Village Volunteers in India

  India

Mayapur

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: customized to volunteers availability

Description: Village Volunteers partner with Sri Mayapur Vikas Sangha (SMVS), an NGO that serves the rural villages of Mayapur. SMVS operates four main programs: Health care, education, sustainable livelihoods, and women's micro credit. Within each program there are numerous ways that volunteers can be of service. SMVS is a dynamic and innovative non-profit, always open to new ideas and projects.

In all ventures SMVS looks to solve the region's problems with "sustainable solutions"- which preserve the environment and ecology, respect and protect cultural traditions and way of life that guarantee local people the dignity of health, shelter and food security. SMVS aims to create a holistic model of sustainable development through focusing on the villagers' strengths and local resources.

Volunteer projects are designed with your skills and interests and the needs of the community. The timetable you travel is customized to your availability to volunteer.

Health Care
SMVS operates both homeopathic and allopathic clinics. Volunteer medical professional and students have many opportunities to provide assistance in both types of clinics. Volunteers could aid village health workers in community data collection, outreach, health education, and training.

Mother & Child Health
SMVS focuses on women and childrens health care to have the broadest effect on the health of communities. The program relies heavily on local women who are trained and employed as local village health practitioners and traditional birth attendants to make home delivery a safe process.

Village health workers maintain complete individual medical care on all beneficiaries on a household basis through the use of mother and child cards. The Village Health Workers focus on:
- Antenatal checkup,
- Early registration of pregnancy,
- Balanced dietary intake,
- Immunization and vaccination (through govt. primary health system),
- Safe delivery,
- Post-natal care,
- Breast feeding,
- Supplementary nutrition.

Nutrition
Volunteers can provide additional nutritional guidance. At the present health workers are trained to recognize degrees of malnutrition and administer a nutritional supplement to malnourished children between 0-3 years old.

Education
SMVS has several educational options for volunteer participation. In a region where literacy averages about 30%, schooling for every child through the establishment of village schools is the primary objective of SMVS. SMVS has built a school for poor village children, ages 4-14.

They are particularly interested in volunteers who can teach English and computer skills. SMVS is striving to make quality education accessible and affordable to the rural poor thereby helping them to raise their consciousness and living standards.

Non-Formal Education Centers
SMVS has created a plan to implement Non-Formal Education Centers (NFEC's) in every village. NFEC's provide an accessible space for adult women and those who have dropped out of school to learn basic literacy and vocational skills. Three Non-Formal Education Centers are currently operating in parts of Mayapur region. One of them is a night school established in one of the most remote areas. The vocational training and education offered to illiterate women increases their access to sustainable jobs and economic success.

Volunteers are welcome to teach in the non-formal education settings to increase adult literacy and as a vocational trainer.

Sustainable Livelihoods
The SMVS mission is to pursue sustainable human resource development across the spectrum of social, economic and environmental concerns. While West Bengalis are known for their exquisite handicrafts and farming knowledge, the villagers are eager to receive skills training that will help foster sustainable businesses. For example, many women are skilled weavers, but desire professional advice about creating marketable items for the local marketplace.

Volunteers who have business, international development, farming/environmental, craft, and/or management skills would be valuable to the Sustainable Livelihoods program.

MicroCredit
SMVS organized poor marginalized women under the umbrella of Self-Help Group (SHG) and stabilized them through linkage with Panchayat Bodies and Health functionaries. They are taught on the importance of regular monthly savings and on how to utilize the funds created through their own savings. Today, every village has several SHGs, where each woman contributes 5-50 rupees per month. The women collectively decide who in the group will receive the funds and when the money will be paid back.

Funds are often used for business start-ups, but also for emergency health care and personal needs. Self Help Groups are now realizing the importance of their united efforts in finding ways for income generation models and methods. They are guided and assisted in every step by SMVS and Village Volunteers.

Volunteers interested in micro-credit and business development can assist the Self Help Groups and SMVS. They are open to new and innovative business practices, as well as eager to learn additional skills and trades.

Highlights: Sri Mayapur Vikas Sangha (SMVS) is situated in a beautiful region of farmland and bamboo forests. You stay on an ashram where you take a rickshaw to work. You are provided a supervisor/interpreter who will be there to asssit you during your stay.

SMVS campaigns for holistic sustainable development programs through working with local villages to eradicate extreme poverty.

Programs focus on:
- Improving primary health facilities and services
- Increasing access to quality schools and vocational education
- Protecting the natural environment
- Empowering rural women and encouraging social equality
- Fostering sustainable livelihoods

SMVS Philosophy:
- Holistic sustainable development addresses the whole person or community and includes all aspects of well-being, including physical, mental, social and cultural.
- People should be in the center of their own development.
- SMVS sees its role as a partner and facilitator, a resource to build the capacity of local people.
- To be responsible means that our well-being must be based on sustainability. It is irresponsible to take from future generations in order to enjoy our own satisfaction of today.
- Development should be based on deep humane values. Respect for the innate equality of all, regardless of gender, caste, creed, race or nationality. Without a strong foundation for social values, sustainable development is always at risk.

Qualifications: Regardless of your skill level, your participation in a village program will have a meaningful impact. Your very presence is treasured and valued.

Transportation between Mayapur and the airport in Kolkata (Calcutta), room and board, supervision with a guide/translator. The accommodations are at an ashram (spiritual retreat center) in Mayapur, in close proximity to the villages served by SMVS.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Village Volunteers customizes international volunteer opportunities for students, professionals and anyone with the desire to be immersed in a culture to work side by side with rural villagers.

Age Range: The minimum age requirement for volunteers is 20-years-old (exceptions may be possible). The minimum age for a child traveling with a parent or guardian is 8-years-old. If a volunteer is between the ages of 8 and 18, the accompanied guardian must be a parent, a legal guardian, or a person appointed by that parent or guardian and must take full responsibility.

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families and Individuals

Participants Travel to India Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Village Volunteers's Mission Statement: Village Volunteers is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works in partnership with rural village and capacity-building programs to support the development of sustainable solutions for community survival, education, and growth. Village Volunteers was founded in the belief that partnership is a key factor in the renewal and healing of areas plagued by poverty and disease. Committed to preserving autonomy and cultural heritage, Village Volunteers is a network of rural villages that works in collaboration with village programs to support the achievement of their goals and objectives by integrating international volunteerism, sustainable community development through grant writing and an Advisory Board of experts in international development fields.

Year Founded: 2002