From “Reejh Rang” to “Awaaz” — A Journey of Thought and Transformation

From “Reejh Rang” to “Awaaz” — A Journey of Thought and Transformation

Beginning of the Journey

The journey from “Reejh Rang” to “Awaaz” is a story of thought, awakening, and change.
The first youth camp began on June 3, 2025, under the banner “Reejh Rang Youth Camp.”
In this camp, young people came together to share their culture, art, colours, and ideas.
The energy that emerged from there paved the way towards the “Awaaz” (Voice) conference.

The youth decided that it was time not only to focus on art but also to raise their voices for rights and responsibilities.

And then began the next step…

Introduction to the Second Camp – “Awaaz”

The second camp, “Awaaz”, was not merely a conference, but a confluence of thought, dialogue, and determination. It was held on 30 September 2025 at St. Mary’s Middle School, Chiro Path, Orsa Panchayat, Mahuadanr Block, Latehar District, Jharkhand.

Youth from Orsa and Aksi Panchayats participated in the event.
Over 100 young people and children from villages like Ambkona, Chetma, Surkai, Orsa, Nawatoli, Chiro Path, Jarsidih, Bhitarchetma, Aksi, Basdih, and Chirchiri joined, and by the end of the day, the number grew to 128 participants.

The camp began with a traditional welcome song performed by the youth of Orsa Panchayat:
“Thali mein lota, lota mein paani, paani mein amba dahura…”

Then Narendra Nagesia, the village head, introduced the theme of the program, welcomed all guests and participants, and Kordula Kujur extended greetings while explaining the objective of the youth camp.

The event was made possible through the collaboration of the Orsa Gram Sabha, Path Agragami Mahila Sangh, Yuva Sangh, and Keystone Foundation. The responsibility of organizing the camp was given to the youth themselves, who were guided and supported by elders. The program was jointly conducted by Asunta Nagesia, Yasoda Nagesia, and Anand Nagesia.

Main Objectives of the Camp:

To build understanding on bauxite mining, wildlife sanctuaries, and elephant corridors, and the future challenges associated with them.
To raise awareness among the youth about environmental protection, culture, and education.
To encourage collective problem-solving and solidarity.
To prepare the next generation to protect their land, forests, water, and culture.

Discussion and Reflection

To encourage reflection and dialogue, five key questions were posed to the participants:

What do we think about mining activities at present? Should mining happen or not? What will be our contribution to this issue?
What role can young people play in addressing environmental changes?
What are our thoughts and responsibilities regarding cleanliness and health?
What should be the role of youth in the Gram Sabha?
What is culture and language, and why are they important to us?

Opening Session and Presentations

The youth from Aksi Panchayat presented group songs and conducted interactive activities to foster connection among participants.

Key speakers and their topics included:

Narendra Nagesia (Village Head): Discussion on Bauxite Mining
Amla Kindo: Sanctuary and Elephant Corridor
Jaya Bara: Netarhat Field Firing Range
Pawandeep Khakha: Language and Culture
Tileshwari Nagesia (Teacher): Current status of education in the plateau region
Sister Sushma: Health Issues
Beeju Toppo: Youth accountability towards water, forest, and land
Bimla Nagesia (Community Leader): Information on community work
Kordula Kujur & Prema Tigga (Keystone Foundation): Youth participation and collective action in Gram Sabha

Voices from the Youth

Yasoda Nagesia said:

“The Awaaz Gram Sabha and Youth Awareness Conference made us realize that real change begins in the village. If youth are aware and united, the Gram Sabha will not only be a decision-making space but also a foundation for justice and development.”

Ravita Nagesia added:

“When we, the youth, become educated and aware, our village speaks — and our voice brings change to society.”

The participants were divided into six groups and asked to create group names, slogans, drawings, and presentations on themes like Gram Sabha, Environment, Water, Forest, Land, and Displacement.
Each group made presentations and received 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes, with all groups being appreciated.

At the end, Bimla Nagesia encouraged the youth to stay united and announced a plan for future action:

“From Reejh Rang to Awaaz — the journey has gained momentum. Now, the youth in villages not only observe but also speak and think.”

The plan included:

Forming youth groups in every village
Holding monthly meetings
Organizing quarterly youth conferences

Shatrudhan Nagesia remarked:

“The first camp, Reejh Rang, awakened our thoughts. The second, Awaaz, made us realize that we must unite to protect our mineral resources and bring real change through meetings and conferences.”

Asunta Nagesia concluded:

“Our ancestors protected this land for generations, but now people are returning for bauxite mining again. We must stand together, participate in the Gram Sabha, and make our own decisions.”

Finally, Prema Tigga thanked all the youth participants and guests, bringing the camp to a close.

Next Steps: Youth Workshops and Expansion

Following the Awaaz camp, continuous contact was maintained with youth leaders to plan further workshops and discussions. After organizing two youth workshops in Orsa Path, a three-day workshop was conducted — an extended effort to gather young people from the region and share ideas collectively.

This initiative achieved partial but significant success, and youth leaders from the Chechari region also participated. Taking this forward, the team connected with the Chechari Adivasi Yuva Jagruti Group, bringing together youth from across the region.

The three-day program (October 18–20, 2025) was held at Parish Hall, Mahuadanr, focusing on education and personality development of Adivasi youth.
A total of 133 young participants (75 girls and 58 boys) attended and actively took part in all sessions.