Description

South of the tree-lined boulevards of central Delhi, deep within the poor community of Molarband, the drinking water tank at the community primary school had a lizard living inside.

This was the discovery made by Asha, Ambika, Shafina, Saira, and their fellow activists when they began using World Vision’s Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach to monitor and improve the conditions at Molarband’s primary schools.

For many months, students were drinking the water from the filthy tank.

“When we looked in the tank, the top of the water was black and slimy,” said Asha, one of the activists.

But the dirty tank also served as a good indicator of other problems that were discouraging school attendance and learning among the children at the school. The sewers around the school were blocked and overflowing. Students complained that their school lunch was frequently infested with worms. And some of the classrooms had up to 120 students per teacher.

Then, in 2010, World Vision trained Asha, Ambika, Shafina, Saira, and other community members in a local level advocacy approach called Citizen Voice and Action. CVA equips citizens with tools to research their government’s commitments to the quality of schools, clinics, and other public services. With this information at hand, communities undertake a series of exercises that compare reality with those commitments. Finally, working collaboratively with government and other key stakeholders, communities press for change.

Using the CVA approach, the women of Molarband have attained impressive success. The lizard, of course, has found a new home. The municipality also visited Molarband and cleaned the sewers in the neighborhood. And as for the wormy lunches, the principal of the school has committed himself to eating the same food as the children, to ensure the quality of the meal. Perhaps, most importantly, the school has hired more teachers and built more classrooms, bringing the pupil-teacher ratio down to a manageable 40 to 1.

The women attributed these changes to the CVA approach.

“As a result of Citizen Voice and Action, we’ve become more powerful,” said Asha.

“We meet regularly with the school management. We used to ask World Vision staff to go with us to these meetings, but now we go by ourselves,” said Ambika.

As they recounted their stories, the women in the group have clearly forged bonds of solidarity in their common struggle for good schools. This solidarity has served as a key factor in the success of CVA. Hindus, Christians, and Muslims all work together for the changes they seek. According to Ambika, even if they disagree on some things, they always put the needs of their children first.

One of those children is Shail, Shafina’s 9-year-old boy.

“Sahil is very happy at school,” Shafina said satisfied. “He tells me, ‘Mom, ever since you came to my school, class is great.’ I’m very proud of him and of what we’ve done.”

Asked about what Shafina expected from Sahil’s education, she said, “When Sahil grows up, I want to see him fulfill his dreams. Whatever he wants to be, I’ll support him.”


Dreams do not come easy for the poor in India. More than a million people live on less than US$11.00 per month. Every year, two million Indian children under five die. Only 66 percent of children finish primary school. But the women of Molarband are optimistic. They are learning that they have the power to influence the destiny of their children.

Ambika is the leader of the Kushboo women’s group – Kushboo means ‘fragrance’ in Hindi.

“We called our group Kushboo because we want our work to spread like a sweet fragrance,” Ambika said. “When I was small, I could not attend school because there were no facilities. We had to do something. I want my grandchildren to have a different opportunity.”

As their confidence grows, the Kushboo group is taking on bigger challenges. They are advocating for better school access for children with disabilities. They are also pressuring other parents to send their children to school, now that the environment has improved. With their energy, passion, and solidarity, the sweet fragrance, the Kushboo, of justice will sweep over Molarband bringing about sustainable change in the community.