This month marks a historic milestone for Kushmaha Village as the first-ever Transformational Community Development (TCD) program was successfully conducted. Before the introduction of TCD, the lives of the community members, mostly from Dalit backgrounds, were marked by poverty, social exclusion, and limited opportunities. They were often looked down upon by higher castes, excluded from many social spaces, and lived under pressure and discrimination. Due to economic hardship and lack of guidance, children were unable to progress in education and families lacked access to knowledge necessary for transformative living.

Although some organizations had previously visited the village, community members felt those efforts focused more on organizational goals than on empowering the people. There was no collective vision, unity, or clear path toward a better future. The community lived in darkness and backwardness in many aspects of life.

With the formation of the TCD group, this situation has begun to change. Through lessons and knowledge gained by reflecting on past realities, the community is now developing a collective mindset, building relationships, and working together to solve problems through discussion and mutual understanding. The people of Kushmaha Village now see hope, transformation, and a clear future pathway. They are actively participating in TCD activities with freedom of thought and a positive attitude, especially in the areas of education, health, water, food, and economic development.

The community expresses heartfelt gratitude to GHNI for organizing and implementing TCD in Kushmaha Village and for walking alongside them in this journey of transformation.

Written by Mary, GHNI TCD Worker