have answered that the cows and goats get into the school yard and make a mess...It is also nice to be able to go to such rurul places as they have not had much research done on them so it is more authentic.
Basically, MVF is a perfect example of how community development works and has reinforced everything I learned in community and participatory development at dal...
For example, I have had old men explain the importance of community ownership and participation, illiterate mothers tell me how they will do anything to make sure their daughters go to school and past employers of child labourers explain how they were transformed to being pro child labor to advocates for the organization and travel all over talking at rallies and functions...
On the other hand I have also talked to 12 year old girls telling me it is pointless for them to go to school because they are getting married soon and are just saving money to buy things for their babies, parents say their children are too stupid and will be labours like them and employers say they can just pay off the police if they are found out...
There are also things that are difficult, such as the cottonseed industry employees 90% young girls because once they get their period they are thought to bring bad luck and "ruin the crop"....this superstitious bullshit is very hard for me to listen to and obviously hard to fight. Also, dowry is a big problem because poor families often try to marry their girls young as dowry increases with age...
Overall, I have really seen and learned a lot and feel very optimistic about MVF's work! Now, I just have to write my report...