Project Status : ongoing

Misaal Kashmir is a programme run by Rouble Nagi Art Foundation in Rural Kashmir. This is a part of the Misaal India initiative launched in 2018, the programme was designed by Rouble Nagi where it benefited the less privileged people living in slums and villages across India.The basic objective of Misaal Kashmir is development to improve the quality of life of the people. We observe that the major causes for slow economic and social development in these parts of Kashmir is lack of opportunity and exposure .With the help on the Indian Armed forces we have become a partner, to help run the Skill centres in remote areas of Kashmir.When the women and youth are productively employed , it can become an asset and resource.

Vision | Objective

Create more Employment/job opportunities for youth and women in Kashmir valley. Our focus and sole reason for existence is children especially children living in the Kashmir . The family of the child is the medium through which the development takes place. Organisation and sensitisation of the community is the approach through which empowerment, capacity building and social transformation are attempted. When the women and youth are productively employed , it can become an asset and resource.

Through Misaal Kashmir Initiative we aim to act as a catalyst for bringing about social, economic empowerment of women belonging to the underprivileged sections of society through interventions in the areas like micro-enterprises, entrepreneurship development and health.

Activities :

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Art Camp: The importance of education is well known by all of us. But in these areas, where violence, frustration, and insecurities run high due to the socio-economic context, it becomes crucial to provide the children with an environment where they can learn to read, write and think independently. An intelligent way to significantly affect the dropout rates, improve retention and ensure enrolment, is to show that learning can be fun! The Art Camps are a huge success since the children, once engaged in art & craft, are able to experience joy firsthand, instead of merely being promised of it. These Art Camps are a threshold into listing their names down and taking registrations for a brand new Balwadi (Centre for Children) that will be set up. Once a Balwadi is set up, it will have and host more sessions and classes on art, craft, painting, etc. Volunteers from the Armed Forces are welcome to come and have a look and even conduct an art activity!

Balwadis – Learning Centres for Children: These centres are created once we’ve built a rapport with the community and conducted our threshold activity of Art Camps. The registrations we receive from keen community members, translate into enrolment at our own Balwadi – a space taken up, painted and made ready by our team, to welcome the children. The children begin to attend the art classes at the Balwadi and this activity continues throughout the year once it’s begun. It’s not a one-time intervention. These Balwadis become safe spaces for children to come, learn new things, meet different people, engage with many skilled volunteers and professionals, express themselves better and go home happy. This is turn leads to them building confidence, an increased interest in learning, studying and excelling and them realizing their true potential, because of our continuous support and mentoring.

Women Empowerment Camps: Women empowerment camps will focus on increasing the employability of women and current issues being faced by them in relation to the same. We create a platform where the ideas of Self-Reliance, Entrepreneurship & Employability are all put out there, in front of the women of the communities. Slum communities are built on multitudes of socio-cultural contexts and the idea of a woman working and earning an income is still one that has to be negotiated at times. In fact, cleaning and cooking are probably the only acceptable work forms and our aim is to draw attention to how small businesses that are running from home, or respectable jobs in companies and institutions can be a reality for the woman and her family. This is a threshold camp, wherein we seek to open the mind of the community and try to find as many women as possible, who are interested in becoming a part of the Skill Training Centre. Skill

Training Centre: Our Skill Training programme for employability will be used as an agent of change in promoting women’s employment and independence. The Skill Centre set up by Rouble Nagi Art Foundation will be about accessing skills and techniques which are productive for employment of women. This will also be done keeping in mind the existing knowledge and skill set each woman comes with. With a little guidance, mentoring and skill shaping, we are aiming to encourage woman entrepreneurs. We’ve decided to begin with basic tailoring courses which will cover all aspects of sowing, stitching, mending and embroidery.