Eco-Volunteering

OUR CORE AIM:

Sustainable Development with all natural resources protected, rejuvenated and restored

Project Overview:

In the various studies conducted by CYDF on factors affecting the normal, healthy development of a rural child, children and youth were more affected by malnutrition leading to stunted growth, poor cognitive development and low immunity. The worst effect was on their socio economic development as competitive citizens. Further the study also revealed a close connection of the issue with environmental degradation. The major environmental issues are the degradation of forest and agricultural land, depletion of natural resources like water, sand and forest which has resulted in loss of bio-diversity and loss of resilience in ecosystems and ultimately has hit the livelihood security of poor. In many cases this has led to migration of the rural population in to cities and other states and in the formation of slums finally. While rapid population growth, despite adding pressure to this issue, has been a major cause of build-up of the hazardous heavy metals in soil. These heavy metals, when ingested by human through contaminated vegetables, causes serious health problems like cancer. The most important yet silent factor that stays hidden in the entire issue is the problem of micronutrient deficiency faced by around 70% of the rural children, youth and women. CYDF, in an effort to act on the rootcause of this social issue, runs integrated set of projects through its eco-volunteering project which focuses on Organic farming, women empowerment, Agripreneurship development, Child Nutrition and habitat conservation of birds, insects and pollinators. CYDF works directly with communities to increase knowledge and awareness of conservation issues that directly affect their daily lives. In doing so, bio-diversity conservation becomes a priority for everyone and a collective responsibility for the whole community.

Eco-volunteers, Whilst living in a range of communities, will help the local farmers to implement organic methods and sustainable practices, collect information of different insects, animals and birds as well support us to grown our network to include schools, orphanages and other conservation organisations.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Individuals and groups with a passion for environmental issues

Interns looking for projects in habitat conservation of birds, pollinators and beneficial insects, recycling of bio-waste, and sustainable development concepts

Individuals with a passion for community development

Individuals with creative ideas and enthusiasm to engage local communities in environmental sustainability

Individuals with knowledge and skills in environmental issues

PROJECT LIFE

Monday to Friday

You will work on the project from Monday to Friday.

What will a typical day/week look like? What sort of activities will they do?

Work will normally take place from Monday to Friday and as an eco-volunteer your day starts quite early as it gets hotter in the middle of the day. Volunteers are given sufficient breaks to cope up with the heat. You will work and live in a range of communities across Tirunelveli District. The accommodation in some communities will be extremely basic and primitive with only a mat and pillow for sleeping and very basic bathroom facilities. All accommodation will be on a shared basis with other volunteers. A full monthly schedule will be planned which will vary greatly from month to month as the project responds to local need and change in season. On a daily basis you can expect to be involved in general maintenance and development of the farm, on a weekly basis involved in field visits to farmers and on a monthly basis completion of species surveys. Days will be long and will require a large amount of physical exertion.

Your role will be to:

Help establish and maintain a ‘model farm’ that will be used to demonstrate to local farmers organic farming methods, rain water harvesting methods and intercropping techniques.

Work alongside women’s empowerment groups/ farmers’ group in helping them with marketing, training sessions on business development.

Work with the local community, children and youth to educate them about environmental issues and implement sustainable methods in their local area

Conduct species surveys to monitor the on-going bio-diversity of the local environment

Work with local farmers to implement organic farming methods and provide business support

Build kitchen gardens for orphanages/ schools to fight malnutrition

To design, implement, follow-up and upgrade rain water harvesting systems

Record keeping of projects

Project Details:

With sustainable development as its core aim, CYDF acts as an umbrella organization that links farmers, women groups and other environmental groups in carrying out ecological conservation. CYDF has designed the ECO-project to be a set of interlinked projects which helps women entrepreneurs market their produces like saplings, and farm produces through the formation of a common platform where farmers can sell their produce directly, creates job opportunities in its millet unit, canvasses farmers to go organic in growing crops, and also educates farmers on best practices when it comes to improving their groundwater level and conservation of pollinators, native plants and birds. CYDF ‘s millet unit was established towards eradicating the micronutrient deficiency faced by rural children, women and Youth while keeping the middle class people looking for affordable nutrient rich food as the other beneficiary of the project. Volunteers will have a varied exposure as they work in the project and get more hands-on. CYDF is impact–based and aims for mutual growth and personal development of both the volunteer and the children. Goals are set for every volunteer based on, their skills mentioned in their application and duration of volunteering. On your arrival, there would be 1-2 days of discussion on the plan for your placement and then you proceed for the execution of the same using your knowledge and skills. The Volunteers, on their arrival are requested to choose their field of work and the work schedule is prepared accordingly.

What will be provided:

3 meals per day

Accommodation

Project orientated travel expenses

Project introduction

Monthly schedule

Airport pick up and drop

Local transport by bus if frequent service available and by rickshaw if not available

Project tools and materials (GPS, binoculars, computer with internet connection)

Workshops

First aid kits

Items to bring:

Farming boots/walking shoes

Gardening gloves

Sun hat

Sun cream

Water bottles

Towels

Torch/head torch

Mosquito repellent

Sleeping bag liner

Mosquito net

Fever, electrolytes and diarrhea medicine that suits you ( due to change of climate, place and food)

Toilet rolls and tissues are cheap and could be bought in departmental stores in city and hence advised not to carry bulk quantities of the same.

WHY DO YOU NEED MY SUPPORT?

Because environmental conservation is a collective responsibility for every individual living on this planet and we need to spread and work on this in every possible way at the earliest! CYDF needs you to create awareness, to plan for the best solution with innovative ideas, and to execute and monitor

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

All volunteers will live and work at the Green Garden for the initial stage of their placement to learn about the different aspects of the project. The Green Garden is very much a working farm, designed to generate income to sustain community activities and increase local employment. You will share a room and have access to a bathroom with western facilities.

Food and safe drinking water will be provided on site and there is a small village 10 minutes walk away where you will be able to stock up on drinks, snacks and other provisions. For the remaining time of your placement you will live in various community locations which will be dependent on the current monthly schedule but you can expect clean, basic facilties on a shared basis with other volunteers.

HOW WILL I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Every volunteer sign up will contribute to the creation of environmental awareness, development of green clubs and more organic farmers, encourage rural women and a conservation of native species of birds, insects and pollinators.

Local farmers:

More farmers implement a range of organic methods

Achieve more and consistent income from their produce

In the community:

Malnutrition eradicated-With every volunteer sign-up, one child will be sponsored about 300 glasses of malt drink.

More people have access to organic vegetable and fruit

Women get empowered to grow their own vegetables in their backyard as wel as make money out of it.

More efficient women self help groups set up and sustainable

Greater awareness and empathy amongst school children of the environmental factors affecting them and steps they can implement locally to minimize this by the formation of green clubs

Environment:

Greater diversity in plant species across Tamil Nadu which will increase the range and number of pollinators

Ground water level raised and maintained