📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Rural Centre for Human Interests (RUCHI) is a community development organization with ever increasing focus on youth development and intercultural learning through voluntary service. RUCHI got registered in 1983, under Indian Societies Registration Act as a non-political, non-profit making voluntary organization.
RUCHI was established keeping in mind the problems and restrictions that a remote community faces on day to day basis. These could be due to poverty, lack of knowledge, poor infrastructure or at times difficult terrain. As a result RUCHI has always implemented its project with people centered approach and gave priority to community development. With 33 years in this field, RUCHI has accumulated extensive knowledge in community development with project area ranging from semi-urban background to extremely remote communities requiring two days of walk certain time of the year.
💼 What the programme involves
We have recently established an organic farm for demonstration purpose where we demonstrate sustainable organic farming in our aim to promote good agriculture practices. Volunteers will work closely with our horticulture specialist and practice organic farming. In our farm we grow fruits like Guava, Mango and Amla with onion and ginger, during this time they get ripe and are ready to be harvested.
Volunteers will assist in harvest and post harvest process which include fruit picking, sorting, grading, packing and taking to local markets. Planting other exotic species will also be undertaken
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will live in the RUCHI campus. All basic amenities will be available with library facilities. Asian squat type toilet and English WC will be available. Vegetarian food will be served. A cook will be there but volunteers are expected to help him and occasionally cook their own meals. Self-management is required. Meantime volunteer can learn Indian cuisine (cooking). Sleeping bag is required.
📍 About the location
Ruchi campus is located near Bandh village. It is 30 km from Kalka and 60 km from Chandigarh. Bandh village is small located in interior mountainous area and the volunteers will have a unique opportunity to live with nature in a peaceful environment. RUCHI campus is one km. from the village.
Self organized city tours and excursions. Old Sikh and Hindu temples in the near vicinity can be visited. Nearby Kasauli town is another hill station as a tourist attraction. A visit to Shimla will offer an opportunity to see high Himalayan Mountains.
⚠️ Requirements
Interest in understanding grass root problems and solutions
ℹ️ Additional information
RUCHI has created a few successful best practices in the form of developing model villages for water conservation and environmental sanitation in this area. Any volunteer interested in studying case studies may find the project educational and for his personal development.