Northern India - 2008

In the summer of 2008, Borderless World Volunteers sent 6 members to the Rural Organisation for Social Elevation (ROSE). This marked the second consecutive year of collaboration with this local NGO. Volunteers were thus in a position to strengthen the efforts that had been carried out the previous year, to build upon the connections that had been created, and to use what had been learned in order to tailor new community initiatives to needs and interests that were now better understood. During their stay, volunteers help lead the development of the Community Farm Shop, an initiative that began in 2007. The Farm Shop is a continued effort for Borderless World Volunteers to reduce the price of essential goods for the Kanda community.

Responding to a need they identified, volunteers designed lectures on environmental sustainability and human rights delivering them to the local community. They also were active in health and language education and developed core lesson plans to respond to the needs of the local community. They also identified a key issue in the delivery of education in the community. They noticed that there was a lack of continuity in the lectures given by various volunteer-teachers passing through ROSE over the years. BWV volunteers created a Volunteer Log Book, which records the lessons taught by volunteers as well as the students’ response, understanding, and proficiency. The Volunteer Log Book will serve to build a comprehensive and cumulative curriculum for the students and do away with unnecessary repetition in teaching and ensure full teacher attendance.