Visitors to SPARC in 2013

In 2013 SPARC met with various interesting visitors from both national and international agencies.  Following is a list of few of the visitors that piqued our interest:

1. Nancy Mean from the World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland visited SPARC in March – Nancy wanted to learn more about what the Alliance does and how it functions. She visited Mankhurd to talk to the families which shifted there from along the railway tracks.
2. Ameya A. from IITB visited SPARC in April – Ameya visited Manhkhurd sites with mobile workshop team (2 logistic people) with Keya and Sharmila for planning of HOLCIM visit on 12th April 2013.
3. Yogesh Shetye of YES bank visited SPARC in April – Mr. Yogesh visited SPARC's project sites at Mankhurd (Milan Nagar, Bldg 98) and Ekta Hind Community toilet with Mr. Joshi, Aseena, and Keya.
4. Heather McGray & Ayesha Dinshaw from World Resources Institute visited SPARC in April - to learn what the Alliance does and how it functions. The purpose of their visit was to discuss climate change in context to urban areas.
5. Ministry of State for Housing, Uganda visited SPARC in May - 6 delegates from the Ugandan Ministry came to India; before visiting SPARC they visited the Pune BSUP sites/ Sanitation projects/ Mankhurd relocation site with Jockin and federation. One of the delegates wanted to know the different instructional structure associated with all of the above projects and he wanted additional reports and documents to learn more.
6. Mr. Ramon J Gray,the Managing Director of Polycare Research Technology, UK visited SPARC in May - Polycare Research Technology UK has invented a new way of making resin based concrete that allows practically any locally available aggregate to be used as the main (87%) filler component. It was in this regard that Mr Gray visited SPARC to discuss the possible opportunities for his company in the Indian Market. He was further taken on a field visit to Milan Nagar.
7. P.V. Viswanath, the Director of Global Portfolio Analysis Centre & Professor of Finance, Lubin School of Business, Pace University,New York visited SPARC in June - Professor Viswanath visited SPARC to learn about the work of the Alliance specifically about savings and credit. Prof. Viswanath teaches micro finance and wants to bring a group of students for an exposure visit to India; this was also one of the reasons for his visit to SPARC.
8. Diana Mitlin, Gayatri Menon from Manchester University & Tom from DFID visited Pune MM in August – they talked to the Mahila Milan of Pune regarding BSUP, other housing projects, taking their opinion on how far has the municipality been able to provide them with the services and what more can it do. Visited some houses constructed as well as under construction under the BSUP project and also spoke to some community members.
9. Students and Professors from UMEA University Sweden visited SPARC in October – During their visit, Sheela spoke about SPARC and its work and Keya talked about incremental study.