Rangoonwala Community Centres
Our Community Centres are physical spaces in the midst of Mumbai’s slums, which people, mainly women and children can
call their own. Our activity centric model draws them to the Centre and then engages them in a series of development
initiatives. This journey to empowerment is through a range of activities focusing on capacity building, health, life skills,
keeping abreast of issues that affect them, nurturing critical thinking and ownership through volunteer cadre building.
Our seven Centres in Premnagar- Andheri Plot, Subashnagar-Gumpha Road and Shivtekdi in Jogeshwari (east), Mahakali in
Andheri (east); Anandwadi and Pathanwadi in Malad (east) and Damunagar in Kandivali (east) are the hubs which enable us
to engage with people in a series of centre based and community based activities. Our capacity building initiatives are
through a range of around 40 vocational trainings and other processes, trainings and activities. Our health initiatives
promote health seeking behavior among women through health awareness, interactive sessions with medical experts to
address areas of concern and a health tracking system of health camps , consultation clinics and referrals .
We have Community Centric interventions at Pump House in Andheri(east) , at Juhu Galli in Andheri (west) and some
peripheral areas of our Community Centres.
With this, we have a foot print in 5 Municipal Wards of Mumbai.
Our Interventions
Work with Children
The pressure of academics, especially for first generation learners does not leave much scope for their wholistic development. Neither do they get opportunities in their immediate environment for this. We engage children in a range of initiatives and activities through the year to address this. These are Centre based, community based as well as in partnership with area schools and other stake holders. These include life skills and value building, activities that contribute to building a scientific temperament, gender and disability sensitization, cultural sensitization, nationalism and secularism, environment and climate change , self-defense, health awareness, opportunities for creative expression etc.
Work with Youth
Capacity building through various initiatives contribute to the wholistic development of youth. Life skills trainings , making career choices through aptitude testing and career guidance, personality development, handling peer pressure , substance abuse are areas we focus on . Our Reflect Group processes build perspective on community issues, facilitate critical thinking and hone values that prepare youth to take ownership of issues that affect their day to day life and immediate environment.
Work with Women
Any activity that a community woman chooses to associate with our Centre, is a starting point for us to engage with her in
development processes that gradually lead to empowerment. This is done through our various health initiatives like health
talks, health camps like Anemia & Cancer detection ; Health Consultation Clinics and referrals .
Yoga and mental health related initiatives further aid overall well-being.
We focus on capacity building through skill building that contributes to self esteem, social recognition and earned incomes.
Entrepreneurship development is an integral part of our work. Trainings like Mehendi application, Massage, Beautician,
Hand embroidery Jewelry making, Warli painting, Cake, Cookies & Chocolate making, Rangoli , Flower making etc.
ensure that women do not have to invest much capital or dedicate space in congested homes to practice their skills and
earn incomes .
Our strong cadre of women volunteers and community based resource persons foster ownership and contribute to
sustainability .
Work with Senior Citizens
Increased life expectancy and the related socio-economic issues that it creates in the fabric of life is a reality that senior citizens live with. Our Aashayein Parivaar ‘aunties’ meet at our Centres or at pre- decided locations in the ‘basti’ every week and are engaged in processes through carefully planned activity modules. This is a respite that energizes them for the rest of the week. They call it their “booster dose”! Monthly get togethers, exposure visits, computer literacy, summer camps etc. are also planned for them. Their dance performance at RF(I)T events is something that everyone looks forward to!
Work with Groups
As a Community Centric need based intervention, we take a group approach too. Our Computer Literacy, TB and Food Security programs, Open Forums, Outreach initiatives, Mental health interventions are a few examples.