What we do
THEORY OF CHANGE
Integrated Livelihood Hub for Visually Challenged
The present socio-economical construction doesn’t allow the differently-abled to live their life freely in the society and forced them to confine in a closed room like a prisoner. There is a lack of empathy and belief in the society imposed on the income generation activities skills of differently-abled. This results in the physical, emotional and psychological downfall of the person.
A group of 11 visually challenged young people primarily from Adivasi and Dalit Communities of North Odisha who are struggling to live a dignified living because of the sudden loss of livelihood due to the COVID pandemic. Their only occupation of music/ cultural programs was also curtailed because of the ban on such programs due to Corona. They were brought to our youth hostel for immediate shelter. Then they are shifted to a village building with campus donated at Raisuan Village in Balasore District.
The idea is to have an integrated livelihood hub under one roof for agro-based value-added products that can fetch them basics of survival without depending on others. Once skilled, they will be able to manage their families for 10-15 years to make it a group enterprise to be able to provide opportunities for people who share the same background in the vicinity. It will inspire hundreds of young people from Adivasi communities to build their group enterprises as livelihood opportunities along with setting an example of living a better life with dignity.
Mission Chakshu
Yuva Vikas Foundation is actively working to strengthen the eye care facility in rural-tribal Odisha in collaboration with local hospitals and organizations. Our goal is to reach till last one in the remotest location for the eye care facility.
We are organizing awareness campaigns related to eye care and eye camps for basic eye checkups. We are also supporting elderly people to have cataract treatment free of cost. Many of these patients are illiterate or first-generation learners. Our staff and volunteers also support them in post-cataract treatment for medication and communication with the hospital.
Natural Farming
Odisha is still a state where the livelihood of most of the rural population is directly connected with agriculture and related services and it has a strong cultural heritage of many different indigenous seeds and organic farming. But it is not untouched by the recent market attack of using chemical fertilizers and modified seeds for high yield and to get more money.
Yuva Vikas Foundation believes the Propagation of Organic Farming, Bio-fertilizer & Vermicompost, Bio-pesticides, etc. Eco-friendly, sustainable, participatory, farm-based Integrated Rural Development and Empowerment of People are the key to Sustainable Development and true Democracy.
Micro-Entrepreneurship
Odisha is a state of boundless resources and ideally, the resources should be divided wisely. Small farmer production industries could be encouraged at the village level. They would take the farmer’s products and do the “value add”.
The project aims to develop Agro Sufficiency in Agricultural Production in Odisha. The farmers are given indigenous seeds free of cost with a condition that they would return the seed after their harvest. It saves them to fall into the trap of money lenders.
COVID-19 Relief Work and Other Disaster Management Works
Ensuring Food and Cloth Security of landless, small & marginal Farmers and laborers through Ration and cloth Distribution in remote parts of Balasore and Mayurbhanj Districts.
The pains of the urban distress in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown have surpassed the age-old rural difficulty. Thousands and lakhs of migrants with uncertainty, emotional estrangement, and financial distress are returning to their natives in large numbers. Villages are left with very little or no remittance that could have been used for small investments for agriculture purposes.
Child Nourishment & Cloth Program in COVID
According to a report by CRY- Child Rights and You, in India more than 50% of India’s children are malnourished. While one in every five adolescent boys is malnourished, one in every two girls in India is undernourished. During the times of COVID, this has further been accentuated, coupled with the economic distress. As per the online tracking portal of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), 1,47492 children lost parents in India since April 1, 2020, of them, 10,094 children have lost both parents which has put them in a very vulnerable spot. (Press Trust of India, New Delhi, Dated – January 16, 2022).
The healthy physical growth of the children is the precondition for their development. This depends upon the fulfillment of basic needs in terms of adequate nutrition and physical exercise. It is also required that other psycho-social needs of the students should be addressed.
Our goals are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including Goal 1 of No poverty, Goal 2 of Zero Hunger, Goal 3 of Good Health and Well-being, Goal 4 of Quality Education, and finally Goal 10 of reduced inequality.
Cyclone Relief Work
The district has poor Health Indicators with high Infant and maternal mortality rates. Malaria, Malnutrition, waterborne, and other communicable diseases are the other common health issues. Lack of basic Health awareness is also a major challenge. Around 80% of diseases in Indian villages are due to our abysmal attitude towards water, sanitation, and hygiene. This can be avoided with awareness related to healthy practices.
Since many of the tribal people are unaware of many commonly found hygienic practices due to the lack of proper awareness programs and support systems. It is required to provide awareness among them about important hygienic practices and equip them with preventive materials (masks, sanitizer, etc).