Organization to increase its community volunteer base to 11,000 from current 8,000 in both the states
India CSR News Network
JAIPUR: Educate Girls, a not-for-profit working on enrollment, retention and quality education at grass root levels, is conducting one of the largest community volunteer recruitment drives in rural Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The organization is adding 3000 volunteers to its already existing team of around 8000 volunteers, to work with government schools as well as village communities on spreading awareness and working towards girl child education. The recruitment drive which started in February and concludes towards end of April this year, is addressing 3318 villages across Banswara, Alirajpur and Dhar.
These community volunteers called ‘Team Balika’ are trained in community mobilization and outreach, Creative Learning and Teaching (CLT) Techniques, leadership and motivation to support Educate Girls in enrolling, retaining of girls in schools and improving learning outcomes for all children in schools. Most often they are between the age of 18 to 30 and are among the most educated members of their communities.
Safeena Husain, Founder and Executive Director said, “Team Balika volunteers are selected for their sheer passion and commitment to girls’ education. We provide them with hand-holding support in the form of regular visits by field coordinators, phone calls, monthly monitoring meetings and assessments. We understand that it is important to engage with the entire community and look at the community as a whole for holistic development of girls.”
A single recruitment event accounts for an average of 100 villages. Last year, when recruiting Team Balika for 3587 villages across Udaipur, Jhalawar and Jhabua, an average of 150-200 people attended each event and 1786 Team Balika were recruited. Through this year’s recruitment drives, Educate Girls plans to on-board at least 50% of the 3000 intended volunteers.
The recruited Team Balika will attend a 1-day orientation program before they start volunteering with Educate Girls’ followed by various skill and program trainings.
