Wandoor, Sri Vijaya Puram, March 03: Dakshin Foundation (ANET) organised a graduation ceremony for the Youth Ambassadors, marking the completion of a 10-month-long capacity-building program aimed at empowering young women to lead change in their community on solid waste management (SWM) and sustainable menstruation. The Youth Ambassador training programme, launched by Dakshin Foundation with the support of PwC India Foundation in April 2024, selected eight young women from different wards of Wandoor gram panchayat and built their knowledge on topics ranging from ecosystems and communities of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, functioning of Panchayati Raj System, solid waste management, sustainable menstruation, etc. The training also focused on building up the skills of the youth for resource mapping, field research and survey methods, photography, theatre and community engagement.
Since June 2024, these Youth Ambassadors have conducted over 50 community awareness sessions on solid waste management , led 17 clean up drives mobilising youth around Wandoor and have sensitised more than 400 people on solid waste management. They have introduced sustainable menstrual products to over 450 women and girls in Wandoor GP. Through the regular peer-support and troubleshooting by the team, 250 women have started using sustainable menstrual products. The Youth Ambassadors have used innovative ways to engage with the community, performed street plays, and worked closely with the Gram Panchayat and Forest Department to drive positive change in their village.
Ms. Lalita Tigga (BDO, Ferrargunj), Mr. Adhir Das (Pradhan, Wandoor Gram Panchayat), Mr. Durlav Das (Pradhan, Guptapara Gram Panchayat), Mr. Mohammed Hussain (Forester, MGMNP), Ms. Madhuri Mondal (Sr. Programme Officer, Dakshin/ANET) and other PRI members of Wandoor were present at the occasion and handed the Youth Ambassadors their training completion certificates. The event also honoured the memory of Prahlad Tete, a sanitation worker at Wandoor Gram Panchayat who passed away last year. Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Lalita Tigga highlighted the importance of youth participation in driving changes in the village and community-led action. She also stressed the need to take actions towards making Wandoor a zero waste panchayat. Mr. Adhir Das, Pradhan, Wandoor Gram Panchayat appreciated the dedication and the hard work the Youth Ambassadors have shown in working towards the betterment of their village.