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Climate Change: A reality close to our homes
As we contemplate the impact of global climate change, our minds are often drawn to images of polar ice caps melting or the migration of Amazonian tribes. Yet, amidst these global narratives, there's a quieter reality that deserves our immediate attention — the profound impact of climate migration on the most marginalized communities, those who reside much closer to our homes.
In the heart of Maharashtra, just 8 hours away from metropolis of Mumbai, lies Beed district where sugarcane cutters bear the brunt of climate change's unforgiving impact. Belonging predominantly to vulnerable Nomadic & Denotified Nomadic Tribes, Scheduled Castes and other vulnerable communities, they have faced an extensive history of social and economic marginalization. Added to this, the community faces recurrent droughts in the region that disrupt their way of life, leading to displacement, migration and a cascade of health challenges. Amidst these hardships, they grapple with uprooted families and homes, meager sustainable livelihood opportunities, prejudice and discrimination. One of the worst affected, are children from these families whose access to education has been historically disrupted, depriving them of their fundamental rights.
In Maharashtra around 1.5 million people migrate each year with their children according to Oxfam. Of those, nearly 5,00,000 migrate from Beed district, the hiring hub for sugarcane cutters. About 2,00,000 children, younger than 14 years of age, accompany their parents during the cutting season and live with them in temporary huts.
Support us in building a safe haven for the children of Beed: Navchetana Gurukul
In collaboration with Navchetana Sarvangin Vikas Kendra (NSVK), a Beed-based non-profit organization, The Climate Resilience Project (CRP) is committed to affecting meaningful change in the lives of children of Beed’s sugarcane farm laborers.
Despite their best efforts, regrettably, NSVK is currently able to provide shelter and food for only 50 children through strenuous means, with backing from the local community, who despite their own modest circumstances, generously provide sustenance.
CRP is supporting the education project of NSVK by raising funds for the establishment of the Navchetana Gurukul, a first-of-its-kind hostel in Beed. This residential facility will be pivotal in enabling the displaced children of Beed, who will be able to continue their education and live in a steady environment without having to drop out from their school. Navchetana Gurukul will cater to students affiliated to the Navchetana International English School.
Navchetana Gurukul, is a hostel intended to provide residential shelter to students belonging from the community of sugarcane cutters or those having single or no parents. These children drop out of schools due to climate induced migration or belong from destitute families who cannot afford school education.
Navchetana Gurukul: Aiming to impact a thousand children
In the first year, Navchetana Gurukul will support 100 children across Grades 1 – 6.
Thereafter, annually, NSVK aims to increase student uptake at the Navchetana Gurukul by 100 each year, while also adding an additional grade each year at the Navchetana International English School.
In 5 years Navchetana Gurukul will support 500 students across Grade 1 – 10
In 10 years Navchetana Gurukul will support 1000 students from Grade 1 – 12
Some of NSVK’s donors, who believe in their audacious goal and renders valuable support, include -
Join us in rewriting this narrative of struggle into one of triumph. CRP and NSVK seek your support to construct this vital residential facility, which will provide the children and youth of Beed an institution where they can learn, grow, collaborate, and thrive
About the Organisations
NSVK is a grassroots NGO working with vulnerable population from the drought-prone Beed district of Maharashtra, which includes sugarcane-cutters, single women and children, who also belong to marginalised communities such as Nomadic & Denotified Nomadic Tribes and Scheduled Castes. NSVK fosters change through interventions across land rights, water and sanitation, menstrual health, education and livelihoods. It is founded and led by Manisha Sitaram Ghule, a survivor of gender-based violence hailing from a sugarcane-cutting family in Kaij, Beed.
Climate Resilience Project is an initiative dedicated to supporting communities affected by the detrimental impacts of climate change. It is founded by Alekha Choksey, a young 12th-grade student at Bombay International School passionate about global issues, particularly the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
Besides this fundraiser, some of the other ways in which CRP is supporting NSVK include:
As we contemplate the impact of global climate change, our minds are often drawn to images of polar ice caps melting or the migration of Amazonian tribes. Yet, amidst these global narratives, there's a quieter reality that deserves our immediate attention — the profound impact of climate migration on the most marginalized communities, those who reside much closer to our homes.
In the heart of Maharashtra, just 8 hours away from metropolis of Mumbai, lies Beed district where sugarcane cutters bear the brunt of climate change's unforgiving impact. Belonging predominantly to vulnerable Nomadic & Denotified Nomadic Tribes, Scheduled Castes and other vulnerable communities, they have faced an extensive history of social and economic marginalization. Added to this, the community faces recurrent droughts in the region that disrupt their way of life, leading to displacement, migration and a cascade of health challenges. Amidst these hardships, they grapple with uprooted families and homes, meager sustainable livelihood opportunities, prejudice and discrimination. One of the worst affected, are children from these families whose access to education has been historically disrupted, depriving them of their fundamental rights.
In Maharashtra around 1.5 million people migrate each year with their children according to Oxfam. Of those, nearly 5,00,000 migrate from Beed district, the hiring hub for sugarcane cutters. About 2,00,000 children, younger than 14 years of age, accompany their parents during the cutting season and live with them in temporary huts.
Support us in building a safe haven for the children of Beed: Navchetana Gurukul
In collaboration with Navchetana Sarvangin Vikas Kendra (NSVK), a Beed-based non-profit organization, The Climate Resilience Project (CRP) is committed to affecting meaningful change in the lives of children of Beed’s sugarcane farm laborers.
Despite their best efforts, regrettably, NSVK is currently able to provide shelter and food for only 50 children through strenuous means, with backing from the local community, who despite their own modest circumstances, generously provide sustenance.
CRP is supporting the education project of NSVK by raising funds for the establishment of the Navchetana Gurukul, a first-of-its-kind hostel in Beed. This residential facility will be pivotal in enabling the displaced children of Beed, who will be able to continue their education and live in a steady environment without having to drop out from their school. Navchetana Gurukul will cater to students affiliated to the Navchetana International English School.
Navchetana Gurukul, is a hostel intended to provide residential shelter to students belonging from the community of sugarcane cutters or those having single or no parents. These children drop out of schools due to climate induced migration or belong from destitute families who cannot afford school education.
Navchetana Gurukul: Aiming to impact a thousand children
In the first year, Navchetana Gurukul will support 100 children across Grades 1 – 6.
Thereafter, annually, NSVK aims to increase student uptake at the Navchetana Gurukul by 100 each year, while also adding an additional grade each year at the Navchetana International English School.
In 5 years Navchetana Gurukul will support 500 students across Grade 1 – 10
In 10 years Navchetana Gurukul will support 1000 students from Grade 1 – 12
Some of NSVK’s donors, who believe in their audacious goal and renders valuable support, include -
- Bajaj Electricals Ltd. has provided part-funding towards the construction of the Navchetana Gurukul
- Smile Foundation sustains 100% of the teachers’ salaries at the Navchetana International School
- Goonj provides essential resources to the children
Join us in rewriting this narrative of struggle into one of triumph. CRP and NSVK seek your support to construct this vital residential facility, which will provide the children and youth of Beed an institution where they can learn, grow, collaborate, and thrive
About the Organisations
NSVK is a grassroots NGO working with vulnerable population from the drought-prone Beed district of Maharashtra, which includes sugarcane-cutters, single women and children, who also belong to marginalised communities such as Nomadic & Denotified Nomadic Tribes and Scheduled Castes. NSVK fosters change through interventions across land rights, water and sanitation, menstrual health, education and livelihoods. It is founded and led by Manisha Sitaram Ghule, a survivor of gender-based violence hailing from a sugarcane-cutting family in Kaij, Beed.
Climate Resilience Project is an initiative dedicated to supporting communities affected by the detrimental impacts of climate change. It is founded by Alekha Choksey, a young 12th-grade student at Bombay International School passionate about global issues, particularly the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
Besides this fundraiser, some of the other ways in which CRP is supporting NSVK include:
- Conducting rigorous research and ethnographic insights to build case studies and an academic research paper titled “Shallow Waters: Examining Displacement, Migration, and Climate Resilience among Urban-Village Communities in Beed,” that sheds light on the experiences and resilience of the community, aiming to foster lasting awareness, and change.
- Building a resource network by connecting individuals and organizations with NSVK, who are willing to offer support to these communities through trainings and resources including vocational training, water management education, medical assistance, etc.
