Content: Visit village India February 2015
Twelve months in, our project in Paramesvaramangalam is beginning to take hold. Six Village Development Committee meetings have been conducted, paving the way for major change in the village.
A Self-Help Group working on tamarind fruit extraction
Self-Help Groups and Microfinance
Eighteen women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been formed so far, counting 253 members. More than 160 members have received basic training in capacity-building, and 77 have received microloans totalling INR 1,245,000 (US $6,000) from Hand in Hand to launch their businesses. An additional INR 850,000 (US $12,840) was disbursed by banks.
Child labor awareness rally
Child Labour Elimination Project
One child labour awareness rally was conducted, attended by 120 people, and 25 pupils have been begun attending a new Children’s Learning Centre.
Citizens’ Center meeting
Citizens’ Centre
Twenty-five people received e-literacy training at Hand in Hand’s Citizens’ Centre, bringing the total to 259. Another 15 attended computer courses. Three awareness programmes were conducted on India’s Right to Information Act, attended by 148 people.
Medical camp
Health
Three mass awareness programs were conducted on nutrition and sanitation, attended by 392 people. Another 243 attended five awareness meetings on basic health and personal hygiene. One general medical camp was conducted, benefiting 164 people. An ophthalmology camp benefited 44.
A veterinary camp was also conducted, treating 996 animals.
Organic farming education
Environment
Four awareness programnes were conducted to sensitise villagers on protecting the environment and vermicomposting (the practice of composting using worms). Seven mass village cleaning camps were also conducted. The environment was improved with the planting of 20 avenue trees and 20 kitchen garden units. Another 430 horticulture plants were distributed to individual households.
A village sponsor’s testimonial
Tab: Child Labour Elimination Programme
Tab: Entrepreneurship Clubs
Tab: Young Mothers Programme
ft Hand in Hand in the media
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Jobs and security
While Hand in Hand’s principal motive is to alleviate poverty, jobs also improve security and stability in the regions where we work. This is particularly true in areas that have recently suffered some form of violence. Studies suggest persistent unemployment makes individuals significantly more susceptible to rebel recruitment, as they perceive there to be no non-violent means of earning a living. In a global survey conducted by the World Bank in 2011, 39.5 percent of the members of rebel groups that were interviewed claimed unemployment and idleness were their principal motivations for joining.
By the numbers
World Bank World Development Report, 2011
39.5% of the members of rebel groups interviewed claimed unemployment and idleness were their principle motivation for joining
World Bank World Development Report, 2011
70% of Afghans think unemployment is a major factor driving the current conflict
African Development Bank Group: Youth Unemployment and Political Instability in Selected Developing Countries
When 15- to 24-year-olds make up more than 35% of the adult population, the risk of armed conflict is 150% higher than in countries with older populations
DRAFT Afghanistan National Youth Policy, 2011
In Afghanistan, 15- to 24-year-olds account for 40% of the total population
The Challenge
The greatest security related challenge in the regions where we work is that posed by youth unemployment. Even in countries experiencing economic growth, the number of youth entering the labour force is far greater than the number of new job opportunities being created each year. A 2013 report by the African Development Bank found that developing countries with large numbers of unemployed young people are considerably more likely to suffer some form of civil violence than those with lower levels of youth unemployment. A lack of jobs may leave young people feeling as if they have no choice but to join a rebellion as a means of generating an income. Conversely, those that are able to find employment become more invested in political stability and face a greater opportunity cost from joining a rebellion.
Case Study: Afghanistan
Of all the countries where Hand in Hand works, Afghanistan is the most beset by conflict. Beset by political instability and vast tracts of mountainous terrain, the country is incredibly difficult to police, providing a fertile ground for rebel groups to recruit young people. In a recent survey, 7 percent of Afghans said a lack of jobs was the principal reason they may support the goals of rebel groups in their region. Meanwhile, in another survey, 70 percent said unemployment and poverty were major factors driving the current conflict.
Youth unemployment in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, 15- to 24-year-olds constitute 40 percent of the total population, increasing the risk of armed conflict in the country by 150 percent in comparison to countries with flatter age structures. Through our programme in Afghanistan, Hand in Hand is able to help tackle the issue of unemployment, thereby reducing the appeal of joining a rebel group and helping to facilitate a more politically stable environment.
Today
The threat of rising unemployment was heightened by the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of 2014. Not only did their withdrawal reduce the security assurances in the region, it also resulted in a significant loss of jobs as those working for foreign security and civilian organisations, as well as Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), were laid off. Estimates of the number of jobs at risk ranged from 50,000 to 360,000 when all those employed by service providers and other contractors were taken into account.
Afghanistan’s insecurity, mountainous terrain and political instability make it the most challenging location in which we work, and, as a result, the one that needs our commitment the most. So far, we’ve trained 46,000 Self-Help Group members and created 44,000 jobs in the country. And we’re just getting started.
Content : Visit village India – Since August 2014 tab
We are now six months into the project, which began when Hand in Hand India conducted a survey to identify existing services and problems in the Panchayat. Through this exercise, we were able to map the demographics of the community and develop a plan for fighting poverty most effectively.
Achievements
Even at this early stage we’ve been able to achieve significant improvements in the areas highlighted as requiring intervention by the village mapping exercise.
Village Development Committee Formed
Our field team formed a village development committee to involve and engage the community in planning the activities to be implemented under the VUP.
Participatory Rural appraisal (PRA)-village mapping exercise | Paramesvaramangalan, India
Livestock health care camp | Paramesvaramangalan, India
Self-Help Groups and Microfinance
Hand in Hand India mobilised 14 Self-Help Groups that currently have a total of 202 members. So far, 161 members have received basic business and financial training. A total of INR 850,000 has been loaned to 25 family based enterprises, and we have also been able to hold a veterinary camp in which 996 animals were treated.
Awareness rally by school children on child labour | Paramesvaramangalan, India
Child Labour Elimination Project
Our field team has helped to run two awareness campaigns and a rally as part of our aim of ensuring 100 percent school enrolment for children aged 6 to 14 within the Panchayat.
E- Learning programme : Schoolchildren are taught on the basics of computer | Paramesvaramangalan, India
Citizens’ Centre
Hand in Hand India has created a Citizens’ Centre in the village which is providing the community with a vital access point for many state benefits. Having established internet access, the Centre has held e-learning classes for 234 members of the community.
Paediatric medical camp | Paramesvaramangalan, India
Health
Hand in Hand India provided a free medical camp for the village in which 164 people received treatment. The camp also enabled our field team to promote better sanitation and health practices across the community.
Waste management
Environment
As planned, we have been able to run two awareness campaigns on environment protection and vermicomposting, as well as organize three mass village-cleaning camps.
A village sponsor’s testimonial
Content : Visit village India – Before August 2014 tab
Village program launch | Paramesvaramangalam village |Tamil Nadu, India
On 14 February, Hand in Hand India staff met with local leaders, ward members, Self-Help Group members, school teachers and youths. They
discussed their participation in the VUP program and professed their support.
Three days later the program was officially launched. Hundreds of community members visited Hand in Hand stalls to learn about the program, then settled in for a performance featuring street theatre and dances geared towards explaining Hand in Hand India’s five focus activities. Local leaders and Self-Help Group members signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hand in Hand staff, symbolizing their commitment to the program.
What happens next?
No two villages are the same – and neither are any two Village Uplift Programsme. Work is underway now to complete a ‘participatory rural appraisal’ of Paramesvaramangalam, a process that involves surveying villagers to discover what they think their community needs most. The results will impact precisely how we implement the programme. Broadly, however, we’ll be working in five tried and tested focus areas.
Tamarind processing | Paramesvaramangalan, India
1. Job creation
Our job creation model will help hundreds of women entrepreneurs start businesses such as tailoring, bicycle repair and shopkeeping. We’ll also run veterinary camps to provide timely medical help to the milk-giving animals in the village, helping dairy entrepreneurs and the village in general.
School | Tamil Nadu, India
2. Child labour elimination and access to education
Our field team has already begun visiting every family in the village to identify child workers. When we find them, we’ll work our absolute hardest to get them into school. We’ll also pay for evening tuition. Our goal is to ensure 100 percent school enrolment for children aged 6 to 14.
Citizens’ center | Tamil Nadu, India
3. Citizens’ Centre
Hand in Hand India’s Citizens’ Centre will provide internet access – a vital access point for many state benefits – for the very first time. It will also host sessions on civic rights, such as the right to free education, which many in Paramesvaramangalam do not know exist.
Health Center | Tamil Nadu, India
4. Health
Besides promoting better sanitation and health practices across the community, we’ll give free medical examinations conducted by professional doctors and nurses to the most vulnerable villagers. Further down the line, we’ll provide microloans to those who want to build toilets.
Villagers collecting wood to make firecoal |Paramesvaramangalam |Tamil Nadu, India
5. Environment
We’re just weeks away from beginning organic farming training courses and commencing waste collection services.
Village development committee | Tamil Nadu, India
6. Village Development Committee
We also plan to mobilize local volunteers and village elders to help deliver the program by forming a Village Development Committee.