India: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND WASTE UPCYCLING

About the local hosting organization

RUCHI, a non-profit organisation working since 1983, is affiliated with international and national voluntary service networks. RUCHI is a member of Network of Voluntary Development in Asia (NVDA), full member of Coordinating Committee of International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) and a candidate member of Alliance of European Voluntary service Organization (ALLIANCE).

Presentation of the programme

The project aims to educate local communities, both formal and non-formal, on environmental concerns like Global warming, 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.

About the accomodation

Basic, simple, safe and amp; clean accommodation will be provided either at host family or RUCHI campus on sharing basis (Twin or triple) with common toilets and bath. 

About the food

Food offered will be simple authentic Indian vegetarian and freshly cooked. Three meals a day will be served. Assistance while cooking is desired and self cooking can be organized by volunteers.

About the location

The project site is Ruchi campus and the nearby Bandh village (1 km) in Solan district. It is 30 km from Kalka and 70 km from Chandigarh. The village is small with 35 families.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