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Central
Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA)
The Central Himalayan
Environment Association (CHEA) was initiated in 1981 by a group of
persons deeply concerned for the preservation of the environment and
appropriate development of the Himalayan region in general and the
Central Himalayan region of India in particular. CHEA is
a registered non-profit independent body. In the course of about 2
decades CHEA has contributed to creating conditions that enable village
communities to manage natural resources and benefit from them on a
sustainable basis. The Association is committed to the cause of
sustainable development.
Website: http://www.cheaindia.org
Possible volunteering opportunities
1. Community
Forestry: One of
the
projects is linked to ongoing work on Community Forest Management
through Van
Panchayats, a traditional (since 1920s) village-based institutions
involved in
managing natural resources. Students will be involved in field
based
implementation (by taking part in project activities such as
plantation,
participatory planning of activities, village meetings etc)
of this
project aimed at strengthening 15 Van Panchayats, and will draw lessons
for
policy advocacy and management of natural resources through
community
participation. This project advocates livelihood based management of
natural
resources and is being implemented in Lamgarah Development block in
Almora
district of Uttarakhand state.
2. Integrated Tribal
Development: The
second project is focused on capacity
building of tribal communities for improving their livelihoods. The
tribal
community targeted under the project includes one of the smallest
tribal
populations of India- Van Raji (only around 500 persons). The
second
tribal community is Rung. These tribal communities are involved
in sheep
rearing, carpet weaving and wooden handicraft since ages
but changed
economic scenario has posed challenge to the survival of handicraft.
Students will
work with village communities to build their capacities for improving
livelihoods through adopting various productive skills. The project is
being
implemented in 3 developmental blocks in Pithoragarh district. The
volunteers
will help in developing field implementation strategies and
participatory
documentation of the field lessons.
3. Agri-business
development and women capacity building: To support rural
livelihoods, CHEA is extending agri-business support services to a
group of
farmers in Paharpani cluster in Nainital district. The work is focused
on
increasing qualitative and quantitative production of fresh vegetables,
and
finding innovative approaches for marketing. Besides there are
activities on
women's empowerment using the self help group (SHG) approach. This
project will
give an opportunity to students to help the communities in
developing
market linkages, making business plans, and also help the women's' SHGs
for
undertaking income generation activities. The volunteers will support
to develop
a new project proposal on women empowerment on the basis of their field
experiences.
4. Indian Mountain Initiative: The
mountains, covering large
parts of the world, including both Asia and India,
have attracted mankind
throughout the documented and undocumented history of the human race.
Man has
turned to mountains for both material and spiritual well being. More
recently,
mountains have attracted renewed attention in the light of climate
change,
diminishing pool of global biodiversity, and shrinking reserves of
freshwater.
This historic and geographical importance not withstanding, the
mountains have
been encumbered by isolation and slow economic growth associated with
poverty
and low levels of development.
CHEA
has launched the Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI) with the aim to
'establish a
functional discussion platform for the eleven Indian Mountain States
with the
determination to follow up what gets collectively agreed upon. In
pursuit of
this objective, Meets, Summits of stakeholders of these mountain states
are
organised and deliberations are used for developing policy advocacy
material
and strategies. Volunteers will help
CHEA to develop communication material (policy papers/ briefs, advocacy
material on Indian mountain issues in various forms (brochure/
pamphlet/
leaflet) and case study etc through field and desk research as well as
being
involved in the events of IMI (if being organised during the visit
duration).
Preferred skills
Open
to students with both social sciences and physical sciences backgrounds
with
keen interest to be in close association of highland nature,
environment and mountain
communities.
Approximate cost
£1400 for eight weeks, including flights (costed
at £500,
to be booked by volunteers), visa costs, board and lodging, local
travel and Camvol administrative fee.
NOTE:
Estimated
costs for
placements assume that flights to India are £500. However,
applicants should note that flight costs can vary greatly depending on
airlines and time of bookings, and adjust their budget estimates
accordingly. Similarly, vaccination costs have NOT been included in
estimated costs, and applicants should take this into account while
planning their budgets.
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