why i started volunteering again....

I started volunteering at the age of 17. From disabled organizations, to children with special needs, to women’s organizations, to projects to fight eviction of squatters, to empowerment of migrant and foreign workers, to efforts to reduce white collar crimes, to employment rights work to human rights work. And after all that I got disillusioned and I stopped.

Until now…..after meeting this organization, Devkrupa Ashram in Waghodia, Gujarat, India and having the time of my life, while I was there. 8-)

In short Devkrupa Ashram is the pioneering organization working with adivasi communities in the four provinces ortalukas of Waghodia, Sankehda, Dabhoi and Naswadi stretching across a length of about 240 kilometers and even extending to talukas like Chhota Udepur, Kwant and Nasvadi in Vadodara district, Gujarat, India.

What is it about them that made me volunteer again?

CLEAR EXIT STRATEGY

According to Ryan Libre, becoming obsolete should be the fundamental goal of all NGOs. While so many organizations out there today are busy making themselves relevant, Devkrupa Ashram is actually an organization that wants to be irrelevant – in 20 years time. Why is making yourself irrelevant important? Because that is what advocacy is all about. They want the people they work with to be independent. The people should not have to depend on NGOs forever. As for organizations that are too busy making themselves relevant, are they shoving their “help” down people’s throat?

From the point of view of a volunteer, do I really wanna help an organization that will need my help forever, and even no matter how long, we would still not know what we have done?

I CAN ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR GOALS

I mean, I’ve met NGOs with very abstract or artistic goals. This is Devkrupa Ashram’s

We aim for these tribal farmers and poor laborers to achieve self-sustenance in 20 years time. Our primary goal is to shelter, clothe, nourish and educate the children of the tribals, bonded laborers and Narmada displaced peoples of the talukas of Waghodia, Dabhoi, Sankheda, and Naswadi.

Not abstract or artistic at all. Short term and long term (and I’ve learnt how important is it for NGOs to have both). They are not trying to do everything. They are focused and therefore can allocate their available resources (including volunteers) well.

FASTEST GROWING ORGANIZATION I’VE EVER MET

10 years ago, they only care for about 20 children. Today, they house 540 (400 boys and 140 girls) and growing. 10 years ago, they occupied a small hut. Ever since, they have managed to acquire a piece of barren and uneven land and successfully cultivated at least 20 types of crops, vegetables, spices and fruits besides rearing at least 6 different types of animals on their 15-acre farm. The resources in Devkrupa Ashram are managed by an eco-friendly cyclic system where organic waste is converted into compost for farming and fuel for heating.

Since 2007, they have also received more than 500 applications for admissions besides an invitation by community members to establish a substation in Nasawadi, a province about 70 kilometers away, which is also possibly the province with the lowest literacy rates in the whole Vadodara District.

This kind of growth is definitely very rare (in my experience) and is an indication that they identified clearly and are addressing the needs of the communities they are working with. They have managed to convince the parents of the indigenous communities of the importance of education for their children. Of course, this is only possible because they took a long time (one year) just interacting with the adivasis (or the indigenous communities) as a part of their research before deciding on this project.

To me, seems like they are going the right direction.

SMALL HELP DRAMATIC RESULTS

Because the research to understand the needs of the adivasis is done well, these needs are clearly defined and addressed, such as the need for the children to be educated to break the community out of the cycle of poverty or the need for milking cows for the ashram or the community members to be self-sustained. As a volunteer, it is refreshing to volunteer for a project where you know exactly what to do, and from what little that you can do, you can see it makes a difference. For example, helping the children realize the importance of getting an education for themselves or simply donating a blanket, will go a long way in helping these children to stay in school to get an education and live to their fullest potential.

FAMILY MATTERS!

Personally, I am just skeptical of organizations that claim to be "families". From what I can remember human rights organizations, theatre companies and even financial institutions have claimed to be families (in fact at time of writing, I’m already confused how many families I belong to having freelanced for so many different profit-making and non-profit organizations).

Devkrupa Ashram is not really that much different but…

The adivasis they work with are not simply treated as ‘beneficiaries’ but like an extended family network. Devkrupa Ashram also makes it a point to maintain meaningful relationships with village heads of tribal villages (surpanchayats), school officials, parents, and just society members in general in nearby towns. And of course, the kids in Devkrupa Ashram feel that they belong too. 8-D

Their family or ‘parivar’ extends internationally to their supporters network and volunteers. Hard to put it in words how is this family different from others but maybe a video will speak a thousand words. It is definitely not your typical energetic ‘family day’ type of events but in its own way, the quiet and slow pace makes everything even more meaningful.

FINALLY, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE $$

Yes. I do get approached for donations - a lot! So much in fact that I started fundraising for them! (Mostly because I thought that would be a nice change, from just giving money, to also contributing my time)

Over the years, Devkrupa Ashram has been fortunate enough to gain the support of numerous community members and the private sector in the form of private donations and pledges. Produce from their farm had also contributed significantly to their corpus trust fund. What is interesting about their future funding plans is a self-sustenance project they have in the works by rearing 20 cows in a 60x30 facility after their current phase of expansion.

According to John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods market,

“The most ethical and conscious businesses over the long-term consciously create value for all of their interdependent stakeholders—customers, employees, investors, suppliers, community, and the environment. Paradoxically, this principle also creates the most long-term value for investors.”

I’ve always wondered if that is possible. After meeting Devkrupa Ashram, I know it is.

Another volunteer said and I quote, “In Devkrupa Ashram, I can see where the money I am donating is going.” (I haven't checked with this person if he wants to be quoted so he will remain anonymous for now, but he contributed greatly to Devkrupa Ashram's website www.devkrupa.org )

SO, WHAT DID I LEARN?

After 12 years of volunteering, a lot of those years being disillusioned, I WILL VOLUNTEER AGAIN. What did I take from this experience, I finally felt, I had taken more than I had given – which is not a good feeling because I want to be there to give but I find myself taking even more. But then a lot of volunteers, who helped out truly meaningful work, say this too.

When I am volunteering, I enjoy finding my own space while volunteering. I found an organization that allowed me to be autonomous (and yet given a lot of support) and to work with others to be autonomous.

It's when everything flows together that it made sense to me. Seeing how everything is connected - my own needs as well as the needs of the surrounding communities; seeing how all the issues are related to each other - poverty alleviation, women, children, education, health, sustainable development, agriculture, indigenous empowerment, and respect for the environment, and seeing how they relate to the needs of the society at large. It is about absorbing everything around me while being absorbed in it at the same time (haha!).

So, you’ll let me know if there are any other similar organizations out there looking for volunteers?