Our idea in action

The Project Connect team provided training to change agents including high school student volunteers and community workers (ASHA workers, Ekal Gram Vikas Samiti Adhyaksh) about the eligibility and the availing procedure of selected welfare schemes. Then, change agents provided information to potential beneficiaries in the community through house-to-house visits which sped up the process of screening and enrollment to welfare schemes. The change agents used our pre-designed information brochures which were in the local language to to spread awareness in the commununity. Our team members were always available during these visits for supervision and problem solving.

Once the change agents completed the data collection by visiting households using the data collection form designed by our team. We analysed the data and relayed it to the district government officials to facilitate the enrolment of potential beneficiaries in the welfare schemes. We were also able to arrange for a community by the secretary of the local village development office which led to a session of document submissions and enrolment in the community.

Our change agents were already a part of the community i.e., they go to the school situated within their community and/or live there. Through Project Connect, the relationships between the members of the community and students were strengthened, thus fostering solidarity and creating a sense of community care.