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Environmental Education & Waste upcycling

Solan, India

Notes

The existence of life on planet is possible only because of the suitable environment we live in.

Over the past few decades our human thirst for development has taken its toll on environment and its effect has been seen and felt by us all in recent past. Through this project we want to emphasize on importance of environmentally sustainable action that are needed to be incorporated in our lives on daily basis to reduce further damage. We would also like to take this opportunity and target waste material as it is one of the biggest environmental challenge that we face today.

In partnership with

RUCHI NGO in cooperation with local councils


Description of the Work

The project aims to educate local communities, both formal and non-formal, on environmental concerns like Global warming, occurrence of floods, droughts, depletion of natural resources, lack of waste management etc. and take up protective measures with a possibility of organizing micro community actions.

In specific work will include:
• Creating Environmental awareness to preserve biodiversity among kids and other community based groups.
• Promoting sustainable lifestyle changes to have minimum green house gas emission on our environment. (eg. Reducing usage of plastics, choosing energy efficient devices etc)
• Up-cycling of waste and other discarded items into something meaningful and usable.
• Promote Upcycled products as a entrepreneurial activity among local community.

Volunteers with prior experience in related work are welcome to bring in new ideas.


Accommodation & Food

Food is provided. Local, fresh meals are made and served. The volunteers are expected to contribute in kitchen. A private or shared bedroom and shared bath are provided in one of the residential houses, our volunteer house or at the farm.


Location & Leisure

Ruchi campus which is located near Bandh village. It is 30 km from Kalka town and 60 km from Chandigarh city. The area offers a unique opportunity to live with nature in a peaceful environment.

During leisure time, discover vibrant rural life, visit nearby places of attraction like old Sikh and Hindu temples, Kasauli hill station. A visit to Shimla, the state capital, will offer an opportunity to see high Himalayan Mountains and British architecture.


Requirements

Interest in environmental issues and concerns. Prior experience may come handy. Adaptability to challenging situation is required.


Appointment

Kalka


Host Organization

Rural Centre for Human Interests (known as RUCHI, which means ‘interest’ in Hindi) came into being as a non-profit, voluntary organization in October 1980, set up in the Himalayan foothills of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. RUCHI is legally registered under Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860. Presently, RUCHI head office is located in a new complex called the Technology Resource Centre (TRC). The office a centre of technology transfer came into force, in the year 1994 as an extension program of CAPART, of the Ministry of Rural Development. The objective is to promote, develop and modify the rural technologies. Situated in the hills of Solan district in Bandh village, this centre has been the hub of all activities. RUCHI has focused through the years on promoting sustainable anthropocentric development through empowerment – by providing assistance and technical support to the underprivileged, showing them the way to minimize dependence and thus attain a better life – rather than just through charity. RUCHI’s founders felt there was a need for a committed workforce to initiate the process of development at the grassroots level, encouraging individual and community participation in the process.