German Weltwärts Volunteers Study Visit at Sevagram Ashram

A group of 18 German volunteers who are currently stationed all across India , working at different social organisations and NGOs mostly in rural parts of India visited Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan,Wardha on February 21,2024. These students came to India through a program offered by the German Government called the weltwärts voluntary service program.The weltwärts development volunteer service is aimed at young people from Germany between the ages of 18 and 28 who are interested in volunteering for several months (usually a year) in a country in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania or Eastern Europe (North-South component), and at young people who come from those regions, are between 18 and 29 and would like to volunteer in Germany (South-North component). Promotion of global learning, engagement in development issues and international solidarity is a core aim of both components.

These weltwärts volunteers were participating in an Interim Seminar in Nagpur and a request was made to Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan to facilitate a visit to the Ashram. They also requested to provide to the group during their visit an insight into the life of Mahatma Gandhi at the Ashram and his role in the freedom struggle and Gandhian philosophy.

They reached the Ashram premises on the morning of February 21.Shri Vijay Tambe Secretary, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha welcomed the group and briefed them about the Ashram. He explained to the group the production of hand-spun and hand woven cloth - Khadi by facilitating a visit to the Cotton to Cloth workshop of the Ashram which produces Khadi cloth of Bapu's vision.

Shri Prashant Taksande in charge of Cotton to Cloth workshop demonstrated the hand spinning through Kisan charkha. Each activity relating to the production process was explained to them.Later they went on visit to the heritage buildings of the Ashram. The importance of each and its brief history were explained to the group. It was very meaningful to the group and really helped them to understand the significance and sanctity of the place.

After the Ashram visit an academic session was organized at Seminar hall of Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Wardha .Dr.Siby K Joseph, Director of the Centre guided the session. He discussed with the group about the life and Message of Gandhi at Sevagram and some insights on Gandhian Philosophy of nonviolence . The group was eager to know Gandhi's letters addressed to Adolf Hilter. It was followed by an interactive session in which some questions were taken up for discussion. Ms. Trupti Poduval who was accompanying the group thanked Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan for the visit and the academic sessions.