OWFN Purpose Empowering Communities, Nurturing Leaders |
One Week for Nation (OWFN) is an immersive experience designed to connect medical students and professionals with rural communities across India. Established with the goal of providing essential healthcare services while fostering personal and professional growth, OWFN has become a transformative journey for all involved. |
Events that Happen - OWFN 2023 Itinerary Journey of a Lifetime |
The highly anticipated One Week For Nation (OWFN) 2023 was set to take place from March 23rd to 30th, 2023, at the Shivganga Samagra Gramvikas Parishad campus in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. This transformative event brought together 300 medical students and doctors for a week of service, learning, and cultural immersion.
Participants started this journey from Bandra Terminus railway station in Mumbai on March 23rd and returned on March 30th 2023.
This life-changing experience offered participants the opportunity to:
The event was under the esteemed guidance of Hon. Padmashri Mahesh Sharma Ji, a dedicated advocate for tribal development in Jhabua. With over 20 years of experience, he is the founder and president of the Shiv Ganga project. His contributions to water conservation initiatives involving local tribes have earned him the prestigious Padma Shri award.
Participants had the privilege of visiting nearby villages to gain firsthand experience of rural life and challenges faced by tribal communities. Medical health camps were organized to provide essential healthcare services to the local population, addressing their medical needs and promoting health awareness.
Halma, a traditional collective labor system, has been instrumental in addressing the critical challenges of irrigation and soil conservation in many rural Indian communities, particularly among tribal populations. Our participants actively immersed themselves in this initiative. This collaborative approach involved the entire village coming together to undertake communal projects, such as constructing water harvesting structures, check dams, and terraces. By pooling their resources and labor, communities can undertake large-scale projects that would be impossible for individual farmers. Halma has proven to be highly effective in enhancing water availability, reducing soil erosion, and improving agricultural productivity.
The success stories of Halma implementation are numerous, especially in regions facing water scarcity and land degradation. By reviving and strengthening this traditional practice, communities can build resilience, enhance their livelihoods, and protect the environment for future generations. |