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Youth Touch works with impoverished populations in both rural and urban areas of Rajasthan, India. It is a semi dry area with barren lands, less industry and rare opportunities of employment.
These communities reside in unorganized areas and receive rare attention and privilege of education, primary health facilities and livelihood. The focal points of social development like-government schools, child care centers and other community institutions generally are ill equipped and poorly managed. As such, Youth Touch has endeavored to support these communities through its social development projects in the fields that include-
Community Development
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Due to poor state of government schools, child care centers and primary health centers, the community especially the younger generations' loose interest in using these public places meant for providing basic education, health care and communal gathering areas. The situation is more complex in rural villages comparing to urban areas. |
Volunteers help in renovating these work areas, constructing playgrounds and sports facilities, making much needed repairs to benches and tables, drawing educational posters and paintings that help the children and the community learn in a way that has a residual positive impact long after the volunteers have returned home. Volunteers also contribute in improving the natural environment through community awareness initiatives to clean littered garbage, place dustbins and plant trees in and around the villages.
Additionally, volunteers can play an important role by participating in various social activities that create a better platform to develop cross cultural exchange and understanding between the communities. Activities include-
- Organize awareness campaigns in cooperation with the local coordinators to mobilize the community against spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS, social evils, superstitions, maltreatment and adopt small family norms.
- Organize health camps for medical check up, vaccinations and medication
Not only do these activities improve the quality of life in the villages, they serve as a source of inspiration for residents who are grateful for the help volunteers provide. The schools and the day care centers become infinitely more fun and worth attending when the intriguing volunteers from abroad are helping out.
Nursing in Child Care Centers
| Child Care Centers serve as meeting place for women's groups and mother's clubs for promoting social awareness and joint action for child development and women's empowerment. The local staff is responsible for delivering services at the community level including nutritional supplements, vaccines etc to the children below six years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers and adolescent girls. These centers are located within the village or the slum area itself and are generally ill equipped and poorly managed. |
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Volunteers can render a helping hand to the care takers by being an additional human resource in the existing set-up. They can assist the care takers in their daily activities as well as initiate certain new activities for instance, monitoring the growth chart of every child, maintaining health card of every pregnant woman visiting the center.
Volunteer's activities at child care centers include-
- Personal attention and care of the children
- Preparing and feeding the children, a nutritious meal everyday
- Continuous survey of all pregnant women and new born babies in the area for regular health check ups and vaccination.
- Creating a colorful and joyful environment for the children with games, stories and other creative activities.
- Emotional support and counseling.
Sports Coach & Community Development
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India, being one of the most populous countries of the world has an immense population of children. Due to lack of dedicated and motivated sports staff, most of the children do not get an opportunity to participate in organized sports activities. One example of the lack of opportunities for young Indian athletes to compete is the fact that despite being home to 1/6th of world's population, with the exception of cricket, India does not compete in many international sporting events.
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Volunteers can make a difference by providing a structured and fun environment for children to spend their free time. Volunteers can design, organize and participate in various sports activities including track and field meets, coaching volleyball, football and cricket and also organizing sports tournaments among the local schools. The inevitable outcome of these sports activities are throngs of smiling, happy, healthy kids and their proud parents.
Active participation of international volunteers in sports and social development activities plays a meaningful role in developing children's individual confidence and faith in teamwork, while also demonstrating to children and their parents the importance of leading healthy, active lifestyles. In turn, the volunteers are presented with an avenue that allows them to easily socialize and engage the locals of this cultural wonderland.
The Sport Coaching and Social Development Program can be done in conjunction with other valuable community work based on the volunteer's preference.
Support to Street Kids
| A large number of children from the impoverished populations of India have never been to schools and never came across health or skill development education. They struggle for livelihood as they lack skills and knowledge to find a manageable job. Many of them either go for begging or collect garbage; pick the rags from streets to manage two times bread or sometimes, fall in the net of drug traffickers for want of money. |
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Majority of them are in the age group of 5 to 15 years. Generally, their life begins from the streets and ends up on the streets. They live a life that is void of love and warmth, safety, protection and parental care. The administration is also reluctant towards them.
Youth Touch volunteers can create an environment conducive for their holistic development by providing them basic education, health awareness and recreation by means of play and fun and above all the love and affection to bring a smile on their faces.
Teaching in Rural Schools
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Due to poor economic conditions, the majority of children from impoverished households are often discouraged from attending schools in order to seek work and support their family. When children are able to go to study they attend local government schools that are often under-funded and poorly managed. In light of the circumstances, it is not surprising that many poor students do not regularly attend school. |
Teachers have many more responsibilities to share, in addition to the teaching. As such, they are unable to pay due attention towards the children. Generally, they have no choice but to, just manage the mass of children.
Volunteers in schools enhance the learning environment by assisting the teachers and participating in educational activities for children between 6-11 years of age. Specifically, volunteers teach in the areas of basic English and Mathematics while also diffusely contributing to children's creativity by offering perspectives that are 'outside the box' of the rural Indian mindset.
Teaching in a different environment, not only adds to the educational experience of the children but also provides an opportunity to the volunteers to develop their own skills and confidence.
Volunteer's activities at schools include-
- Regular teaching of basic English and Mathematics
- Working with teachers in developing low cost teaching material and train them in making education more fun for the children.
- Monitoring attendance of the children regularly
- Ensuring regular health check ups of the children in cooperation with the local doctors and hospital staff.
- Creating basic hygiene awareness among the children on a regular basis for a healthier living.
- Creating a play full environment while enhancing the creativity of the children through painting, drawing, playing games, singing etc.
Women's Empowerment
| Life of Indian women and female infants is full of struggles and oppressions, especially in the rural areas of Rajasthan. Hardships caused by adverse environmental conditions and the weight of tradition aggravate their disadvantages. Poverty, dependency, illiteracy and superstitious beliefs victimize thousands of women in our society. They are often denied the same food, education and medical care as boys. |
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As a result they suffer from malnutrition, poor health and lack of skills. Many poor families, who can't afford to pay dowry to their daughters, choose to murder their female infants as the dowry is a symbol of status in the society. Domestic violence is common and a serious problem. Witchcraft accusations and punishments still occur in remote villages. Sexual harassment and discrimination at the workplace is common.
Youth Touch has taken up this issue to protect, support and empower the women through various volunteer activities that provides opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge, self esteem and confidence to get better employment and respect in the society. Activities include-
- Basic computer teaching to adolescent girls and adult women
- Conversational English teaching to adolescent girls and adult women
- Informal education and skill development trainings to make them self reliant.
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