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Admission 2024-25
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BEST PRACTICE 2

1. Title of the Practice

VAACHASHAALA - Empowering Women through Reading

2. Objective

'Vaachashaala' means 'the place of words' or 'library', combining 'words' and 'place'. Our aim is to empower women by providing access to educational resources.

  • ● Promote literacy and Keep Learning
  • ● Create a supportive environment
  • ● Empower with knowledge

3. The Context

Sahya College is located in a rural area with no nearby library, making it difficult for the community to access books. To address this issue, we initiated a program to distribute books to women, particularly housewives. This program provides an opportunity for women to start reading and learning without incurring any cost. Beyond teaching literacy, this initiative aims to help women relax and stay connected to the world. Through reading, we aspire to cultivate a group of women who are engaged, knowledgeable, and inspired, hereby enhancing their lives. Additionally, we are distributing books to children to encourage reading and reduce excessive phone usage.

4. The Practice

‘Veettammakoru Vayanashaala’ which translates ‘A Library for House Mother’s, is an initiative launched by Sahya College in 2018 to promote reading habits among women in rural areas with limited access to libraries. Initially, the program invited women, especially housewives, to borrow books from the college library's book bank, which consisted of donations from students and staff. In 2019, to commemorate Reading Day, the college distributed books to nearby women, highlighting the importance of reading for empowerment and stress relief. By 2020, the initiative expanded to include door-to-door visits. Volunteers promoted the benefits of reading and distributed books to women and children, encouraging the development of reading habits despite the prevalence of digital distractions.

5. Evidence of Success

  • ● To empower women in our rural community, we established ‘Vaachalayam’ , a dedicated space where housewives can read.
  • ● Through the 'Veettammakoru Vayanashaala' initiative and our Reading Day events, we collected books from our college library's book bank, enhanced from students.
  • ● This collection effort enabled us to distribute books to 10-15 housewives annually, helping them cultivate a reading habit and explore new ideas.
  • ● The creation of 'Vaachashaala' has provided a supportive environment where women feel encouraged to read and learn.
  • ● During the last vacation, we delivered books directly to households, including housewives and children, a well-received effort highlighting the importance of reading.
  • ● 'Vaachashaala' has gained more participants and positive community feedback. Housewives say having books has eased stress and broadened their knowledge.

6. Problem encountered and Resources Required

Providing books to women encountered skepticism from families who undervalued female education. The pandemic introduced new challenges for in-person interactions. There were frequent shortages of books for different ages or interests. Engaging rural communities in reading required significant effort.

7. Notes

Students dedication to the college library, particularly its book bank initiative, stands as a cornerstone of community empowerment. This dedication has resulted in a collection of books that are readily available to the community at no cost and created a significant impact on the community.