📝 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 31 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
The area is mountainous and hence prone to land slides and soil erosion. Land being confined to small terraces the advanced gadgets can not be used for ploughing, harvesting and thrashing etc. All is done manually. Volunteers will therefore advise on appropriate agriculture methods and be practically involved in seasonal physical work. Volunteers attempt to educate people go organic and introduce organic farming will be appreciated.
Every year, massive plantation is done across roadside to stabilize soil and increase green cover. This is a monsoon season and most of the plantation is done during this period. Besides afforestation work, volunteers will have an opportunity to attend, local weddings, and interact with villagers and educate them on health and environmental issues and concerns like global warming, climate changes, etc. They will learn of grassroots issues and probable solutions.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will live in guest house/ home stay with simple conditions and share accommodation with other volunteers. All meals will be cooked and served in guest house. A cook will be there but volunteers are expected to help him and occasionally cook their own meals. Self-management is required. Sleeping bags are also necessary for volunteers looking or interested in trekking.
📍 About the location
Patta is a small and sleepy township with 50 households and is situated close to Baddi town in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The area is scenic with a all year round beautiful climate. The village is 65 km north-west of Chandigarh city and 48 kms from Solan district headquarter. The entire area is hilly where the rural economy is based on agriculture and horticulture.
⚠️ Requirements
No specialised skills required. Tree plantation will be done.
ℹ️ Additional information
Ideal project for those interested in staying with host family in a rural set up