#ChooMacchar
A Public Health Campaign by Civis to address vector-borne diseases in Mumbai.
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Supported by Godrej Consumer Products Limited
About #ChooMacchar
Vector-borne diseases typically impact low and middle-income settlements in Mumbai, given the density of settlements, poor sanitary conditions and lack of awareness. While civic authorities try hard to tackle the problem, limited awareness about the prevention of mosquito breeding in and around the home continues to impact disease control efforts.
The ChooMacchar Campaign is a public health campaign by Civic Innovation Foundation, supported by Godrej Consumer Products Limited. The programme aims to demonstrate how civic action among youth can lead to the prevention of vector-borne diseases in Mumbai.
The program aims to further the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Government of Maharashtra as well as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The campaign is an attempt to bridge the gap between the civic authorities and citizens through information dissemination and behaviour change communication, to build healthier and resilient urban cities.
Watch this video to learn more about #ChooMacchar
Campaign Phases #ChooMacchar
Programme Structure
The programme involves 10 weeks of civic engagement with the volunteers in their ward of residence.. Over this ten-week period, the volunteers recieve training over three workshops which act as pillars that frame the entire intervention. ​
The first workshop focuses on the program material and interventions, the second focuses on social media training, and the third helps volunteers with leadership development and civic action.
WEEK 1
Volunteers are enrolled and the first training on identifying, reporting, and eliminating breeding spots is conducted. Volunteers are equipped with kits and knowledge to carry out the program. The training is based on the principles of experiential learning and includes role-playing exercises, audio-visual content, and games. By the end of this workshop the volunteers are equipped to begin carrying out the activities in the program.
WEEK 2 to WEEK 4
Volunteers use the knowledge and tools supplied to them during their training within their areas of residence to carry out the field work. Their progress is tracked virtually and through regular communication via calls/messages. Volunteers engage with their communities through door-to-door interventions to carry out the awareness campaign.
WEEK 5
Volunteers undergo their second training on Social Media. They are taught about using social media to effectively communicate and advocate for causes, including the current program. Volunteers are encouraged to use technology as well as creative thinking to design social media communication around issues of their choice. This workshop also helps volunteers learn to create a safe digital environment for themselves and their peers.
WEEK 6 to WEEK 9
The volunteers continue working on the field. They return to the homes and areas they visited to check the realtime impact of their interventions on the behavior of the community. The volunteers also report potential community hotspots using the WhatsApp chatbot.
WEEK 10
The students receive their third and final training on Leadership Skill Development. The workshop aims to build on the skills the volunteers have developed through the program so far and focuses on giving them the tools to continue being active citizens in all aspects of their lives, The volunteers are also given their certificates for successfully championing this cause and completing the program.
