Community Development for Sikligar Sikh Community in Vadodra

Community Overview: Since May 2017, SAF International has been committed to uplifting the Sikligar Sikh community in Vadodra, Gujarat. What began as a two-year initiative quickly evolved into a five-year comprehensive Community Development Project, driven by the urgent need to address educational disparities and enhance the quality of life for this underprivileged community.

Challenges Faced

Initial Challenges: When we first engaged with the Sikligar community, we were confronted with a harsh reality: children in Grade 5 were unable to spell their own names in Gujarati. This was due to systemic issues within the local education system, where children advanced through grades without truly grasping basic literacy skills. The situation was so dire that many children remained in school solely for the meal and uniform provided, rather than for any academic progress.

Our Revised Approach: Realizing that teaching the basics of Sikhism alone wouldn't suffice, we expanded our vision to include a General Gurmat and tuition center. This center became the heart of our project, offering after-school tuition in Math, Science, Music (Keertan), and languages including Gujarati and Punjabi. To make a lasting impact, we hired the first girl from the Sikligar community to graduate, empowering her to teach and inspire the next generation.

Our efforts extended beyond just the children. Recognizing the eagerness of the community’s women to learn, we began offering classes for them during the day. With increasing participation, we soon expanded to three classrooms running simultaneously, fostering a vibrant learning environment.

Milestones Achieved:

• 2018: 

  The success of the initial phase led us to extend the project to five years. By the end of 2018, 19 out of 50 children were sponsored, showcasing the growing support for our cause.

• 2019: 

  We enhanced the center with smart technology, hired a full-time parcharik and gatka teacher from Punjab, and introduced water filters for the community. The children also proudly participated in Gujarat’s largest Nagar Kirtan, performing keertan and gatka, with some even taking Amrit.

• 2020: 

  Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we continued our efforts, organizing two camps and acquiring two new teachers to bring fresh expertise to our programs.

• 2021: 

  Although the pandemic temporarily halted our activities, we prepared to resume with a focus on safety, ensuring the children’s well-being remained a top priority.

• 2022: 

  As we began winding down the project, we celebrated the success of creating a gatka team, having our first girl child graduate, and seeing the school and centers reopen after the pandemic.

• 2023: 

  The community’s children became renowned for their gatka skills, emerging as some of the best in Vadodara and Gujarat. With only ten children remaining, we neared the completion of this remarkable journey.

• 2024: 

  Today, just two children remain in our program. As we conclude this chapter, we look back with pride on the over 60 children and countless community members who have been empowered through our work.

As we prepare to embark on new projects, we carry with us the lessons and successes from Vadodra. The journey has been transformative, not just for the community, but for everyone involved. We thank our supporters for their commitment and look forward to the next chapter in our mission to uplift and empower those in need.