Objective To help people to help themselves
Activities accomplished:
- We provided transit education activities for the non-school going and working children living in rural areas that would help them to get interest in education and joining regular schools located in villages. We conducted special awareness programmer for the parents of such children to generate interest in making the children to get educated. So far more than 800 children from several villages have got the benefits. They were provided with special motivational participatory educational activities in the evening hours that would generate interest in education to join the regular schools after one to three years. Almost all of them have joined the regular Government schools after undertaking our transit awareness education activities. We conduct special adolescent education activities for the girls of 12-18 in order to make them aware of their physical, emotional, and intellectual changes which happen in them during this age period that would affect various biological effects on them and the ways of countering them effectively in averse situations.
- Conducted several self-employment awareness activities for educated rural youth/women that would generate interest in them to go for self-employment ventures. We have provided them the required motivation and interest and also ways of starting various types of ventures in their localities. More than 220 youth got benefited.
- We conducted several training activities in folk arts and street theatre for the motivated youth to undertake various social service, tree plantation and other environment activities for the disadvantaged sections of people.
- Conducted with the help of social welfare board, awareness generation programme for rural women. Organized self-employment training activities in wire bag making, mushroom growing, food preparation and tailoring etc. More than 300 women got benefitted.
- Encouraged non chemical agricultural activates in the villages. Built about 100 non chemical compost tanks for the farmers in the villages.
- Organized special training programmes in non-chemical agricultural activities for the farmers.
- We got guidance from Mr. Nammalvar, stalwart and organic scientist. Many farmers got benefitted.
- Under applied research activity, we had developed rat catching instrument for irula tribe to replace their erstwhile, pot fumigation method.
- We have also developed battery operated fumigation device recently which has enormous advantages from the previous ones.
- Similarly we had developed community indigenous purification drinking water programme0 for rural women through self-help groups
SELF-HELP DEVELOPMENT GROUPS:
The 'Sanghams' (associations) are being promoted with the main aim of bringing together the disadvantaged target categories into the fold of self-help development groups, which shall involve in various aspects of development. The CDDP is providing 'Sanghams', the necessary motivation, guidance through training and support services. The aim is to make them function independently. The CDDP is working towards promoting these Sanghams as self-supportive development/governing groups. They are being trained to critically analyse their problems and to come out with suitable development plans and activities. They are also motivated to undertake their activities by themselves with support services from our Organisation and the Government. The CDDP is also providing training to service minded youth to undertake voluntary development work individually as well as collectively.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING:
The leaders of Women/Youth/Village Sanghams formed by CDDP are being provided with periodical training to improve their leadership skills. People's meetings are being held at the villages at regular intervals in order to make them aware of their problems and needs, and help them to plan their development activities accordingly. Participatory training methods are followed in the training programmes. Some of the common subjects covered in the training are community organisation, education, human rights, health, sanitation, environment, economic upliftment, Government development schemes, self and group decision making, collective development action, etc. According to the needs and target categories, specific training programmes are being arranged.
NON-FORMAL AND LIFE EDUCATION:
We have launched a Literacy Movement as the literacy rate is far below 20% in some of our service villages. The CDDP has trained more than 1000 literate persons to undertake literacy classes to the illiterate-folk through various innovative methods. The CDDP is also conducting adult education classes for women in the evening hours in the villages.
SPECIAL LIFE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR RURAL WORKING CHILDREN:
There are a number of 'working children,' who do not go to school due to their indigent conditions. Most of these children are involved in rearing of goats and milch animals. Some children are traditionally bonded. These children need suitable education for enhancing confidence and awareness, which will uplift them from their miserable life conditions. In this connection, we have started special life education schools in the villages. The 'basic education' methods form part of the teaching and learning process. We prepare special syllabus tailored to their needs. We also work for the release and rehabilitation of bonded Children.
We are thankful to Asha for Education,USA who has helped us to run seven life educational schools for rural working/bonded children.
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR RURAL CHILDREN:
The children in the rural areas are unable to exhibit their talents, as they lack required opportunities. In order to provide these opportunities, we organise programmes such as holiday camps, competitions in literature, dance, drama, sports and cultural activities. We identify highly talented children in particular fields and send them to specialised training institutions. We hold special classes for children with learning disabilities. We have community-based education programmes for orphans, restitutes and physically challenged children.
MICRO-CREDIT (RURAL WOMEN'S THRIFT AND CREDIT SCHEME):
We have launched a credit cum saving activity with funds shared by each member of 'Women's Sanghams' and CDDP. The fund, so created, is utilized by the members to obtain small loans for urgent household needs. Ever since the creation of this fund, the dependence of poor women on exploiting moneylenders has largely reduced. The fund is also utilized for providing small loans for self-employment activity for women. The scheme is helping the women to become economically independent. COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME: We have started a programme on Community Health. "Prevention is better than Cure" is the watchword in all our health education activities. Natural and herbal medicinal sytems are being introduced wherever possible. HIV/AIDS education is one of the important components of our health education programme. we are also developing herbal gardens in the Villages. Family and alcoholics counseling programmes are also arranged.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES FOR RURAL WOMEN:
In order to uplift the socio-economic conditions of rural poor women, we have initiated training and self-employment activities in mushroom growing, tailoring and in occupations relating to organic farming. These activities are undertaken through local 'Women Sanghams' promoted by the CDDP. We are also promoting small enterprises for uplifting the socio-economic status of the disadvantaged women. We have promoted a collective self employment venture for more than 25 women from tribal communities for producing the new technology fumigation device that will be used by tribal rat catchers.
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION PROGRAMMES:
In order to impart consciousness and awareness on the importance of protecting our environment, we are undertaking several activities. We have formed 'Environment Clubs' among the children/students. We also encourage people to plant trees. We hold Eco-development camps for women/youth. We conduct exhibitions highlighting problems of various forms of pollutions and the importance of utilizing alternative sources of energy. We distribute smokeless ovens to the rural people. We print booklets on various environment subjects.
SUSTAINABLE NON-CHEMICAL FARMING ACTIVITIES:
We undertake training to farmers in sustainable non-chemical agriculture activities such as indigenous seeds collection and preservation, plantation and non-chemical pest control methods etc. We are also forming farmer groups who are interested in such activities.
RURAL HOUSING AND DRINKING WATER PROGRAMME:
We help the rural poor in constructing cost effective houses. Hand pump bore wells have been installed in the villages to make available potable drinking water.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES:
We provide consultancy services to voluntary organizations in undertaking various development activities for the disadvantaged sections in our society. On request, we conduct training Programmes for their staff. We also undertake evaluation and monitoring work for NGOs.
RESEARCH:
We have taken up a research in containing the rodent menace in agriculture fields and also in the utility of compost manure. As a follow-up, we have invented and introduced new techniques to control rodents in agriculture fields. Similarly, new composting techniques are introduced to the farmers.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS:
We regularly organize seminars and workshops dealing with various rural problems. Representatives of NGOs and Government departments attend these programmes. We also help other organizations to hold training, seminars and workshops on various subjects relating to rural development. Some of the Seminars and Workshops conducted 'Potentials and problems of self-employment programmes for rural women'. 'Project formulation and management of voluntary agencies'. 'Participatory approach to rural issues'. 'Alternative agriculture for India'.