Day 2: Ghagas

Production:

For the first week of our stay we are getting a feel of the locals and of the foundation. No actual documentary work will take place this week. As a team we find it very disrespectful to go into these villages full blast with cameras and start documenting without knowing the individuals who we will be working with. Also, many of the villagers see us as outsiders. If we are not paired up with someone with the foundation they find it unwise to talk to us. 

On the road to Ghagas:

When we were heading to Ghagas I saw a number of things. There is so much trash on the streets that it piles up. Many children dig through the garbage as well as dogs. Children bath in unclean water and many run around with no clothes. Some children even use the restroom a few feet away from traffic. The area is developing and there is a lot of construction that adds to the piles of garbage. 

There are many little shops that sit next to the road.

In Ghagas:

We visited the village Ghagas to witness training on rural governance. The Sehgal Foundation trains villagers on government policies so that they may become active citizens in the government. It was a great learning experience. Tough it may seem like common sense to us Americans that in order for our government to work we must become active, but many of us can care less. The villagers here are deprive on information on how to impact their government. What the foundation does is train a number of people from different villages on polices and then those who have learned spread the word.

Also, the foundation pushes for women to become more active as well. For instance, in order for a village representative to attend these training sessions the village must first nominate a equal number of men and women or their application will be declined. One women said that the foundation gives her "hope" and that before many of them never left their home.

Now, they are more educated and able to do more things such as going to the market alone, before only men did such task. They also learn how to use their postal system and other government institutions which many of us Americans use in our daily lives. However, like I said before these villagers are not aware of what is outside their village and are deprive of their rights. A lot of this stuff may seem like common sense and stuff you read about, but actually seeing it in front of my eyes has shaped my understanding of life. Another women said that they are fighting for their rights so that they can better their lives for their children who may prosper. One said, "they are not only working for themselves, but for the community."