Heading 1
Pragathi Foundation is a registered trust based at Karnataka. It has been working since 2017 on alternative learning methodologies. Since last four years, Pragathi Foundation with its one of the main functionaries, Mr. Vedanthi Giri, Trustee and Technical Head, has been consistently working on Community Driven Radio. The outreach so far has been with around 70 villages in Karnataka wherein the lowly literate community members specifically youth are motivated and trained to express themselves through WiFi based Community Radio Setups, called as Micro Media Centres. Micro Media Centres aim to connect the last mile for eliciting the bests of the government services and other welfare schemes, promote good governance by building communication bridges between the beneficiaries and the service providers for community overall wellbeing including health, connecting, disaster preparedness. The Community network involves intense capacity building, soft skills developments including WiFi Mesh building mapping local resources for strengthening the local economic prospects. The Community Radio Setup has been successfully rolled out nationally and internationally with Burra tribes in Andhra Pradesh, Toda community at Nilgiris, Tamilnadu, Chiptglar in Indonesia and Masai Mara Community in Kenya, Africa.
Pragathi Foundation has a strong team of professionals with diverse backgrounds like teachers, Community Development specialists, Engineers and so forth. It has been supported by esteemed organisations like APC, Altermundi, Development Alternatives, Rotary 3190, Siddhganga Insitute of Technology, Tumkur, Janastu, Environics Trust and so forth.
GRAPEVINE is media department of Pragathi Foundation.
At GRAPEVINE Media Makers Pvt Ltd, our mission is to empower grassroots initiatives and amplify the voices of the people. We believe in nurturing the growth of community-driven projects that create positive social impact. Let's explore what each letter in GRAPE VINE represents:
G - Grassroots Empowerment:
We are committed to supporting grassroots initiatives by providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. We aim to empower individuals and local organizations to take action and drive meaningful change within their communities.
R - Resilient Networks:
We foster resilient networks by connecting like-minded individuals, organizations, and changemakers. Through our platform, we create spaces for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective action. By strengthening connections, we build a supportive ecosystem that thrives on cooperation and resilience.
A - Amplifying Voices:
We believe in the power of every voice. We strive to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, unheard perspectives, and emerging leaders. By providing a platform for expression and storytelling, we ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued.
P - People-Centric Approach:
Our focus is always on people. We prioritize the well-being, needs, and aspirations of individuals and communities. We aim to create inclusive spaces where everyone's contributions are recognized and celebrated.
E - Empowering Innovation:
We encourage innovative thinking and creative solutions to address social challenges. We support individuals and organizations in their pursuit of innovative ideas, providing mentorship, funding, and resources to bring these ideas to life.
V - Vibrant Community:
We strive to build vibrant communities where collaboration, empathy, and mutual support thrive. Through community engagement initiatives, events, and forums, we foster connections, encourage dialogue, and build a sense of belonging.
I - Impactful Change:
We are dedicated to driving impactful change at the grassroots level. By supporting projects with social, environmental, and economic significance, we aim to create lasting and meaningful transformations within communities.
N - Nurturing Growth:
We are committed to nurturing the growth of individuals and organizations. Through capacity-building programs, skill development, and mentorship, we provide the tools and support needed for sustainable growth and success.
E - Empowering Future Generations:
We believe in creating a better future for generations to come. We empower and inspire young leaders, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to shape a brighter future.
With GRAPE VINE, we aim to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where grassroots initiatives can flourish, voices are amplified, and positive change is realized. Together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive society that leaves a lasting impact.
At the helm of this project is,
Mr .Girish Kumar , who boasts of over eighteen years of experience in the broadcasting field . His experience in the field of TV and Media helped him envision the concept of Namma School Radio, where he would like enhance the potential of media and provide a platform for children/students to express themselves.
Ms. Kavitha Kammanakote adds immense value to our team by way of her education in Mass Communication. She is an extremely driven and passionate individual who advocates strongly for freedom of expression. She believes that the lifestyle, ancient wisdom, trades, culture and education of a rural community can be effectively communicated by children via radio and that it can be an object of awareness and great change and is proud to be a part of Namma School Radio!
Our team believes in change brought about by children, to children. It is only natural, then,
to have a young person amidst, to keep us all grounded! A student in Grade 6,
Ms. Varsha is the youngest member of our team. She brings in immense energy to the team, always on the lookout for interesting topics to make a radio show about! Her voice represents the youth that we hope to inspire a change in, for a better tomorrow.
With over twelve years of experience in the teaching field, teaching English and French as a foreign language, Ms. Vaidehi Sriram is deeply committed to pedagogy and is constantly on the lookout for innovation in teaching practices. This is what draws her to Namma School Radio, where she is motivated to bring about sustainable and organic changes to a domain that she deeply cares about.
Ms. Punya has been instrumental to the very creation of Namma School Radio. With a BA in Psychology, she now works for TV5. From being a timid individual who was afraid of speaking in English, she has blossomed into a confident young woman. She is thoroughly convinced that the radio can help more like her into becoming successful, tapping into their hidden potential.
Working with Namma school Radio is Very Useful for my studies and also it helps to improve my skills. Working with children is the best thing because I love to work with children and they are very sensitive and often have different prospective on things. This helps me to think of different approach as well. I am very happy indeed to learn and work with this
Namma School Radio. Lakshmi (Meghana) says.
