The Project:
Public health dialogue on public health issues is becoming increasingly important in India to improve the health status of the people. The project “Health on Stage” is the continuation and the follow up of global effort spearheaded by Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) and FSL India to mobilise the local community for public health dialogue. It is a unique model that attempts to pool up young international volunteers and engage them in intensive dialogue with local community by using “forum theatre” as the medium for communication.
Health on stage will be implemented in rural areas in Mysore. Water related issues and water borne diseases will be the important components of Health on Stage programme. Initially, the volunteers will visit slums and interact with the local community to survey and study health related issues. Based on the survey findings, the volunteers with the help of a forum theatre expert will rehearse and design a street play to communicate the message and promote Health on Stage.
After a brief inter-cultural exchange and learning the applications of ‘forum theatre’, the volunteers of “Health on Stage” will perform for three weeks focusing on public health with all its social and cultural dimensions. Under the broader framework of Water and Public Health, a wide range of local issues were will be taken up for dialogue and seek solutions. Hygiene and sanitation, waterborne diseases, preventive and curative aspects of health, water and environment, water conservation, indigenous water purification measures will be the issues to be dealt with.
The forum theatre will not be so much with language based. It will predominantly be body language and action based communications. Initially the volunteers would spend time in social mapping to identify the local water and health issues and through forum theatres analyze the issues with the community and design locally available solutions. This will trigger the thought of the people they would realized that it is they who are principally responsible to find out locally available solutions to their numerous water and public health problems. A local person skilled in form theatre will work with the volunteers throughout the workcamp.
Location in Mysore: Mysore Rural & Urban, South India.
Mysore is about 140 kilometers from Bangalore. It is accessible by air, domestic and international airlines fly directly to Bangalore International Airport. Trains and buses operate on an everyday basis from almost all major towns/cities in South India. The exact Meeting point will be mentioned in the info sheets.
Accommodation: At a rented Guest House or Hostel with shared rooms
Participation Fee:
Three Weeks: 18,000 Indian Rupees (approximately 225 Euros depending on the exchange rate)