SOL

RTI - Start Your Own Activism

2014-02-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), Speek Out Loud (SOL) in collaboration with Kerala State Youth Welfare Board conducts One Day Workshop on “RTI- Start your own activism” in Gandhi Gruham, Cherooty Road, Calicut on 22 February, 2014 at 09:00 AM to 4: 30 PM.

RTI- Start your own activism

Right to Information Act – RTI

Right to Information act is an Act to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities. This is in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the constitution of a Central Information Commission and State Information Commissions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI)

The National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) was founded in 1996. Its founding members included social activists, journalists, lawyers, professionals, retired civil servants and academics. One of its primary objectives was to campaign for a national law facilitating the exercise of the fundamental right to information.

Kerala State Youth Welfare Board

The KSYWB will act as a platform of youth empowerment programmes for the youth of Kerala and equip them to find new opportunities globally.

What we aim in the One Day Workshop, “RTI- Start your own activism?

In the one day workshop we are focusing upon difference, diverse and distinct aspects of the RTI Act and how to use the act in the daily life for a public cause. We hope you can start your own activism by attending this workshop.

NB: Lunch is provided for participants and No registration fee

Action Plan for colleges - Youth and Mental Health follow up

2013-12-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

After the Youth and Mental Health Program, the suggestions of the NSS cordinators were compiled and drafted as an action plan. The activities provided in the action plan will be done in the 7 days of NSS camp.

Youth and Mental Health

Student awareness

1. Home visits- Students visit homes of people with mental illnesses and their family, interact with them, and ask them about problems, issues and solutions.

2. Awareness classes- Awareness classes can be conducted by resource persons who are experienced in mental health field and about interested topics for students.

3. Student drama- Students create a drama relate to mental health and provide a positive message to society.

4. Speek Out Loud clubs- Forming Speek Out Loud clubs in college is a wonderful method to organise same-minded people and create good programs. This can ensure the programs are planned and done.

5. Short films, film festivals, photo competitions, quiz competitions, rallies, street plays, exhibitions other programs which can be conducted in special days related to mental health in Mental health centres and hospitals and documentaries.

Social Awareness

1. Survey- Finding out needs of people with mental illness and their family such as availability of disability pension, disability certificate, disability card etc and conducting survey to find out the number of needy people.

2. Get together of patients- Conducting get together of people with illnesses and their relatives and make them happy and relaxed.

3. Employment opportunities- People with mental illnesses can be employed in some sectors and also the relatives also can be employed. So it is better to create network to find out employment opportunities that can give earning for them.

4. Finding rehabilitation centres- Some patients need rehabilitation to improve their quality of life. So it is better to find out nearest rehabilitation centres, NGO’s, professional doctors, agencies which can give funds etc.

5. Giving awareness to people about various schemes like disability pension, bus pass, railway concession etc of Government and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Getting resources

1. Collecting old books, clothes, toys and people who can sponsor new items.

2. Programs with registration fee are also a method to collect some money.

3. Funds also can be collected from various other agencies including department funds, NSS funds, Alumni fund etc.

4. Free Medicines can be collected from various agencies near locality.

Creating sustainability

1. Peer counselling- counselling can be provided by friends to friends. With little training, students can become licensed peer counsellors.

2. Helpline services- Services including helpline can be provided through telephones and mobile phones.

3. Online activism- Rather than creating face book groups only, it is better to start with Free SMS service by giving various news related to mental health, creating groups of same-minded people, links to other NGO’s etc.

4. Research studies can also be conducted with ethical standards.

YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH - Report

2013-12-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

A much awaited program, the first event of SOL was happened on 30th November 2013 at the Malabar Christian College auditorium. SOL and Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (IMHANS) collaborated and conducted a day’s workshop to all invited NSS volunteers from different colleges in Calicut.

Starting the program

The registration programs were started at sharp 9a.m. The Presidential address of the meeting was given by the one of the founder and a very active member of IMHANS, Dr. K.R. Balakrishnan. He mainly quoted that youth should take more interest and has to use more of their creativity and potential in the field of mental health. He also mentioned about the stigma facing by people with mental health and it is the duty of youth to conduct various awareness programs to reduce this stigma.

The first talk of the session was taken by Mr. Vinod S.S, who’s currently working as a Clinical Psychologist at IMHANS. He had briefly covered what is mental health, causes of mental illness, its prevention and various other intervention programs. The next talk of the workshop was handled by Dr. Shibukumar, Psychiatrist and currently the Assistant Psychiatrist at IMHANS. He specifically noted the lack of facilities for mentally ill patients in hospitals especially in Calicut area. It was an interactive session. A creative work on social networking was projected by Mr. Hishyam. It opened the eyes of participants.

The second part of the workshop was a group discussion, in which the participants had been assigned specific topics and were divided into groups. This session was started off with a welcome speech by Mr. Bibin, Psychologist at IMHANS. The Presidential address of the section was provided by Dr. Krishna Kumar, Director of IMHANS. As considering our humble request, the Keynote address of the workshop was given by Mr. Abid Tharvetteth, who’s the best program officer and the National award winner of NSS. The action plan of SOL was published by Mr. Muhammad Labeeb, Vice President of SOL. The workshop was wined up with a vote of thanks by Mr. Ajil.

Special thanks is mentioning here for all the eminent personalities who spent their valuable time for this venture. Also, extending a sincere gratitude to IMHANS, for giving SOL a big opportunity to organize an event like this. Sincere thanks to Dr. Manoj Kumar, Clinical Director of MHAT, for giving all this support and advices. Thanking to all participants who were there for the workshop and for actively participating in it. It would be nice to say a big thank you to all SOL members who took a big effort to make this workshop a success event.

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