Next week, Mumbai will play host to the Seed Festival, which brings together groups from seven states across India, working for conservation and promotion of seed diversity. The aim of the festival is to celebrate the collective bio-cultural heritage of indigenous people and farming communities in India, and create public awareness and policy support to conserve seed diversity, which is under threat.

Being held on February 19-21, 2012, the festival will include a seed diversity exhibition, discussions, film screenings, cultural programmes and more. Seed savers across India will be attending this festival and will also be speaking at parallel events at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS); Indian Institute of Technology (IIT); Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

See the event schedule and other details at http://www.gmfreein.org/sf-mum and www.facebook.com/events/359748717383521/

Also see the Seed Festival brochure and flyer for more information.

Date: February 19 to 21, 2012

Time: 9 am to 7 pm

Place: Janata Kendra, near Mumbai Central Station (W), Tulsiwadi, Tardeo (main venue for all three days)

Kshana, an NGO that organises entertainment events for underprivileged and marginalised people, is having its next event at an old age home, Jeevan Asha in Andheri, from 3.30-5.30pm on February 19, 2012.

Keeping in mind that the residents have restricted movements and a light diet, they will play Antakshari and Housie, followed by a light snack and some gifts for them.

The total cost of this event is Rs. 15,000. You could donate in any way you like. Kshana accepts cash or cheques in the name of ‘Kshana Charitable Trust’. You could donate in kind too.

The NGO needs a lot of volunteers for this event, so if you would like to contribute your time, please call Esha on 7666877077 or Roshni on 9820750480 for any more details. You can also visit www.kshana.org.

Date: February 19, 2012

Time: 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm

Place: Jeevan Asha, near Fun Republic, Andheri (W), Mumbai – 400 053. Ph: 26303076/ 26303065

Also read Mumbai Action’s article on Kshana: Living in the ‘moment’

‘Through the Eyes of Girls/ Kishori ki Aankhon se’ is an exhibition of photographs by girls, which will be displayed at the Kala Ghoda Festival on Rampart Row from February 4-12, 2012.

The exhibit will feature photographs girls aged 13-18 years, living in the bastis of Santacruz and Ambernath, who attended photography workshops conducted by the Photography Promotion Trust for Vacha Trust.

Armed with cameras, these girls no longer remain mere subjects but are now behind the camera calling the shots. It is an attempt to subvert the digital divide that excludes poor girls from speaking out through electronic mediums.

Vacha Trust works with girls as well as mixed youth in several poor neighbourhoods in and around Mumbai.  It also creates, collects and disseminates resources on relevant issues. Vacha documents and advocates girlhood issues at various levels. This exhibition is part of an ongoing project called ‘Bole Kishori/ Girls Speak Out’ in which girls from socio-economically disadvantaged communities are given training through various workshops and encouraged to tell their own stories through writing, drawing, posters, newsletters and photo and video essays. They choose to document their daily life to tell their own stories.

For more details, contact:

Amrita: 9820778330/ Medhavinee: 9833476857

Project Vacha, Tank Lane Municipal School, Near Seasons’ store, Santacruz (w). Mumbai -400054.

Email: vachamail@gmail.com

Website: www.vacha.org.in

Kshana, an NGO that organises entertainment events for underprivileged and marginalised people, will have its first event of 2012 at YMCA, Andheri, on January 22, 2012. The 72 young boys, aged 6 to 17 years, will get to enjoy a fun-filled event, with games like Paper Dance and Four Corners, and a face painting contest, from 2-6 pm.

This will be followed by dancing and snacks.

The total cost of this event is Rs. 10,000. Kshana accepts cash or cheques in the name of Kshana Charitable Trust. You could donate in kind too.

The Ngo needs a lot of volunteers for this event, so if you would like to contribute your time, please call Esha on 7666877077 or Roshni on 9820750480 for any more details. You can also visit www.kshana.org.

Date: January 22, 2012

Time: 2pm – 6pm

Place: YMCA Boys Home, D.N. Nagar, Andheri (W) Mumbai – 400 053. Ph: 26303076/ 26303065

Also read Mumbai Action’s article on Kshana: Living in the ‘moment’

OASIS, an organisation working towards promoting environmental awareness of the children, for the children and by the children, has organised an event called Haan Main Apraadhi Hoon, which is a dance and drama showcase to be performed at Carter Road in Bandra on January 21, 2012.

The event aims to showcase the students’ learning of the project Green Ideas initiated by the Environment Department, State of Maharashtra executed by OASIS with the specific theme of Flora and fauna of Mumbai through their presentation talents.

The rationale of this project was that the Environmental assets are valuable and the welfare of Mumbaikars is tied up with preservation of those assets. Community participation is a must to protect our ecological treasures that have outstanding universal values and be a part of collective responsibility. The sparrows, vultures, feathered friends and native trees are vanishing from Mumbai.

Through this project, OASIS wanted to drive home to the students the ‘native flora and fauna’ existent in Mumbai and to survey the kind of flora and fauna that existed in the adjacent lane and the species that have witnessed the vanishing of the same. The project involved students right from research to action and it inculcated the sense of ownership and responsibility to retain the natural wealth of Mumbai along with its becoming a world class city.

The project culminates in an event on the evening of January 21, 2012, at the Carter Road Amphitheatre, Bandra (W) ,between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm, where there will be performances by school students for the officers of the Environment Dept, State of Maharashtra, parents, school teachers and students as well as the general public.

Date: January 21, 2012

Time: 6.30 pm — 9.30 pm

Place: Carter Road Amphitheatre, Bandra (W)

Kshana, an NGO that organises entertainment events for underprivileged and marginalised people, is organising a Christmas event on the December 18, Sunday, at The Don Bosco Shelter in Wadala from 4 – 7 p.m.

The shelter has 85 boys between the age group of 10 to 18 years. The Kshana team has lined up an ad-making competition with some simple products, and  the boys will be judged on their creativity and the skits they put up.

After that there will be an hour of just enjoying music and dancing. Since this is Kshana’s last event of the year and they are celebrating a little girl’s birthday too, there is a large-scale dinner awaiting these extremely energetic boys.

The total cost of this event is Rs. 25,000. Though some of it is already sponsored, any help will be appreciated. Kshana accepts cash or cheques in the name of Kshana Charitable Trust. Or you could donate in kind too.

The best thing you could do is just come for the event. There is no better joy than to see these children’s faces light-up with a small effort.

The organisation will need a lot of volunteers for this event, so if you would like to help out, call Esha on 7666877077 or Roshni on 9820750480 for details. You can also visit www.kshana.org.

Date: December 18, 2011

Time: 4 pm – 7 pm

Place: The Don Bosco Shelter, St Joseph High School Lane, Wadala

Also read Mumbai Action’s article on Kshana: Living in the ‘moment’

A national symposium called ‘Is Sustainable Development a distant dream?’ is being held on December 7-8, 2011, at the Sophia College for Women.

Sponsored by UGC, and organised by the Department of Economics, Sophia College & Sophia Centre of Women’s Studies & Development, the two-day symposium will focus on issues of participation of women in development as well as on the gendering of policy and planning with regard to development. One of the main objectives of this symposium is to promote a gendered analytical perspective in considering development issues.

Participation:

• Participation (without paper presentation) should be confirmed on or before November 30, 2011, by sending the completed registration form, along with the registration fee.
• The registration form should be sent along with the registration fee, by post
• All payments should be made through Demand draft or cash, in favour of “Sophia College, Mumbai”, payable at Mumbai.
• The registration fee includes the seminar kit, lunch and refreshments.
• Certificates will be issued at the Valedictory function.
• No accommodation will be provided to the participants.

Registration fee

• Rs 400/- for teachers/ others
• Rs 200/- for students

Contact: +91-22-2351 3280 or ecodept.sophia@gmail.com

See invite.

Kshana, an NGO that organises entertainment events for underprivileged and marginalised people, is holding an event for the young girls at Prem Sadan in Malad (W).

The home has 60 talented and smart girls, who will be treated to a different set of activities this time.

Because it is important to inculcate the concept of time with children from a very young age, the first activity will see the kids making their own clocks. The Kshana team will distribute material to make wall clocks and the girls will get to paint and decorate them as they wish, with each one getting their own clock.

After that, there will be a few rounds of Antakshri, a favourite with the girls there, followed by the customary dancing session and snacks.

The total cost of the event is Rs. 15,000. Donations are welcome in cash or cheques drawn in the name of ‘Kshana Charitable Trust’. Kshana is a registered NGO with the Charity Commissioner.

For more details, visit www.kshana.org or call 9820750480/7666877077 for more information.

Date: November 27, 2011

Time: 4pm-7pm

Place: Prem Sadan, Marve Road, Malad West, near The Retreat

Also read Mumbai Action’s article on Kshana: Living in the ‘moment’

Watch 30 Days in September, a play that explores the sensitive issue of child sexual abuse through the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. Presented by Arpan, an organisation that works for the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse, the play is scripted by Mahesh Dattani and directed by Lillete Dubey.

Passes cost Rs 100-300 and are available at the Arpan office (9819051444) or on www.bookmyshow.com.

Date: November 18, Friday

Time: 8 pm – 9.30 pm

Place: Thakur Auditorium, Thakur Village, Kandivali (E)

See details below.

The 2011 edition of Joy of Giving Week began on Sunday, October 2, and there are scores of events all over the country to mark the occasion this year.

The thought behind this week is that anyone can create or participate in an event or an action — small or big — that celebrates ‘giving’ to someone less fortunate. Now in it’s third year, Joy of Giving Week isn’t organised or managed by one entity or person, it’s meant to be a festival of sorts in which anyone can participate.

To know more about Joy of Giving Week and how you can ‘celebrate’ it, visit: www.joyofgivingweek.org