Empowering Sikligar Sikh Children in Akash Nagar: SAF International’s Education Initiative

Community Overview: In Akash Nagar, Madhya Pradesh, SAF International embarked on a challenging yet vital Community Development Project with the primary goal of ensuring that children from the Sikligar Sikh community remain in school and attain a higher education. Since the project’s inception in 2018, SAF has faced numerous obstacles, but our commitment to making a positive impact has remained strong.

Challenges Faced by the Sikligar Sikh Community

Akash Nagar is a community where the harsh realities of life often overshadow the importance of education. Many parents in this area are involved in criminal activities, which not only jeopardizes their children’s education but also creates an unstable living environment as families frequently move to different locations. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the education of these children, with most of them not attending school for two years. Despite these challenges, SAF International continues to strive for change, aiming to transform the lives of these children and their families.

SAF’s Impact: Yearly Updates

• 2019 Update: Expanding Support and Cultural Initiatives

  - SAF expanded its support in Akash Nagar by increasing the number of sponsored children from 55 to 80. Recognizing the cultural importance of Sikhi, a Dastaar (Turban) tying camp was held for the first time in this community, teaching children how to tie their turbans independently.

• Update: Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis

  - During the COVID-19 lockdowns, SAF provided essential food aid to all the children and families enrolled in the child education sponsorship program. Water filters were also distributed to improve access to clean drinking water, addressing one of the community's critical needs.

• 2021 Update: Overcoming Setbacks in Education Post-Pandemic

  - The pandemic severely impacted education in Akash Nagar, with most children lacking the motivation and support to continue their studies online. Despite these setbacks, SAF remained focused on its goal of keeping children in school. Volunteers actively engaged with families, encouraging them to prioritize education over child labor. Plans were also made to organize more Gurmat camps, following the success of the first dastaar camp in 2019, to further involve the community and reignite their interest in learning.

• 2022 Update: Reopening Education Centers Amidst Community Struggles

  - The community in Akash Nagar continued to pose significant challenges. The transient nature of the families, many of whom are involved in criminal activities, made it difficult for children to focus on their education. Despite these hurdles, the Gurmat & Tuition center reopened alongside the local school. However, SAF faced difficulties in maintaining consistent communication with migrating families, impacting the ability to provide regular updates to sponsors.

• 2023 Update: Renewed Efforts and Dastaar Camp Success

  - SAF’s local volunteers continued to organize regular Gurmat camps, making efforts to involve the children's families in the process. Another successful Dastaar Camp was held, but the community’s interest in education remained minimal. Recognizing the need for a different approach, SAF remodeled its program to make one last concerted effort to engage the community and spark a passion for learning.

• 2024 Update: New School, New Hope for Sikligar Sikh Children

  - Currently, SAF is supporting 21 children in Akash Nagar. The challenges remain, with many families still showing little interest in education. In an effort to improve educational outcomes, all children were moved to a different school in 2023, and while it is still too early to fully assess the impact of this change, initial signs are promising. Working in communities that do not value education is an uphill battle, but SAF remains committed to the cause, understanding that changing mindsets is a slow and arduous process. Successes are sometimes few and far between, but each step forward is a victory in itself.