Volunteer Opportunities With Jagriti Foundation

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer with Women's Organizations

Jagriti Foundation's Bridging Worlds program provides the opportunity for women to step outside their own countries and cultures by volunteering to work with a women's organization in another country for one to six months. This program matches the needs of the Host Woman's organization with a skilled volunteer with similar interests and skills. The volunteer is responsible for her own travel, lodging, and insurance expenses. Bridging Worlds offers the opportunity to volunteer in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, or Pakistan. Please read more about our Bridging Worlds volunteer program.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan Women Welfare Department (AWWD)

AWWD was established to deal with women-related emergency needs and to provide services to Afghan refugee women. AWWD provides community based programs, especially in refugee camps where the most vulnerable women live. The goal of the organization is to elevate the educational and social status of Afghan women within the family, Afghan community, and the world at large. In the past twelve years, AWWD has provided literacy, basic health care and vocational and income generation training to approximately 6000 Afghan refugee women in Peshawar. Now also working in Kabul, AWWD is looking for a volunteer to help maintain office files, financial documents, and to help create a strategic plan for future activities.

Educational Training Center for Poor Women and Girls of Afghanistan (ECW)

ECW provides support, education and training to poor and widowed Afghan women who do not have access to jobs or schooling outside of the home. ECW currently offers classes to more than 300 women in a variety of subjects including literacy, English language, embroidery, tailoring and handicrafts. More than 500 women have completed ECW's training, enabling them to generate an income from the goods they produce. ECW is looking for volunteers to help in writing proposals, management assistance, and help with accounting.

New Afghanistan Women Association (NAWA)

NAWA strives to further democracy and women's rights by encouraging women to participate in reconstructing a new Afghanistan. Due to the high rate of illiteracy among Afghan women, the organization has set up home schools to educate them. In addition, they teach women about their right to learn, irrespective of their age or marital status. By raising women's awareness about their own rights, NAWA hopes that women will be active partners in reconstructing a democratic Afghanistan. Volunteers are needed to further develop their teaching curriculum and to develop programs for providing information about women's rights, civil life and literacy.

World Organization for Mutual Afghan Network (WOMAN)

The mission of WOMAN is to "educate, train and empower women not only to become self-sufficient but to play a very important role in their family life as well." The primary focus of this organization is helping widows and the needy, as well as promoting the self-sufficiency of women. During its short existence, WOMAN has initiated 50 women's literacy classes with 2000 students, has sent 4 girls on a Law scholarship to Poland, and established on-going bead work and tailoring projects. Currently, WOMAN is working to add a maternity health clinic which trains nurses. WOMAN is looking for volunteers that can help them with bookkeeping and English skills.

Top

INDIA

Aanchal

Aanchal is a support group that reaches out to lesbian and bisexual women in Mumbai, India. One of the main issues facing these women is discrimination, resulting from a lack of awareness about homosexuality in this traditional heterosexual society. Aanchal is committed to creating a safe and confidential place for women who are dealing with issues related to their sexual orientation, regardless of their age, class, caste, religion and race. Aanchal is looking for help with fundraising, organizational assistance with their meetings, and help with their campaign on fighting for their rights.

Akshara --- A Women's Resource Center

Akshara was established in 1995 by two activists of the Indian Women's Movement. Beginning primarily as a resource center, their mission is to enable women to continue with education, to develop critical thinking skills in regards to gender and development, and to promote self-awareness. Askahara needs assistance developing a website and radio program focusing on women's issues.

Centre for Women's Development and Research (CWDR)

CWDR's mission is to create awareness about gender issues, increase the income of women, and eliminate violence against them. CWDR primarily works with slum women and female children who are employed as domestic workers. CWDR is trying to focus on giving these women vocational training and providing them with loans to possibly start their own small businesses. CWDR is looking for a volunteer who can help with fundraising, assist with designing and developing a curriculum for out-of-school youth, and with the development of early childhood day care facilities.

Guild of Women Achievers (GWA)

GOWA was designed to boost women's self esteem by perceiving them as achievers, therefore stepping out of the "victim" mold and into the one of "victor." GOWA serves women from both urban and rural areas, catering to each groups specific needs. They are involved in income generating activities, free health services and counseling, conferences for businesses concerning employment of women, lectures in schools, craft workshops, product marketing workshops, product exhibitions, and more. "Be a friend to another woman" is the basic thrust of GOWA. They are looking for volunteers to help teach the staff English writing and speaking skills and they need assistance in documenting their activities. GOWA needs to develope brochures of their organization and would like to produce a video of their center's activities.

Indira Social Welfare Organization

ISWO was started in 1985 by a group of enthusiastic female teenagers from Thenkanal district in the state of Orissa. This organization aims to empower women in the slums, who are mostly Dalit and tribal women, to enable them to rise above the poverty line. IWSO has recently started a human rights project which provides legal counseling and legal aid to women in the district. In addition they operate a girls school and run awareness programs. ISWO needs volunteers to help their staff with English, assistance in developing a fundraising program, and help with basic computer programs and the Internet.

Integrated Women Development Institute

IWDI fulfills its mission to uplift women and girl children from the devastating situations they encounter by setting up income generating programs for women to become self-employed. IWDI targets homeless women, low income bonded laborers, the destitute, and the elderly. IWDI helps children lacking nutrition by providing them with better water facilities, proper sanitation, hygiene education, and savings programs. IWDI needs volunteers to help produce a brochure about their work, help with English, and help with fundraising and financial management.

Nirnaya

Nirnaya works towards gender justice by increasing women's decision making capabilities. The organization focuses on Dalit tribal women and girls since they are the ones who are most vulnerable to poverty and violence. Nirnaya supports and promotes the formation of grassroots women's groups in urban slums as well as in rural areas. The organization also conducts and sponsors skill training for adolescent girls. With their fundraising activities they have established a legal aid and counseling center for women. Nirnaya needs assistance with fundraising, English, and assistance in establishing monitoring systems.

OLAKH - A Space for Women: A Feminist Documentation Resource & Counseling Centre

OLAKH is an organization that stresses the need of having an alternative space for women to share their own frustrations and to gain education and skills to empower themselves. Activities include the use of a library and study circle, film screenings, training workshops and seminars. In addition, OLAKH has a counseling center which offers a telephone help line, face to face dialogue, interventions, and mutual support groups. OLAKH is looking for volunteers to help with documentation, especially of the history of their organization and of their work with adolescent girls. Fundraising, and help in their counseling center is also needed.

Rural Educational Awareness Development Society (READS)

READS goals include forming female self help groups in local villages, gathering young female drop-outs and providing them with an education, and creating vocational training for women and girls. They offer training and programs on topics such as savings habits, women's rights, clean environment, and child health. READS is looking for volunteers to help its staff improve its English skills, help in developing a website, and assistance in developing a fundraising program.

Shaishav

Shaishav focuses on issues such as child labor and the education of slum children in order to empower the youth of their nation. Their philosophy is that a healthy child leads to a healthy adult, which ultimately makes a healthy society. Shaishav's primary goal is to improve the general society by beginning with empowering children to take charge and initiate change. They execute their goals by working towards abolishing child labor in Bhavnagar, protecting children's basic rights and involving parents in activities for their children. Shaishav needs a volunteer to help prepare reports and documentation, assist in a fundraising drive, prepare a brochure of the organization, assist in English and computer training, help with the development of learning materials for children, and to plan activities for gender sensitization among children as well as English as a third language for children.

Top

NEPAL

Bhutanese Women and Youth Empowerment Program

Founded by a group of Bhutanese refugee women in 2001, BWYEP addresses problems faced by Bhutanese women - - particularly the trafficking of girls, domestic violence and male domination. BWYEP focuses on women ages 17 to 25 who are considered to be most vulnerable to trafficking and the sex trade. BWYEP is currently providing computer education and organizing HIV/AIDS awareness programs in Bhutanese refugee camps in Thapa, Nepal. BWYEP needs volunteers to assist with documentation, proposal writing and research skills.

Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO)

FEDO is the first and only organization in Nepal to represent Dalit (untouchable caste) women by voicing their concerns and addressing their needs. FEDO's mission is to uplift and empower the downtrodden Dalit women educationally, socially, economically and to advocate against caste and gender discrimination. The organization focuses on these issues by working to increase literacy rates and the education status of Dalit women, to empower them economically and to improve health conditions in the Dalit community. FEDO needs volunteers to help write progress reports, proposals, brochures, and evaluation reports. They also need assistance with fundraising and management skills.

Jagaran Nepal

The mission of this organization is to mobilize underprivileged women and children for their rights and social justice. Jagaran believes that when women become involved in state/country-level leadership and policy-making decisions their concerns can no longer be ignored. Jagaran currently has 3 programs, two working in rural villages with women to develop their leadership and political skills as well as a national campaign to include women of different sectors in Nepal's political process. Jagaran needs volunteers to help write proposals and reports and to work with the children awareness program for reproductive health in school.

Manushi

Manushi serves rural women and communities who have been traditionally marginalized and excluded socially and economically from the basic necessities of life. Activities include a gender sensitization program for 20 primary level government managed schools, working with farmers on a sustainable soil management project, monitoring of gender sensitive decision making processes, and developing local handicrafts as income generating projects. Manushi needs volunteers to help design craft products and to assist with project management, including report and grant proposal writing. They would also like someone with expertise in organic gardening and with experience in creating a Parent Teachers Association. Teacher training is also needed.

Nepal Association of University Women (NAUW)

Established in July 1991, the Nepal Association of University Women unites women graduates from different educational institutions of Nepal. Nepal Association of University Women is greatly concerned with the lack of education, lack of skill, and employment opportunities that exist in Nepal for women. The organization facilitates various activities such as: seminars and workshops, community development projects, a library, and non-formal education and training. These activities mobilize women to participate in national development thereby enhancing their leadership. NAUW is looking for volunteers to help them learn English and to assist them with expanding the membership of their organization.

Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS)

Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS) is an organization created for disabled women and female children in Nepal. The organization was established in 1994 by a group of disabled women that could not find the necessary economic, political or social support. NDWS's main goal is to rehabilitate and protect the rights, interests, and duties of disabled women while providing proper support. They publish a news magazine called the "Disabled Voice" and conduct various workshops to provide skills varying from sign language to handicrafts. They seek a disabled women to assist the staff with correspondence, report writing and learning English.

Pact Nepal (Samjhauta Nepal)

This organization seeks to create opportunities for women, men, and children to develop skills and resources needed to achieve social, political, civil, and environmental justice. Pact Nepal works in collaboration with many NGO's in Nepal, providing activities to women including; "Women Reading for Development," (a literacy package funded by USAID); "Women's Empowerment Program," and a program to combat HIV/AIDS through literacy and awareness. Pact requires a person with a high level of competence (e.g. a graduate student) to assist them and other partner NGOs with documentation and publications. They also need someone with library experience to create a central filing system for the organization.

Sewa Nepal

SEWA Nepal was formed for the purpose of improving the socio-economic status of women and children in Nepal. They are serving poor rural and urban women who due to illiteracy, economic weakness, and lack of awareness are the most vulnerable in the society. To improve the status of female children they have created programs for consumer awareness and parental motivation. SEWA has over 102 members and is still growing. Volunteers are needed to assist with institutional capacity building.

Tewa

Tewa aims to increase the self-reliance of Nepalese by reducing dependency on foreign donors. By providing grants to small, local women's groups, they work to address issues that have developed due to the rapid socioeconomic transition of Nepal. Part of Tewa's program activities include training a cadre of fund raising volunteers, (including educated and resourceful housewives), who will work towards disseminating and enhancing Tewa's philosophy. Tewa needs a volunteer with database computer skills to provide analysis of their donor base. They also need training and events management skills.

Women Acting Together For Change (WATCH)

WATCH emphasizes a rights-based, participatory approach to development where rural people, especially women and disadvantaged groups, are partners rather than the subjects and/or objects of development. WATCH's activities focus primarily on organizing women's groups and federations for the purpose of empowering women to solve problems at the local level. Some programs include AIDS/STD awareness programs, awareness and action against trafficking and rape of girls, primary health care clinics, community-based development activities, and natural resource management. Volunteers are needed to help with English language and computer skills.

Women Development Society (WODES)

WODES focuses on building community based women's self-help groups to enable women to achieve equal status and self reliance through training, education and income generation. WODES targets rural and ethnic women and girl children because these groups do not have access to property, education, or employment. Current programs include organizing meetings against trafficking and violence against women, providing different income generating activities, as well as workshops on women's health and reproductive rights awareness. WODES is looking for volunteers to help with English, training on proposal and report writing, and to develop training modules on peace education.

Women for Women Forum (WWF)

WWF aims to create awareness about local issues concerning women and to assist women in becoming economically independent. WWF is dedicated to making women aware of their important roles in their families and society and to advocate the causes of women and gender equality. WWF is fulfilling these objectives through various activities such as leadership training, literacy, awareness programs, training programs, forming co-operatives, health camps, health clinics, and distribution of medicines. Volunteers are needed to train the members in management skills, English, fundraising, bookkeeping, database maintenance, and website development. Proposal and report writing is an area of special need.

Top

PAKISTAN

Sach-Struggle for Change

Sach-Struggle for Change is an organization that works toward the rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors of organized violence and torture. They focus primarily on women and children, who are often the most oppressed, but more specifically with victims who are in prison and refugees who have fled from their native lands due to war or inhumane treatment. The organization's goals are to raise consciousness against torture and violence while training professionals to work with these victims of torture. Volunteers could help with fundraising and recording Sach's work.

Shirkat Gah-Women's Resource Centre

The goal of Shirkat Gah is to fully empower women in a just, vibrant, democratic, tolerant and environmentally sound society, where equity and opportunity are ensured for all. Shirkat Gah seeks to promote women appropriate development schemes, programs, policies and laws; to enhance women's autonomy, access to resources, and all levels of decision making; and to help catalyze a socio-cultural perspective premised on gender equality at all levels. Shirkat Gah has various programs such as a Women and Law program and outreach programs. Shirkat Gah is looking for volunteers to initiate and respond to human rights violator alerts, be involved in outreach programs and to help with administration and documentation.

Top