From Community Member to Panchayat Facilitator: A Journey of Learning, Leadership and Change

Yogendra Korwa’s journey reflects how the right opportunities, knowledge, and continuous engagement can transform an individual into a resource person and leader within his own community. In 2024, while looking for ways to improve his family’s well-being and contribute to the development of his community, Yogendra came into contact with Ramakant Singh Ji, a Panchayat Facilitator associated with Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra (SSK). During their interaction, he learned about the organisation’s work with the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) community, particularly in supporting pregnant women through health check-ups, health-related information, and other necessary assistance. Motivated by this information, Yogendra got his wife’s health check-up done with the support of the organisation. What began as an effort to access health support for his family gradually developed into a deeper association with SSK and its community-based work. As his involvement increased, he was identified as a PVTG Volunteer, which became the first important step in his journey of learning and community leadership. 

In December 2024, Yogendra received an opportunity to appear for an interview for the Fellowship Programme, and in February 2025, he was selected as a Fellow. This opportunity brought a new direction to his life and helped him understand his community more closely. During his Fellowship, he learned about the traditional practices, social realities, challenges, and aspirations of his community, while also gaining practical knowledge about various government welfare schemes and the processes involved in accessing them. He learned how to support community members in applying for new ration cards, adding names to existing ration cards, applying for pensions, and obtaining MGNREGA job cards through both online and offline processes. These experiences helped him understand that many families often remain deprived of government schemes not because they are ineligible, but because they lack information, proper documentation, awareness, or support in completing the required processes. With the knowledge and confidence, he gained, Yogendra gradually started supporting community members in accessing their entitlements and connecting with relevant government services.

His learning, however, went beyond government schemes and individual support. Through his association with SSK, Yogendra developed a deeper understanding of community rights, local self-governance, people’s participation, and the importance of strengthening local institutions. He learned that sustainable development requires communities to understand their rights, participate in decision-making processes, and collectively raise issues affecting their lives. This understanding gradually changed his own perspective and encouraged him to take greater responsibility for his community. He began to see himself not simply as someone receiving information or support, but as someone who could share knowledge, facilitate access to entitlements, and encourage others to participate in community development processes.

In October 2025, Yogendra was promoted to the position of Community Resource Person (CRP), providing him with greater responsibilities and opportunities for learning and field engagement. During this phase, he participated in various trainings and exposure programmes, including Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) exposure visits, an exposure visit to Maharashtra, Abua Saathi training, Jal Jeevan Mission, Meri Panchayat App, group formation and facilitation, and Social Media Influencer training. These experiences broadened his understanding of community development and strengthened his ability to engage with people, understand their issues, facilitate collective processes, and support communities in accessing information and services. The exposure visits helped him learn from different community and governance practices, while the training on group formation and facilitation strengthened his ability to bring people together and encourage collective participation. The knowledge gained through Jal Jeevan Mission and other governance-related training further helped him understand the importance of community participation in addressing local issues.

Yogendra’s continuous learning, commitment, and field engagement opened another opportunity for him, and in June 2026, he was promoted to the position of Panchayat Facilitator (PF). Today, he continues to work closely with the community, supporting people in understanding their rights and entitlements, facilitating access to government schemes and services, and encouraging participation in local self-governance. His journey from a community member seeking health support for his family to becoming a PVTG Volunteer, Fellow, CRP, and finally a Panchayat Facilitator reflects a gradual process of personal growth, learning, and leadership. His experience demonstrates that when community members are provided with knowledge, exposure, guidance, and opportunities to take responsibility, they can become important agents of change within their own communities.

Looking back on his journey, Yogendra expresses deep gratitude to Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra for giving him the opportunity to learn, grow, and serve his own community. He feels thankful that the organisation not only provided him with professional opportunities but also helped him understand his community, its rights, government schemes, local self-governance, and the importance of collective action. The various trainings, exposure visits, field experiences, and responsibilities he received have helped him develop greater confidence and a broader understanding of community development. He believes that the opportunity provided by SSK has changed the direction of his life and has given him the confidence to contribute meaningfully to the development of his community. For him, the journey is not only about moving from one position to another, but about continuously learning and using that learning to support others. He sincerely acknowledges the role of Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra in giving him this platform and believes that the knowledge and experiences gained through the organisation will continue to guide him in his future work. His story is therefore a journey from receiving support to providing support, from learning for himself to sharing knowledge with others, and from being a community member to becoming a facilitator of community change.