Samerth1

NGO: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch Trust Society

by Governance and InnovationNgo's

NGO: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch Trust Society

The Government of India has released the New Education Policy-2020 keeping in mind the changing employment landscape and global ecosystem. Education thus, must move towards less content, and more towards learning about how to think critically and solve problems, how to be creative and multidisciplinary, and how to innovate, adapt, and absorb new material in novel and changing fields. Pedagogy must evolve to make education more inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centered, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable. The vision of the New Education Policy is in line with the teachings of Integral Education of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo.

IDRF partner since: 2010

  • Focus Area: Governance and Innovation
  • Location: Delhi
  • Project Title: Implementation of Integral Education through Project-based Learning and Reflective Practices for Teachers from Rural Areas, and Integral Education and Physical Fitness for Rural Teachers.  
  • Details:

    The New Education Policy of India emphasizesthat the teacher must be at the center of the fundamental reforms in theeducation system. In October 2023, IDRF in partnership with New CreationInternational, USA helped conduct a 7-day workshop on ‘Integral Education andNational Education Policy (NEP) 2020’ for 35 teachers from 10 poor ruralschools across India, at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram – Delhi Branch. Theworkshop for teachers was designed to be very comprehensive and integrated tocover all key aspects that can later be imparted to school students by theteachers. The workshop covered key concepts of Integral Education beingemphasized in the New Education Policy: project-based learning, reflectivepractices, and progress reports for children. The participants were introducedto Integral Education philosophy in detail and explained the concepts throughvarious activities. The workshop also consisted of sessions on Chanting, yogaasana and meditation, shramdaan, sports, physical activities, etc.

    Through the workshop, the teachers were ableto develop new skills, and inquiring minds, and it helped instill confidence inthem to adopt the New Education Policy in their respective schools where they didnot have access to such experiences and knowledge.

    Children in their earlier years should beencouraged to have a structured sports program so that they inculcate the habitof physical exercise in everyday life. However, the schools in rural areas arenot able to afford good quality sports equipment, nor are those easilyavailable.  IDRF and New CreationInternational are working towards enhancing physical fitness and agility in thechildren which will result in their overall development and instill focus,concentration, and confidence in them. In 2024, a 7-day camp will be organizedat Sri Aurobindo Ashram-Delhi Branch to train 26 teachers from 13 rural schoolsacross India, to understand and enhance the emphasis on Physical Education. Theparticipants will train to monitor key parameters of fitness- running speed,jumping length, height/weight, etc. and help rural children get an opportunityto develop at all levels.

     
Samerth1

NGO: Center for Advocacy and Research

by Governance and InnovationNgo's

NGO: Center for Advocacy and Research and Partnership for Transparency Fund, USA

The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) is a non-profit organization, founded in January 1998. It is committed to advancing the welfare of the poor and improving the quality of life of women, children, and vulnerable and marginalized groups. Its focus has been on a strong gender and development perspective given the growing influence that media was having in shaping public perceptions of gender and development.

Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF) is a Washington, DC-based non-governmental organization founded in 1998. It supports innovative civil society organization-led and related approaches to reduce corruption, increase transparency, strengthen governance, and enhance accountability in low- and middle-income economies. PTF has supported more than 200 projects in over 50 countries.

IDRF partner since: 2019

  • Focus Area: Governance and Innovation and Women’s Empowerment
  • Location: Rajasthan
  • Project Title: Building a Coordinated Response to Prevent and Reduce Gender-based Violence in Kishangarh Block, District Ajmer, Rajasthan  
  • Details:   The three-phase project in partnership with CFAR, India, and PTF, USA is a systemic and grassroots response to tackle Gender-based Violence (GBV) targeting more than 20,000 women across 33 villages in 10 Gram Panchayats in Ajmer. It aims to raise awareness about legal recourses and available services for those affected by GBV in public and at home, especially due to dowry demands and alcoholism. Phase I: Comprises a baseline survey to assess the community’s awareness of existing laws and legal recourse available for GBV cases, and government services provided to those vulnerable to, and affected by, GBV. Phase II: Establish and engage women’s forums with key stakeholders in local government. Identify eight women as change agents (Gram Sakhis or village “buddies”) and train them as paralegals to work with local government and district officials. The women will be officially recognized as Suraksha (Security) Buddies. CCTV cameras and streetlights to be installed in public spaces and help desks and helplines set up in village centers and publicized. The government has been supporting these initiatives with the SpeakUp app for mobile phones to provide immediate access to police, women’s forums, and families. The project attracted wider attention when the Hindustan Times, a leading national newspaper, carried an article highlighting its success in July 2023. Phase III: CFAR, IDRF, and PTF are keen to upscale this success by replicating it in the 21 other gram panchayats in Kishangarh Block. Main Highlights of the Program: Continued success and relevance in targeted communities: Educating the community about GBV, its consequences, legal recourses, and available support services for survivors like healthcare, livelihood opportunities, etc. Impact • Transformative impact on survivors, enabling rebuilding lives. • Shifting societal attitudes and creating safer environments for women • Strengthening community-based models and enhancing govt. schemes. Multi-faced approaches adopted: Women’s forums, gender resource, and counseling centers, paralegal training to (Gram Sakhis) community members, legal aid, door-to-door awareness campaigns, coordination between departments, strengthening police initiatives, enhancing, frontline workers’ training, adopting village micro plans (streetlights, cc cameras, etc.), sensitizing boys and men, helpline, etc. are helping towards improvement and effectiveness of the project. Empowering Women Against Violence in Public and at Home: Improving access to essential services and livelihood options in the fight against GBV: Access to financial resources and opportunities is aimed at promoting gender equality within the community. Economic independence strengthens women’s ability to challenge traditional gender norms, assert boundaries, and demand accountability from perpetrators. This will lead to long-term empowerment and social change and act as a catalyst for advancing gender equality. An excellent example: Annapurna Indira Rasoi It is essential to address the immediate needs of vulnerable individuals and the underlying economic factors contributing to GBV. Annapurna Indira Rasoi (kitchen) creates immediate livelihood opportunities for victims, employing them as cooks, kitchen staff, or administrators within the community kitchens. “Before, I felt isolated and helpless...now I have access to support like healthcare, counseling, and legal aid. These have helped me heal and rebuild my life. I am grateful for your support during my moment of crisis”, says a domestic violence survivor.
    More details: https://cfar.org.in/gender-based-violence/

Water Harvesting codedev

by Ngo's

Water Harvesting/Security Program

Water Harvesting/Security Program:  
 Nakhatrana Block, District Kutch, Gujarat

IDRF and Samerth have been greatly successful in developing Water Harvesting Structurers in the villages of Nakhatrana block.

  1. Pababhai Rabari- a resident of Khambhla village, looks after his cattle and is engaged in some agricultural activities. His farm land is located near the border of Mathal village. When Samerth has started the developing work at Ratnasar Talav (pond). Pababhai has visited the site on many occasions while taking his cattle for drinking water near this site. He highly praises the efforts of this development and according to him, there are about 2,500 Sheep & Goats, 200 Cows, and 300 buffalos that are able to drink water daily from this pond after its revival and development. The herds of cattle come from Mathal, Todia and Khambhala villages. According to Pababhai, this pond has a capacity to store water for the whole year after its redevelopment, and the cattle herders are extremely grateful with this redevelopment program.

Sheep Drinking water from Ratnasar Talav (Pond) in Mathal Village.

Pababhai Maldhari from Khambhala village

Kanjibhai Garva resides in Mathal village and is engaged in farming activities.  His farm land is located near Chhapri Dam, near Mathal, which was developed last year. Even though this area gets meager rain fall, last year the bore well on his farm land was able to recharge water as a result of the water harvesting structure development. The water level in his borewell increased by 4 to 5 feet. So it is important to note that the water bodies developed as part of the project, not only conserve water, but also recharge the other water structures and aquifers in the surrounding areas.

Kanjibhai proudly showing his borewell with new recharge level of water

Kanjibhai’s farm land near the Chhapri Dam

  1. Kanjibhai believes that if the monsoon season brings good rainfall this year, it will have a good impact on the farming activities in this area, and the farmers will be able to produce more crops with the recharged borewells near the pond area.

  2. At Aiyyar village, Samerth has developed two water harvesting structures, one for the cattle and another for the drinking purpose for the people in the community. The newly elected Sarpanch (village head) Mr. Vipulabhai Patel is a young and dynamic person, who also teaches at a college at Nakhatrana. According to him, Samerth’s support has changed the perspective of his thinking in developing water structures in this area. This village had four water structures and Samerth developed two more recently. There is also a huge check dam with voluminous water retention capacity. After Samerth’s intervention, Vipul Patel and his team have decided to file an application to the government for the development of this check dam. The villagers have completed a detailed study report of this dam with the support of engineers, and submitted the application to develop the check dam near Aiyyar village. The application is submitted to Kayla Water & Irrigation Department, Nakhatrana Block with an approximate estimate of INR 45 lakhs for the development process.

Sarpanch of Aiyyar Village (right) in conversation with Samerth official

Jammu and Kashmir Floods 2014 2

by Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

Jammu and Kashmir Floods 2014

The state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) received torrential rainfall in September 2014 that triggered flooding and landslides in several areas. Constant rains and landslides wreaked havoc and brought life to a standstill in the state, claiming more than 150 lives, inundating hundreds of villages and leaving millions stranded.

NGO: Sewa Bharti Jammu and Kashmir

IDRF partner since: 2011

  • Focus Area: Jammu and Kashmir Floods 2014
  • Location: Jammu and Kashmir
  • Project Title: Distribution of relief material, relief checks and construction material to repair and reconstruct damaged houses
  • Details:  IDRF partnered with NGO Sewa Bharti Jammu and Kashmir to implement a disaster response project for the affected communities, irrespective of caste or religion. The IDRF funded disaster response project for affected communities included both short and long‐term relief measures. Along with the distribution of food and pherans (traditional woolen gowns)—to keep people warm through the winters, Sewa Bharti also distributed mobile stalls and goods, such as kangris (fire pots). In addition to supplies, relief to flood victims for the repair and construction of their damaged houses was provided both in the form of relief checks and construction materials. IDRF realized that self-reliance was the only way to somewhat stabilize the lives of the affected people. So in this regard, we sent financial grants to distribute mobile stalls including the goods for selling, so that the affected people could start earning their livelihood and bring their lives back on track.

Mobile stalls with goods and Pherans (traditional woolen gowns) given to flood victims

Check distribution to the flood victims

Distribution of traditional woolen gown (pherans) to the victims

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Floods 2015

by with No Comment Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Floods- 2015

Heavy rains caused by monsoon in November – December of 2015 resulted in floods along the Coromandel Coastal region of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The city of Chennai was worst hit and the low-lying parts were soon inundated and several buildings collapsed as a result of heavy rains. In the Chennai region alone more than 500 people died and thousands displaced from their homes.

Hundreds of acres of agricultural land was ruined by flood waters in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. IDRF launched the fundraising to provide relief and rehabilitation through two highly reputable partner-NGOs: Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS).

NGO: Swami Vivekananda Rural Development Society (SVRDS)

IDRF partner since: 1996

  • Focus Area: Rural Development Society
  • Location: Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu
  • Project Title: Distribution of relief kits to victims, Reconstruction of damaged houses
  • Details:  SVRDS focused on distributing relief kits to those villages around Chennai that did not receive Government aid in time. The relief kits were distributed to about 2000 families and consisted of a steel container filled with kitchen utensils, towel, clothing (saris and dhotis) for the whole family, mats, and groceries (like rice, oil, wheat, sooji, pulses), washing powder & medicine kits, etc. With IDRF’s support, reconstruction of severely damaged houses of very poor families was done, in order to bring about normalcy in flood victims’ lives. Seven houses with built-up areas of 270 square feet were constructed to resettle the families whose houses were damaged beyond repair.

Distribution of Relief Kits to Flood Victims

Houses repaired/reconstructed for the flood victims in Tamil Nadu

NGO: Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS)

Partner Since: 2002

IDRF funds to Yogoda Satsanga Society helped 8,075 families in five districts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Many of the families that were helped were very poor and socially deprived and had not received any form of help from other relief agencies. YSS devotees and members distributed relief kits to these people that comprised of solar re-chargeable LED lamps, bedsheets, and mats.

Relief Kits being distributed to Flood Victims

Please click on the link to learn more about Yogoda Satsanga Society’s various programs.

https://yssofindia.org/

Nepal Earthquake 2015

by Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

Nepal Earthquake- 2015

A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing thousands and rendering hundreds of thousands homeless with entire villages flattened across the country. A series of aftershock began immediately and triggered more destruction by avalanches and landslides. Within a few days, on May 12, another major aftershock of magnitude 7.3 Richter scale caused more destruction and the number of dead rose to 9,000 and injured to 22,000.

IDRF promptly launched its special fundraising campaign and funds started pouring in.  Due to the benevolence of several individual supporters and organizations, IDRF was able to send funds through longtime partner-NGO Manav Seva Sansthan to provide immediate relief to the victims. IDRF also extended help to Public Health Concern Trust, based in Nepal, to set up the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Kirtipur Hospital to deal with the overwhelming demands of surgery for the victims who had suffered serious injuries as a result of the earthquakes.

NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan “SEVA”

IDRF partner since: 2013

  • Focus Area: Nepal Earthquake 2015
  • Location: Nepal
  • Project Title: ICU setup at Kirtipur Hospital,Distribution of relief kits to victims
  • Details:  IDRF funds enabled Manav Seva Sansthan, based in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, to procure and distribute two types of relief-kits to 160 families in Gorkha district of Nepal: the ‘Non-food-relief items kit’, consisted of woolen blankets, clothes for the whole family and kitchen utensils. The other kit was the ‘Shelter and Hygiene kit’, which consisted of tarpaulin cloth, nylon rope needed for setting up tent and hygiene supplies like: soaps, undergarments, towel, comb, toothpaste and tooth brushes, etc

NGO: Public Health Concern Trust-NEPAL

NGO: Public Health Concern Trust-NEPAL

Partner Since: 2012

Right after the disastrous earthquake in Nepal, IDRF supporters and donors, wholeheartedly helped Kathmandu Model and Kirtipur Hospitals to serve more than 1,000 patients and 220 through surgical interventions. IDRF sent grants to establish and upgrade ICU facility and post-operative room at Kirtipur Hospital.

With IDRF and other organizations’ help, Public Health Concern Trust-Nepal was able to provide free medical and surgical care and hospital stay to the earthquake victims. Since most of the patients have lost their homes and belongings in the disaster, meals and a place to stay were also provided to their caretakers.

ICU at Kirtipur Hospital

Please click on the link below to know more about Public Health Concern Trust, Nepal. http://phectnepal.org/

Siachen Glacier Avalanche 2016

by Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

Siachen Glacier Avalanche- 2016

On February 3, 2016, an avalanche hit an Indian military base in Siachen Glacier region in Jammu and Kashmir, the inhospitable terrain at heights of 19,000 feet above sea level. Ten Indian Army soldiers were buried under deep snow and lost their lives. IDRF extended a helping hand to the new partner-NGO Youth for Sava, in order to send economic relief to the families of the dead soldiers in Karnataka.

NGO: Youth for Seva

IDRF partner since: 2016

  • Focus Area: Youth for Seva
  • Location: Karnataka
  • Project Title: Financial help to bereaved families of dead soldiers
  • Details:  Youth for Seva Youth for Seva was founded in 2007, as a nation-wide volunteering movement that inspires youth in India to volunteer and connects them to meaningful opportunities to serve the community. This organization aims to create positive change agents in the society, through the culture of volunteerism.
    A group of compassionate IDRF-volunteers, based in the United States, succeeded in raising handsome amount of funds in order to provided financial help to the bereaved families of the ten dead soldiers. IDRF joined hands with Youth for Seva, a pan-India volunteering movement, by extending help to these families who are not very economically well-off and have lost their major breadwinners.

Nandiwale Babu Annappa, Athani, Belgavi

Vishwanath Bharamappa Parasannavar, Gokak, Belagavi

India Floods- 2017

by Ngo'sWomen’s Empowerment

India Floods- 2017

Due to heavy rains, many parts in India like: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, etc. experienced floods during the monsoons of 2017. Scores of people were killed and thousands rendered homeless. Rescue efforts on a war-footing by army and paramilitary rescue workers were carried out to evacuate people stranded on rooftops and trees and others were relocated from low-lying areas. Military personnel had to be called upon to help rescue thousands of people marooned due to floods. IDRF promptly launched the disaster relief/rehabilitation programs through its reputable partner-NGOs: Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS) in West Bengal, Gram Vikas Parishad in Bihar, Manav Seva Sansthan in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Samerth Charitable Trust in Gujarat.

NGO: Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS)

ERDS in West Bengal distributed Food Kits, each comprised of rice, flour, sugar and milk etc. to 100 flood affected families.

Devastation caused by floods in West Bengal- 2017

NGO: Gram Vikas Parishad

In Bihar, IDRF helped Gram Vikas Parishad distribute 100 Relief Kits to affected families. Each kit included: rice, flour, polythene sheets for temporary shelter, medicines and life jackets. Most of the flood ravaged villages comprise of elderly, women and children who had lost everything and were confronted with near-starvation like situation.

Distribution of Relief Kits to flood victims in Bihar

NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan

Manav Seva Sansthan distributed relief items to 100 flood affected families in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The relief items included ready to eat dry foods, non-Perishable food items like Wheat Flour, Rice, Oil, Pulses, Sugar, food containers, water filter, mosquito nets and hygiene kits. The beneficiaries included families from schedule caste, women headed families, widows and differently abled. The beneficiary families were identified in coordination with local government authorities and community members.  Token based distribution mechanism was adopted to avoid duplicity and ensure full transparency.  During the distribution the beneficiaries were briefed on healthy hand hygiene habits and encouraged to use toilets for defecation.

Distribution of Relief Material in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

NGO: Samerth Charitable Trust

Samerth in Gujarat distributed relief kit along with food grains to the 100 poorest of poor families living in interior parts of Gujarat. Samerth team had identified these families from 27 villages in the flood ravaged areas.

Hundreds of houses were badly damaged & acres of land got submerged under water and covered in flood-water sand. For thousands of victims in the disaster affected villages, agriculture is the only means of livelihood. Samerth has identified 80 families who have lost their livelihood as a part of the rehabilitation process.  With the financial support of IDRF, Samerth has been able to help resettle the poor villagers by providing them with potter’s wheels, masonry and agriculture kits, sheep, goats, buffaloes, fodder, milk cans and sewing machines, etc.

 

Relief and rehabilitation work for flood victims in Gujarat

Relief and rehabilitation work for flood victims in Gujarat

West Bengal Freak Storm- 2017

by Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

West Bengal Freak Storm- 2017

On March 25th 2017, a massive storm, wreaked havoc in Malda, West Bengal. Hundreds of lives in nine villages were devastated in just 22 minutes and killed people and innumerable livestock. The storm damaged/destroyed several houses, crops and innumerable livestock. This has been financially devastating for the poor rural people. IDRF and partner-NGO Economic Rural Development Society (ERDS) joined hands to help the victims of this storm.

West Bengal Freak Storm- 2017

IDRF partner since: 2011

  • Focus Area: Economic Rural Development Society
  • Location: West Bengal
  • Project Title:  Construction of new houses and repairs of damaged houses & livelihood provisions
  • Details:  The Freak storm unroofed and damaged 69 houses and the inhabitants were compelled to stay at others people’s houses or take shelter under trees. IDRF and ERDS joined hands to assist the victims and make them self-reliant once again. IDRF immediately sent two grants aggregating towards reconstruction of 31 fully damaged houses and repairs of 38 of partially damaged houses and for providing new livestock (one cow, four goats or four pigs) to 69 families in order to help them get back on their feet.

Reconstruction of house for Beneficiary- Ashalata Gosh of Majhra village in Malda District

Reconstruction of House for Beneficiary- Maino Mardi in Badnagara village, Malda District

Kerala Floods- 2018

by Disaster Relief and RehabilitationNgo's

Kerala Floods- 2018 and 2019

Due to heavy monsoon rains, the state of Kerala in India, experienced devastating floods during the summers of 2018. Scores of people were killed and thousands rendered homeless. A red alert was announced in the state and troops deployed to carry out search and rescue missions. Hundreds of relief camps were opened to accommodate the victims. IDRF promptly launched the disaster relief/rehabilitation programs through its reputable partner-NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan and decided to send 100% of the donations received for flood victims.

NGO: Manav Seva Sansthan

IDRF partner since: 2018

  • Focus Area: Relief and Rehabilitation of affected families
  • Location: Kerala
  • Project Title: Kerala Floods 2018 and 2019
  • Details:  IDRF worked closely with the state government, who selected the beneficiaries to receive help from IDRF, so as to maximize the number of victims helped. IDRF send funds to Manav Seva Sansthan to distributed 100 kitchen kits and appliances to severely affected families in Pozhuthana, in Wayanad district, that helped set up their kitchens over again. Each Kitchen kits consisted of a gas stove, mixer grinder, pressure cooker, dinner set, frying pan set, emergency LED light and bucket/ mug/spoon/knife/thali, etc.
    IDRF also started programs to rehabilitate the flood victims whose only means of livelihood is agriculture and animal husbandry. Several poor families in Pozhuthana Gram Panchayat lost all their livestock which were their only means of sustenance. In order to rebuild the lives of these victims, IDRF gifted 18 cows to some families to start up again.
    IDRF is also supporting the repairs and rebuilding of 10 houses belonging to extremely poor families in Wayanad district. Cabinet Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally, Government of Kerala, laid the foundation stone of the housing project (Snehaveedu) in Wayanad.

    IDRF Fundraiser for Kerala Flood Victims: IDRF held a fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine in Herndon, Virginia, on August 25, 2018 to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims. Several fundraisers were created on social media: Facebook by IDRF supporters and volunteers to raise funds for providing relief and rehabilitation for the severely affected flood victims.

Kitchen Kits and appliances were distributed to 100 severely affected families in Wayanad District

Livestock distribution to flood victims at a community event in Wayanad

Flood-affected families given cows to start up their livelihood once again

Foundation stone laid for IDRF-supported rebuilding of houses for extremely poor families

Cabinet Minister of Govt. Of Kerala inaugurates IDRF supported repairs and rebuilding of damaged houses

IDRF Fundraiser for Kerala Flood Victims:

IDRF held a fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine in Herndon, Virginia, on August 25, 2018 to raise funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

Several fundraisers were created on social media: Facebook by IDRF supporters and volunteers to raise funds for providing relief and rehabilitation for the severely affected flood victims.———————

IDRF Fundraiser at Tatva Indian Cuisine at Herndon, Virginia