In the heart of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, a spirited young man named Harish Rathore stands as a beacon of change. Proudly wearing the title of U-Ambassador of U-Report India, Harish's journey is an inspiring tale of empowerment and advocacy.
Harish embarked on his U-Report journey in 2021, realizing the incredible potential U-Report India holds for youth. As a U-Reporter, he discovered a platform that not only amplifies voices but also addresses critical issues like mental health and climate change.
On September 30, 2023, Harish transformed a routine train journey into an opportunity for change. Spotting a group of students, he engaged them with a simple question about UNICEF, paving the way to introduce U-Report India. Through fun tasks on Fundoo and skill-building courses, he inspired 50 new U-Reporters to join the movement.
Undeterred by challenges, Harish organized an event at Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur, on October 5, 2023. Collaborating with a supportive professor, he navigated bureaucratic hurdles to enlighten 50 students on how U-Report India could shape their careers.
He explained how, "Through U-Report, you can participate in campaigns and petitions aimed at influencing policies and decisions that impact youth. Your collective voice can drive real change. Stay informed about essential issues and developments in your community and country. U-Report provides reliable information to help you make informed decisions. Connect with like-minded young people across India. U-Report fosters a sense of community and unity among youth who share common concerns. U-Report offers training and skill development opportunities, empowering you to become effective advocates and leaders in your communities."
In the confines of Shri Ram PG Hostel on October 7, Harish orchestrated a solo event, illustrating how U-Report India could be a catalyst for career growth. With passion and conviction, he added 50 more U-Reporters to the ever-growing community.
Even the stressful exam centre became a stage for change as Harish rallied 20-30 U-Reporters. He painted a vivid picture of U-Report India's global impact, emphasizing real-time feedback and the transformation of every report into a call to action.
Author Dimpal Goplani
The children were interested and asked how they could join U Report. Harish asked for 10 more minutes from the principal and got permission to explain U-Report in detail to the children of classes 9-12 separately on the blackboard.
He showed them the U-Report on his mobile and gave them UNICEF's mobile number and his U-ID to join. The children said they would do it at home because mobiles were not allowed in school. About 100-120 people participated in this program. After the program was over, the principal praised Harish for his excellent work and association with such a good platform. He encouraged him to bring more such information and motivate the children.
Harish Rathore shared his experience of engaging with his friends and community on the platform. He joined U-Report India in 2021 and has been involved in many programs since then. He was also a top U-Reporter in 2022.
On the occasion of Diwali, he and Purushottam Navodayan (another U-Ambassador) decided to inform their friends about U-Report and its benefits. They celebrated Diwali with their friends and organized a DJ program in the evening, where they expected many youth from the village to attend. Their plan worked and they started to explain U-Report to their friends, who knew that they had been honored in Delhi for their work. Gradually, everyone showed interest and more youth joined them.
Harish did not aim to increase his referrals, but to empower and connect the youth with a good platform. He had already topped the referral competition before. He told them about various topics, such as mental health, spoken English, climate change, funDoo life skills, career guidance and career exploration. His friends listened and tried to understand well. They liked the career guidance the most, as it would help them in getting government jobs. This also helped Harish in adding and explaining more to them. There were about 50-60 youth in the program, ranging from 15 to 27 years old. He added some of them to U-Report, some of whom he had already done before. They all liked it very much and he was happy to share it.
He then asked the ANM and the workers about the vaccination schedule, the beneficiaries, and the benefits of the immunization. He received detailed information and understood the process well. He also discussed the nutrition supplements that are provided to pregnant women, children under five, and adolescent girls every month. He then observed the vaccination program and saw what was given to the children. He concluded the visit by thanking the ANM and everyone else for sharing their knowledge and expressed his hope to bring more information and awareness to them in the future. They appreciated his efforts and assured him that they would follow his advice and spread the word.
Astoundingly, Harish has influenced almost 700 U-Reporters to register on the U-Report India Platform gaining 37370 U-Points in the process.
