Our Impact
The “Kya Hoga” ( the last of our 6Ks) , is critical for us to reflect where we are in the context of the desired impact we sought through our development interventions. Sustainability is one indicator where we measure ourselves. For us, people who we have worked with, taking ownership of issues is one important aspect of sustainability. Our Volunteer Cadre, nurtured through intensive training and hand holding represent this. Be it the tiered volunteer cadre of Community based Volunteers, Spearheads and Sahayaks of our Community Centres; or the Chronic Kidney Disease ( CKD) patients and their families who form a city wide network through our Ekta Support Group, or the Utkarsh Campus Ambassadors and Alumni who give back to society in their own way represent long term sustainability. While data and it’s analysis is another indicator, the lives that have been impacted have their own stories to share….
8
Centres
96
Scholarships
2
Community Centric Interventions
661
Patients
113,615
Beneficiaries
279,692
Reached
Voice of Empowerment
Raziya Bedade
Once solely dedicated to her family, Raziya Aunty found herself with time on her hands as her children grew up and started families of their own. It was then that she discovered the Aashayein Club, a place for women to express themselves without restraint.
Every week, the club’s activities and get-togethers offered Raziya Aunty new experiences and valuable information. Yoga, Dance Movement Therapy and awareness sessions broadened her horizons, enriching not only her life but the lives of those around her.
Her eyes sparkle as she recalls her first-ever resort visit with RF(I)T, where she danced and played games she’d never experienced before. The Aashayein Club also introduced her to various festivals and spirited birthday celebrations, a stark contrast to the reserved demeanor she maintains with her family.
Empowered by the knowledge gained during the Satark sessions, Raziya Aunty transformed into a resourceful and supportive neighbor. When a friend’s mother required a free ambulance, she knew exactly which number to call. After undergoing spine surgery herself, she boldly advocated for better facilities at the hospital by contacting the Dean.
With newfound confidence, Raziya Aunty sees herself as a capable and valuable contributor to her community. Her ongoing learning journey has not only made her bolder and stronger but also improved her relationships with her children and grandchildren. In the Aashayein Club, she found the freedom to be her true, uninhibited self, forever changing her life and the lives of those around her.
Bharti Gulekar
‘I am Bharti’, she says proudly.
Bharti, the para-Counselor at our Community Centres identifies herself not as someone’s daughter, wife or mother, but as an accomplished individual whose name speaks for itself. Having truly understood the importance of counseling, Bharti’s time is earmarked for all our Community Centres for Counseling case profiling. ‘Most of these women are like pressure cookers just waiting to blow up because they aren’t able to share their problems.’ RCC provides this space for women, with confidentiality. Being part of almost all the activities of RCC Shivtekdi since 2013, Bharti’s mission to be able to reach out to others with what she had gained herself. This led to her involvement as a Volunteer and progressed to being a Sahayak- the highest level in our Volunteer Cadre hierarchy, which means she has the capacity to handle our Centres independently. She demonstrated that she could do it, and is now a member of the RF(I)T team.
Bharti also heads the hand embroidery vocational activity unit at our Training Centre.
‘I am now an all-rounder!’ she says. ‘The Center has given me a lot’ she says, ‘but most important of all, it has given me my confidence.’
Harishchandra Agre
Son of a painter and domestic worker, Harishchandra is one of our most unassuming and adjustable Utkarshites. But that in no way undermines the grit and determination of this young man!
Harishchandra , now a Electronics & Communications Engineer, on the path to charting out a successful career for himself, feels that he lacked confidence and was full of inhibitions when his association began with RF(I)T as an Utkarsh scholar in 2013. But the volunteering programme changed him. The RF(I)T team motivated him. His extra volunteering at RF(I)T office gave him useful insights of office culture, discipline and team work.
An active and dependable Utkarsh Campus Ambassdor, Harishchandra has always been a ready volunteer – even till date, as an Alumni. His primary life skills lesson comes from RF(I)T’s 6 Ks, which he uses for reflection , analysis and then decision making in his personal and professional life. He then proceeds with his plan of action.
Volunteering has made him confident of taking on leadership roles.
One of the most important values that RF(I)T has taught him are gender sensitivity and equality. It has shaped his perspective of life.
Partner Speaks
Our Urban team has had a great learning experience at RF(I)T. Their interactions with RF(I)T team members & volunteers have left a deep impact and we hope to incorporate quite a few of the strategies in our programmes. The team felt that RF(I)T’s volunteer & community outreach strategies were commendable. They were impressed by the involvement of the volunteers & the various measures taken by RF(I)T to mobilize them on a continuous basis. Amongst the out reach strategies, they were particularly impressed by the various area & community grading system and stake holder analysis. This they felt would become the strongest indicator to select particular area for implementation & future planning. They also felt that the detailed target based planning undertaken by the RF(I)T team to achieve goal based targets was worth adapting. With multiple projects, this would help them focus better. The team is highly motivated and hopes to incorporate these and other smaller details into our programmes.
Sunita Borkar & Divya Borkar
Both Sunita and Divya have been associated with RF(I)T since 2015 when Sunita applied for financial assistance for her post kidney transplant medication . Divya had applied to us at the same time for a Scholarship to support her Computer Engineering studies.
The family has become an integral part of RF(I)T. While Divya progressed from volunteering tasks to a Campus Ambassador, Sunita is an active Ekta Support Group Volunteer.
But things were not easy for the family when Sunita was diagnosed with kidney failure. They took interest bearing loans for the treatment and there were times when Sunita felt that she should tell her daughters to give up studies and take up jobs as the family could not afford their education. But her husband and she overcame those weak moments and emerged stronger with the resolve to give their daughters the education that they did not have themselves.
Today Divya partly shoulders the family responsibility. Sunita proudly says that it is because of Divya’s income that they could undertake urgent repairs of their house.
Pradnya, the younger daughter, pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Management Studies is also supported by RF(I)T.
While RF(I)T’s Utkarsh and Ummeed programmes have helped the Borkars’ help themselves, it is Sunita’s perseverance and grit that has made it possible.