Training Programme
Empowering villages with
skills to fight drought
At the heart of our mission to empower and motivate villages fighting drought in Maharashtra, is an immersive training programme. It is a four-day residential programme which inspires villages to break social barriers, and gain technical and social skills to lead the fight against drought. Every participating village nominates five people for the training, including at least two women.
In 2020, the training was opened to almost 1,000 villages across 40 talukas of Maharashtra, eligible to participate in the Samruddha Gaon Spardha. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was conducted digitally in 4 phases. The online training focused on how villages can adopt a community-led approach towards water management and crop planning. Read more about it in this annual report.
0 People trained
At the heart of our mission to empower and motivate villages fighting drought in Maharashtra, is an immersive training programme. It is a four-day residential programme which inspires villages to break social barriers, and gain technical and social skills to lead the fight against drought. Every participating village nominates five people for the training, including at least two women.
In 2020, the training was opened to almost 1,000 villages across 40 talukas of Maharashtra, eligible to participate in the Samruddha Gaon Spardha. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was conducted digitally in 4 phases. The online training focused on how villages can adopt a community-led approach towards water management and crop planning. Read more about it in this annual report.
0 People trained
Key Aspects
- An Emotional Experience that Educates
Designed with games, songs, experiments, field visits and shramadaan, the experience enables trainees to develop an emotional understanding of the problem and the solution.
- Capacity Building
Villagers are empowered with skills and knowledge on topics such as water budgeting, using technical instruments, surveying village topography, geo-tagging, etc.
- Exposure to Success Stories
Training is usually conducted in water-abundant villages. As a result, the benefits of conserving and using natural resources sustainably, can be seen at first hand.
- Access to an Open-Source Knowledge Bank
Engaging films and books on key aspects of the Spardha are available online at no cost. They continue to be accessed by villages post the training, as well as interested audiences across the globe.
Key Aspects
- An Emotional Experience that Educates
Designed with games, songs, experiments, field visits and shramadaan, the experience enables trainees to develop an emotional understanding of the problem and the solution.
- Capacity Building
Villagers are empowered with skills and knowledge on topics such as water budgeting, using technical instruments, surveying village topography, geo-tagging, etc.
- Exposure to Success Stories
Training is usually conducted in water-abundant villages. As a result, the benefits of conserving and using natural resources sustainably, can be seen at first hand.
- Access to an Open-Source Knowledge Bank
Engaging films and books on key aspects of the spardha are available online at no cost. They continue to be accessed by villages post the training, as well as interested audiences across the globe.
About the Trainers
After being a part of the Water Cup movement in their own villages, hundreds of men and women have joined the movement on ground as social and technical trainers.
Selected via a rigorous screening process, this cadre of highly motivated changemakers has proven how participants can transform into leaders of a movement.
Since 2016, we have trained over 700 trainers, who continue to inspire and provide on-ground support to participating villages.
About the Trainers
After being a part of the Water Cup movement in their own villages, hundreds of men and women have joined the movement on ground as social and technical trainers. Selected via a rigorous process, this cadre of highly motivated changemakers has proven how participants can transform into leaders of a movement. Since 2016, we have trained over 700 trainers, who continue to inspire and provide on-ground support to participating villages.
I am an advocate by education and profession. My search to work for the welfare of society ended at Paani Foundation. Watching villagers learn and overcome technical difficulties has been my greatest happiness.
Master Technical Trainer
Previously, I would not speak to anyone. I wasn’t that courageous. Today, I connect with people. I have acquired a different kind of confidence.
Social Trainer (2017-2019)
Impact Stories
A Businessman is Inspired to Choose Ethics Over Profits
During the training, Balasaheb Kadam from Beed learned how excessive borewell drilling leads to the depletion of the groundwater table. He took the bold step of shutting down his business, and today, he earns a living as a farmer.
17,000 Saplings Planted With a 100% Survival Rate!
Manjeet Singh from Khamgaon (Buldhana district) was inspired to restore the lost Salai tree cover in his village, after attending the training. Together, the village planted 17,000 Salai saplings, and ensured a 100% survival rate!
Sujata Bhagat Rebuilds Her Life As A Trainer
After losing her husband, 22-year-old Sujata Bhagat felt like life had come to a standstill. She found renewed purpose in the fight against drought, and became a community leader. Today, she is a Paani Foundation trainer, and works with the mission of empowering others.
Impact Stories
A Businessman is Inspired to Choose Ethics Over Profits
During the training, Balasaheb Kadam from Beed learned how excessive borewell drilling leads to the depletion of the groundwater table. He took the bold step of shutting down his business, and today, he earns a living as a farmer.
17,000 Saplings Planted With a 100% Survival Rate!
Manjeet Singh from Khamgaon (Buldhana district) was inspired to restore the lost Salai tree cover in his village, after attending the training. Together, the village planted 17,000 Salai saplings, and ensured a 100% survival rate!
Sujata Bhagat Rebuilds Her Life As A Trainer
After losing her husband, 22-year-old Sujata Bhagat felt like life had come to a standstill. She found renewed purpose in the fight against drought, and became a community leader. Today, she is a Paani Foundation trainer, and works with the mission of empowering others.