Challenge
Ongoing
Transforming Sikligar Sikh Lives: Community Development in Madhya Pradesh
Community Overview: In January 2018, SAF International embarked on an ambitious 10-year Community Development Project in Pachori, Madhya Pradesh, with a budget of $500,000. This initiative was designed to uplift the highly marginalized Sikligar Sikh community, addressing their dire living conditions and providing essential resources to foster a brighter future. As we progress through this journey, we are excited to share the impact we have made and the challenges we continue to overcome.
Challenges Faced by the Sikligar Sikh Community
The Sikligar community in Pachori faces severe hardships, including inaccessibility to clean water, limited electricity, lack of toilet facilities, and poor hygiene. The children, who represent the future of this community, were initially unable to reach their full potential due to limited access to education. The community's poverty was compounded by societal discrimination, as many schools refused admission to Sikligar children based on their behavior, language, and dress. Parents, too, were skeptical of the value of education, preferring to send their children to work instead of school.
SAF’s Impact: Yearly Updates
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2018 Update: Initial Steps Towards Change
- In the first year, SAF International made significant strides in improving the living conditions of the community. Volunteers from Canada joined the SAF India team, providing water filters to the entire village of approximately 1,000 people. Sanitary pads were distributed to teenage girls, addressing the critical need for menstrual hygiene. Additionally, SAF launched its Child Sponsorship Program, with 75 children enrolled in one of the best schools in the area. Our efforts extended beyond education, focusing on the holistic development of the community.
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2019 Update: Educational Progress and Cultural Initiatives
- SAF’s work continued to make a tangible difference. Students from Pachori were provided with hostel accommodations at the school they attended, showing a significant interest in pursuing education up to grade 12 and beyond. Plans were also set in motion to establish a Gurmat Centre, where children could learn Keertan, Gurmukhi, and Gatka, but the COVID19 pandemic put this on hold.
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2020 Update: Continuing Support Amidst the Pandemic
- Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, SAF remained committed to the community. We provided essential support during lockdowns.
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2021 Update: Supporting Higher Education and Community Growth
- SAF focused on ensuring that the children of Pachori had access to the best educational resources amidst the pandemic. With schools operating on a rotating basis, SAF leveraged its influence to ensure safety and quality education for nearly 100 children. We also began paying tuition fees for children pursuing higher education, with plans to enroll even more children in our programs.
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2022 Update: Academic Excellence and Cultural Preservation
- The community’s progress has been remarkable. Several children have graduated from our programs and moved on to universities, a milestone that we are particularly proud of. The school offers extra tuition classes for SAF-supported children, helping them excel academically. A Full-time Gurmat Kendar was established, where children actively engaged in learning Panjabi, Keertan, Tabla, and Gatka. Their progress has been exceptional, and we eagerly anticipate the day when these children will be fluent in reading and writing Panjabi.
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2024 Update: Achieving Major Milestones
- As we continue our work in Pachori, we currently support 67 children. This year, we successfully wrapped up our Sikhi & Panjabi classes, where children learned to read, write, and speak Panjabi for the first time. Nearly 60 children have also learned Gurbani Santhya, Sikh history, Harmonium, Tabla, and Gatka, ensuring these skills will be preserved for future generations. In terms of school education, numerous children have been sent to universities with scholarships, reflecting the community’s dedication to academic excellence.
The decade-long project in Pachori, Madhya Pradesh, represents a significant commitment to transforming a marginalized community into one that is empowered, educated, and self-sufficient. Through sustained efforts in education, hygiene, and infrastructure, SAF International has made a lasting impact on the lives of the Sikligar Sikhs in Pachori. As we look forward to new initiatives and continued growth, we invite you to join us in this mission to empower the lives of those in need!