Through participatory health education, trust and local involvement, DSS strengthens the knowledge, self-reliance and well-being of disadvantaged communities.
For DSS, outreach work is about more than passing on health information. It focuses on building trust, encouraging dialogue and working with communities to strengthen health awareness and well-being. Lasting change comes from consistent engagement, an understanding of local conditions and supporting people to make informed decisions about their health.
Through regular awareness sessions, neighbourhood discussions and the involvement of households, the outreach team promotes prevention and healthy lifestyles. Rather than passing on information one way, the team encourages discussion, questions and community engagement.
Outreach activities currently take place in Indira Pally, Majinoor Bastee and Moila Depot, with further communities to be added in the coming months. So far, the team has held 13 awareness sessions on topics such as nutrition and family planning.
The work is led by Sourav Sarkar:
“People open up when they feel respected and heard. Outreach is not about arriving with answers. It is about listening first, understanding people’s concerns and then building awareness together.”
To make the sessions accessible and engaging, DSS uses interactive methods such as pictures, stories, practical demonstrations and everyday examples. Specially developed pictorial materials (IEC: Information, Education and Communication) use as little text as possible, so that people with limited reading and writing skills can also take part with confidence.
“Our aim is conversations, not classrooms,” says Anwari from the outreach team. “When people take an active part and ask questions freely, learning becomes more meaningful and lasting.”
All training modules and IEC materials are based on field experience, expert advice and recommendations in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For long-term impact, DSS has also developed a structured outreach model focusing on awareness-raising, capacity building and community ownership, with local facilitators and health workers.
By combining education, engagement and local participation, DSS helps communities build the knowledge and confidence they need to improve their health in the long term.
Project areas: Khidderpore, South Kolkata
Direct beneficiaries: 2,000
Indirect beneficiaries: 3,000 families from vulnerable communities
Budget: CHF 8,000, foundation’s share 50%