The need to do SMC Collectives, and three ways to do it effectively

When we work in the social sector, we want to work at the grassroots level. This is very important to involve the community for the betterment. No better than the village people know what is better for the village and what is going un useful from last years. When I talk about school’s betterment, there is a very important title, not only a title but power. I can say that it is SMC (SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE). Involving SMC and making them aware makes a huge difference. This is not only about one or two works. It is about ownership so that they start taking steps when there is a need. SMC meeting is a meeting where teachers, parents, and the community sit and talk about the needs of students and kids. These meetings are important for every school and kid’s growth. There are different ways to engage them effectively.

• Making good relations with the community:- During starting days start involving villagers. First, take help from the head teacher, call SMC members to school about what you are doing, and tell them about Organization work in straightforward language. After this we have numbers, start going to their home, inside villages, and workplaces to know them better. By knowing them better, make them very vocal with us. For example, starting my SMC is very quiet, so I had thought of involving them in a better way. I started visiting them frequently, sharing their roles and powers and the needs of schools and kids. This worked so well during my SMC meeting that many parents were vocal, sharing openly and I am feeling the ownership.
• Sharing success stories:- Parents are very simple, they trust you, believe in you, they want any superhero who can do some things for their village, but they are unaware of their power. This is the time when you all are collecting and talking about school issues, roles, etc make an important part like using success stories from nearby or Youtube. Sometimes they feel like what they are thinking is impossible so these kinds of stories make them feel positive and fill them with enthusiasm. For example:- In one of my schools, SMC was thinking with a very unhelpful mind that this boundary wall work is very tough; it can’t happen. In one of my meetings, I shared a story from Youtube. At the start they all were surprised but their eyes were full of positivity that all together we can try and make anything possible. From going to sarpanch, mid-day meal work, students homework checking, and taking follow-ups. All are together and trying their best. This made me feel like success stories helped me to the next level.
• Make space for their exploration:- As I shared they are very simple, with not many expectations. Make a space like a magical space so that they go to their own school time and can think about what they wanted as a kid. For giving them ownership it is important to make everyone speak what they want, this is not about doing a meeting this is about making a space where the real magic is happening, not everyone speaks at first but they try. Looking at the others also gets courage. One day in my meeting everybody was so quiet, I tried exploring with them. At first, the parents said everything is ok. In the end, they said we need clean drinking water, needs, inverter, rooftop work in school, and even solar panels for further advancement. Rather than making it a meeting, make it a comfortable family space where we are talking about our important needs.