Volunteer Eco-development Conservation in India

Eco-Development Conservation Volunteering in India

Our Conservation & Environment project in India takes place at the Green Village Model Farm. The farm is based at the foot of the picturesque Western Ghat Mountains in Tamil Nadu. The project is designed to give our volunteers the chance to learn from expert staff about sustainable, organic farming techniques.

This Eco-development Project is a programme funded by Projects Abroad. It promotes sustainable farming and environmental conservation in and around South Indian villages. Through research and practical demonstrations, volunteers and staff help to teach local people about environmentally-friendly ways to farm.

This project is perfect for anyone looking for a practical way to help the environment. It offers you the chance to take part in hands-on work and really make a difference in local communities. You do not need previous experience to take part in this project. Volunteers are welcome on a gap year, a career break, for university research, or as part of a summer holiday.

Here you will find answers to the following questions:

• What is my role on this Conservation & Environment project?
• What are the aims of this Conservation & Environment project?
• Where will I live on this project?

What is my role on this Conservation & Environment project?

Volunteers on this project can take part in a wide variety of activities, such as:

• Learning about sustainable development and organic farming, including:
  • How to produce vermi-compost fertilizer.
  • The different medicinal properties of herbs and plants.
  • The advantages of natural or ‘do nothing’ farming.
• Taking part in physical work on the farm including tree planting, cultivating herbs and tending to livestock.
• Demonstrating different farming techniques and technologies to local villagers.
• Helping local people to implement new farming techniques in their communities.
• Visiting local markets to promote sustainable farming methods to Indian farmers.
• Helping to run environmental education programmes in local schools.

Volunteers usually rise early in the morning and work before the mid-day heat sets in, then work again in the afternoons from about 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Our Projects Abroad placement supervisor and conservation expert, Raisa, is based at the Model Farm full time and will train you in the different work and techniques when you first arrive. She's always available to offer help and advice.

What are the aims of this Conservation & Environment project?

The Eco-development Project began in 2001 as a tree-planting exercise in a remote village at the foot of the Western Ghat Mountains. The project has now expanded to include the promotion of many environmentally-friendly farming practices and environmental education.

Until recently, people in rural Tamil Nadu lived much the same way as their ancestors; farming the land with simple tools, collecting firewood from the forests and discarding their waste on any available land.

In the past this hadn't caused any great problems, but damage to the natural surroundings is now occurring because of the rapidly increasing population, the introduction of environmentally-damaging products - like plastics and chemical pesticides - and with greater levels of trade demanding higher productivity. These changes - coupled with a lack of education and awareness of the problems - mean that farming in India is suffering considerably.

Our aim is to slowly but surely reverse this trend and help more local people to take up environmentally-friendly farming methods.

Where will I live on this project?

On this project you will stay in local host family accommodation with other volunteers. This accommodation is based in the nearby village of Chinnupatti. You will return home to eat lunch each day.

In the evenings you can play cricket with the local children, or take time to relax after a hard day's work. At weekends you can meet up with the other volunteers based in India on our twice-monthly social events, or travel and explore the area with new Indian friends or some of the other volunteers on the project.

This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work within the local area please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.