Research
China
In China, the NGO situation is complicated. To the extent possible, students visit with NGO's and community organizations, as well as multilateral organizations. Research projects are developed accordingly, and research visits are arranged by mentors. Below are some topics examined in the past.
- Adolescent Health and Obesity
- Hospital Management
- Maternal and Child Health (and reproductive health)
- HIV/AIDS (SMS communities, prostitution, drug injection users)
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health
India
In India, students conduct community-based field study and service with pre-selected NGO's in the Udaipur area. Students are assigned to the NGO's in pairs. A short seminar on field study methods help prepare the students for these assignments. Translators are provided.
In spring 2012, the NGO partners in India are as follows:
Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti - Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti (JJVS) is a non-governmental organization that focuses on improving the rural and tribal communities in Rajasthan, India. JJVS works to uplift the socio-economic conditions of these less fortunate communities through two programs: Traditional System of Medicines and Community Development. Among the organization’s objectives are to increase awareness of health and education opportunities, improve the effectiveness of government plans and programs, conserve the environment and natural resources, and organize the community for coordinated campaigns. JJVS hopes to eventually establish an equality-based, exploitation free society in Rajasthan. For more information, visit: http://jjvs.org/.
Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan - Jan Shiksha Evam Vikas Sangathan or People’s Education and Development Organization (PEDO) is a volunteer organization founded in 1980. PEDO is involved in the development of poor rural communities, with the goal of alleviating poverty and creating sustainable living environments. Among PEDO’s major areas of interest are: micro-finance and women’s empowerment, natural resource management, promotion of primary education, and rural housing and infrastructure reform. The organization is presently working on improving the economic and social situation of the inhabitants of rural communities of Dungarpur, most of whom belong to the Bhil tribe. Students’ involvement is sought especially for tasks related to microfinance and micro-insurance. For more information, visit: http://www.pedomada.org.
Action Research and Training for Health - Action Research and Training for Health (ARTH) was founded by a group of community health professionals in 1997, with a commitment to improve the health status among underprivileged communities in India. The organization focuses on women’s reproductive health and works primarily on conducting research, operating reproductive and child-health clinics, and advocating for health care policy and program reform. ARTH operates three main programs — Child Health, Reproductive Health, and Health Systems and Policy – as well as numerous smaller projects. ARTH’s field-based service delivery work is located in southern Rajasthan, while research, technical assistance, and advocacy related work spreads across the State. For more information, visit: http://www.arth.in/.
Aajeevika Bureau - Aajeevika Bureau (AB) is a specialized non-profit, public service organization that provides services, security, and solutions to seasonal migrants who leave their villages to find work in cities, factories and farms. Rural, seasonal migrants make up a massive workforce across India, but despite the major contributions they make to India’s prosperity, often suffer neglect from employers — public and government alike. To improve migrant lives, AB works both in the “source” as well as in the “destination” communities of rural migrants. The Bureau provides a range of services to help migrants establish their identity, increase their incomes, and reduce their expenditures. It also assists them with emergencies associated with moving away from their home villages. AB also acts as an agent of policy change and advocacy in favor of these workers. Aajeevika Bureau was established in 2005 as a charitable trust, is headquartered in Udaipur and works through a network of field locations in Rajasthan and Gujarat. For more information, visit: http://www.aajeevika.org/.
Vidya Bhawan - Vidya Bhawan is an education facility that has grown from a small middle school of only four classes into a complex of related institutions with a common mission guided by the motto: “Commitment to Social Responsibility through Education.” Initially, the school drew its inspiration from the tenets of the Boy Scout Movement with an emphasis on community services. The school was probably the first to introduce co-education in feudal Rajasthan and emphasized character formation over book learning. Today, physical, aesthetic and moral education still form an integral part of the school’s education program. In addition to its four main schools, Vidya Bhawan includes a Teacher Training College (IASE), a Rural Institute providing courses in higher education, a Community Polytechnic wing to provide technical training and produce engineers, an Education Centre, and a School for Citizenship, among many others. Vidya Bhawan is supported by many public and private institutions as well as individuals, and strives to provide quality education and development to all. For more information, visit: www.vidyabhawan.org.
Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society - Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society (GMKS), a well known developmental NGO of India, started its operation in the year 1985. It is essentially an NGO run by a group of members hailing from tribal community. Its activities spread into 10 districts of Rajasthan—a largest geographical and desert state of India. The society has a dedicated team of professionals drawn from various backgrounds and disciplines and 112 village-level volunteers spread in 80 odd villages of Jhadol and Kotra blocks of Udaipur districts. For more information, visit www.gmks.org.
Jatan Sansthan - JATAN SANSTHAN is a grassroots NGO working with the rural population of the districts of Rajsamand, Udaipur, and Bhilwada, in the state of Rajasthan. Jatan covers 250 villages across various blocks including Railmagra, Amet, Mawli, and Gangapur. Since its establishment in 2001, Jatan has designed and implemented various initiatives geared towards improving the social and demographic indicators of the marginalized population of Railmagra block in Rajsamand, with a special emphasis on youth groups. In the last 9 years, Jatan has worked on programs ranging from women empowerment and youth development to migration. Its scope of association has covered various existing and emerging drawbacks in rural communities occurring due to lack of basic resources, health care, education and employment For more information, visit www.jatansansthan.org.
Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) - The 90’s saw important changes in policy environment enabling a better involvement of local communities in determining the management of the local natural surroundings under the Watershed Development programmes, Joint Forest Management arrangements and the Panchayat Raj Amendment Act (1992). New opportunities to work on different land categories through a variety of village level institutions provided a more enabling environment to address the critical task of ecological restoration in the country and led to the setting up of the Foundation for Ecological Security in 2001. The Foundation is registered under Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860, New Delhi. FES is presently involved in following activities: Ecological restoration, institutions in local self governance, livelihoods and commons, and rural infrastructure. For more information, visit fes.org.in.
Last revised: 17 October 2011
