Amy McGlinchy

For two months this summer I will be working for the charity Seva Mandir in India (http://www.sevamandir.org/about-us). The work that they do in the region of Rajasthan is vital in terms of encouraging what they call constructive work, whereby citizens in urban and slum areas are given the opportunity to create their own social realities through positive social change. Their democratic and participatory approach to development tries to encourage empowerment by strengthening development institutions, enhancing people's capabilities, and improving sustainable livelihoods in the 626 villages that they work with.

I have been given this opportunity through the youth-led organisation Development in Action (http://www.developmentinaction.org/). This is a great non-profit organisation led by young people to engage and educate young people in the UK about development issues by promoting global citizenship and sustainable development. While in India I will be working on a project to bring... more

For two months this summer I will be working for the charity Seva Mandir in India (http://www.sevamandir.org/about-us). The work that they do in the region of Rajasthan is vital in terms of encouraging what they call constructive work, whereby citizens in urban and slum areas are given the opportunity to create their own social realities through positive social change. Their democratic and participatory approach to development tries to encourage empowerment by strengthening development institutions, enhancing people's capabilities, and improving sustainable livelihoods in the 626 villages that they work with.

I have been given this opportunity through the youth-led organisation Development in Action (http://www.developmentinaction.org/). This is a great non-profit organisation led by young people to engage and educate young people in the UK about development issues by promoting global citizenship and sustainable development. While in India I will be working on a project to bring back to the UK so that it can be used as a development education tool in schools and universities. I hope to be researching the impact of micro-finance schemes (whereby people are given small loans to set up businesses) by evaluating their effects on the notion of empowerment, specifically with regards to women and the impact that these have on gender roles in society.

However to do this I need to raise £880 to cover accommodation, training and in-country support. None of this money covers my personal expenses such as flights or insurance, it simply allows charities such as Seva Mandir to take on and accommodate volunteers who are sufficiently trained for the work of the organisation. In order to raise money, on the 16th of June I am going on a 12 hour hike in a nature reserve in Catalonia. I will keep you updated as to how it goes! I would greatly appreciate your assistance in allowing me to work with these development organisations helping promote education and sustainable development in India. Thanks for reading! :)