Project Prerana

Most of us take for granted several things in life: the food we eat, our family, access to digital devices, the money we spend on the most unnecessary extravaganzas, our education and how easily we can fish out a credit card to swipe away when something catches our fancy. Despite the numerous blessings we have, we tend to fall into depression. Every day is a mental turmoil of questions: Why didn’t I get that promotion? How can I make more money? Why can’t I have a beautiful house/ car/ partner like XYZ? Without a dose of inspiration from our Whatsapp forwards and Facebook posts, we can’t get through our day. 

             In this scenario, if we imagine the plight of those who have neither family nor finances to get them through, how much more depression might they be facing as they compare themselves to the privileged people around them? This is the stream of thought that gave rise to Project Prerana, a unique approach to improvising the lives of children from rural areas by strengthening them mentally and emotionally, using the psychological approach of providing inspiration and motivation. 

                Unlike students from urban areas, students from rural backgrounds have neither any access to television and the web nor do they have examples of successful individuals in their immediate families or communities. Since most are first-generation learners, their support system is weak and they receive hardly any encouragement from their family to complete their studies and aim high. And when they start competing with those from urban areas later in life, they find themselves at a disadvantage in terms of communication skills, self-esteem and confidence. If they do draw inspiration, from whom can they do so? 

                           Project Prerana aims to bridge this very gap between the exposure received by rural and urban students, by holding personality development workshops, seminars on various topics and motivational sessions. AASA hopes to ignite that spark of ambition in these young ones who have all the potential but lack only in resources. Be it a general session on how to present oneself or interaction on future career choices, AASA brings in rays of new avenues through seasoned speakers and achievers in their respective fields.

      “Dream to Dance”- an interactive dance session which sent out the message to nurture the talent for creative arts- conducted by Mr. Eric John Compros, the phenomenal dancer-choreographer from New York was held at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad in 2017. It was an instant hit with the 100-odd tiny tots from Rainbow Homes and Sai Homes who attended it.

Similar interactive sessions in the last two years with Mr. Amit Lodha, IPS and Sri Balachandra Sunku, Founder, Abhaya Foundation yielded pearls of wisdom which our young minds imbibed with conviction. Their personal stories inspired the children and Sri Balachandra Sunku’s tips to crack the Board exams were highly useful for them. 

AASA is looking to create more such memorable opportunities for youngsters to interact and learn from great minds; this is just the tip of the iceberg!