Transform the Lives of Children in Gujarat, India

Past few months have been busy for Balsena with new learnings, insights and action research. One of this area was Understanding the impact of Junk food. Many events were designed around this theme.

We saw the increase in consumption of junk food by Balsena children, especially the packet snacks. It is also becoming an addiction. We observed that even when they get nutritious food with filling quantity, and though they are full, the craving to have these packet junk foods. And this is also impacting their health.

Leadership Camp

In the month of November, during the Diwali Vacation a leadership camp was held with 58 children.

Leadership cam was held with the theme of Processed and Junk food and how it impacts our body. Through various activities, games and research children learnt what actually goes into processed foods, what are the chemicals that go into it, how they affect our body. Activities on effects of substance and addictions were also facilitated. Healthy alternatives were also discussed.

We received good feedback from children on the camp and they resolved to decrease their junk food consumption and also decided to spread this message to their friends and family. They also planned strategies for sharing this with others and also gain deeper understanding.

Child Rights Week:

Child rights week was planned around the same theme with aim to spread awareness about junk food and its impacts on health among the larger community. 

Balsena facilitators prepared an exhibition on ingredients of junk food and it’s effect on health. The exhibition was show cased in all the areas where Balsena works and also put up in many public places around the city. Children also took out rallies in their own communities. The children who had participated in Leadership camp took lead during the exhibitions and rallies. 

We reached 1361 children and 1561adults.

Research on Packaged Junk Food:

To understand about the consumption patterns of these packet snacks (junk foods) Balsena children conducted a research. First, they collected all the packets they could find laying around in their community and discarded them, counted them and put them in a bag. After this, they collected packets from around the community every day for one week and did the same process.

After a week they counted and analyzed total number of packets and how much it cost to buy them, which company sold the most packets and which snack packets were most sold.

The Balsena children also went around different shops in their communities and spoke to the shopkeeper to understand consumption patterns of their communities. They asked the shopkeeper about how much sales do they generally do in a week, how often do they stock and what is the cost for the same, who buys what, what is the most popular junk food item, etc. Some of the shopkeepers answered nicely, while some did not like the questioning either but it definitely taught children about communications.

Later children also prepared an exhibition about their findings, learnings and experience of doing this entire exercise which was put up in Balsena’s annual function.

Balsena facilitators collected data from all Balsena teams and collated the data.

Adolescent Girls group and TOT:

Each month a TOT is organized with leaders of Adolescent girls’ groups. They co-facilitate the activities of adolescent girls groups which are held twice in the month.

Theme of Adolescent group was ‘Healthy food plate,’ where children learnt about importance of healthy food, what different kinds of food they should consume and why is it very important in adolescent age and recipes for healthy foods.

Annual Program:

Each year we celebrate Balsena’s birthday with Annual Day program. On Annual day, all the children in Balsena meet each other and celebrate and enjoy together. Balsena completed it’s 21 years this year.

The day started with children’s favorite - Rally to raise awareness about child rights and this time also about junk food.

After the rally, Balsena Flag hoisting and singing of Balsena ‘s anthem was sung. Balsena’s president and vice president shared the report on Balsena and their learnings.

Later, children were divided into two age appropriate groups and activities around junk food, addiction and health and hygiene were facilitated during the day. Balsena children who had participated in Leadership Camp co-facilitated the activities.

After lunch, Children’s assembly was held. In the assembly, Mr. Bharat, who works and supports farmers with organic farming and Mr. Munjal- Education Officer of Bhavnagar District were the guest of honour, who encouraged children on their journey of healthy foods and appreciated the research done by the children for the same.

Facilitators from Aaranyak program in Dediyapada (Shaishav’s program with tribal children in Narmada district) performed a street play on the same theme. They also taught children some folk songs in Aambodi language.

Nehalbhai, who is consulting program coordinator of Balsena presented the collated data of children’s research in 22 communities and the results were really astounding but worrying as well. 

124 Balsena Children from 22 communities were the researcher, who collected data from discarded packets in the communities and 51 shops during one week.

• Children found 120,103 snack packets of 103 varieties sold in a week.
• Considering price of these packets varying from One rupees to Five rupees, packets worth of 5,98,211 Rupees were sold.
• Multiplying these calculations up to a year, this means that approximately 6,245,356 snack packets, worth 31,127,772 Rupees will be sold in a year in 22 communities of Bhavnagar city.
• These 22 communities have approximately 3410 households, meaning 35 snack packets will be eaten per household per week. Amounting to on an average 5 packets being eaten by a household per day.

Children and parents also presented their experience and learning around this entire theme. One of the parent who expressed her view of the stage said that this is very important exercise taken up by Shaishav, they were not aware that the food their children are eating so regularly could be harmful to their health. She shared that her three daughters who come to Balsena are reducing their daily consumption, because of these learning. 

We are very happy and satisfied that many children have reduced their consumption of junk food post these programs and are eating healthier snacks. Parents are also more aware about this and have started to think of alternatives.

450 children, youth, volunteers and teachers participated in the Annual day celebrations.

Sports Day

Children love sports and games. Sports day was organized on 24^th December and 31^st December, 390 children participated in the sports day. Different games were planned for younger and older children. Games such as twister, tug of war, pass through ropes, sack race, etc. were played. Activities such as Lezim, Dumbbels were done. The entire sports day was planned with participation of Balsena Active children (children who had been part of council earlier, who perform as advisor to council children). They took part in planning, organizing and conducting the sports activities along with Balsena facilitators.

Kishori Samelan

Each month special activities are facilitated with adolescent girls. This gives them space and opportunity to understand puberty, they have lot of questions and confusions, adolescent girls’ groups provide them with space to express them without feeling judgement and get answers rooted in choices, participation and science and also to create a space to truly feel solidarity with each other and develop their bonding.  Each year, gathering of these adolescent girls is organized. This year, 203 girls participated in this samelan (gathering). Online safety, Healthy friendship, Love and romantic relationship and healthy sexuality were the topics facilitated by Shaishav team and volunteers.

Kishori Killol, a book designed for adolescent girls was distributed to all the participants. This book has songs for adolescent girls, has many reflective questions, where they can document their dreams, values, beliefs, things about their family, etc.

Sonal, who is a Balsena Alumni was chief guest of the program. When she was in Balsena, she was a president, and also got the opportunity to meet with, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, who was then President of India. She was also selected for a delegation of 5 children from India at World Social Forum in Brazil. Sonal shared her story with girls, how she came out of child labour, how she resisted child marriage, and how Balsena and friendships supported her through her tough times. That if you have a clear goal or dream, you can surly fulfill and not to be disheartened through struggles. Shivani and Rina who are also Balsena Alumnus and current Balsena Facilitator also shared their stories. The girls listened to them with rapt attention and felt very inspired.