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Raleigh India celebrates success of more than 100 projects in its first year

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6 February 2009

Youth and education charity Raleigh is celebrating the first anniversary of its operation in India on 10 February. Since its launch last year, Raleigh India has run five successful expeditions, bringing together young people from all over the world to work together on challenging environmental and conservation projects. More than 100 projects have been completed since the charity set up its field base in Mysore in February 2008.

All Raleigh India projects are carried out in partnership with local organisations and communities to ensure they are sustainable and genuinely needed. Since its launch last year, young people on Raleigh India expeditions have repaired 15km of elephant-proof fences at Nagarahole National Park and built:

  • 96 eco-sanitation units
  • 16 standard sanitation units
  • 25 rain water harvesting units
  • 1 tribal community centre
  • 3 anti-poaching camps (in BRT Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur National Park)

Raleigh India has planned its current tribal housing project with the Centre for Tribal and Rural Development Trust (CTRD) since it set up operation last year. Mr Ranganathan, CTRD Founder and Director, said: "It's very exciting to be a project partner with Raleigh for its first anniversary. Our partnership will give venturers the opportunity to stay in these remote villages and really make a difference."

Participants from all over the world take part in Raleigh expeditions, including young people from the host countries. Raleigh's unique host country venturer (HCV) programme enables young people from the host country to work alongside participants from other countries, facilitating cultural exchange and learning. Since its launch, 27 young venturers from three different regions of India have come through the Raleigh India HCV programme.

Host country venturer, Abdul Kareem, who spent ten weeks on expedition said: "Everyone should participate in Raleigh. You understand about different cultures, customs and behaviours."

Raleigh India Country Director, Gavin Shelton, said: "Raleigh expeditions are designed to bring out the best in young people. We bring about 60 young people from all around the world to India to take part in our projects. Current projects include repairing a crucial solar-powered elephant proof fence on Sigur Plateau in the Nilgiri Mountains and building toilets with and for families in remote communities with poor sanitation. Young people from India have been central to the programme since its inception. We value their involvement and it ensures that visitors to India get a true understanding of the remarkable culture of the country. At the same time, Indian venturers get a chance to learn the culture, language and values from other countries. It is a genuine reciprocal cultural exchange."

Raleigh India HCV Coordinator, Vijaya Raju, said that previous Indian venturers have commented on their increased confidence, improved English language skills, as well as the opportunity to make a difference in their own communities.

Mr Raju said: "Many of our host country venturers have said they experienced a big change in personality and understanding of how other countries work by participating in Raleigh India. For some of these venturers, taking part in a Raleigh expedition was the first time they have left home and had to learn to look after themselves. It provided them with a chance to learn to be self-sufficient in a safe and supported environment."

The establishment of Raleigh India's new field base in Mysore was sponsored by Aviva Global Services.

Ends

High resolution images of Raleigh India expeditions are available on request. Spokespeople from Raleigh India's project partners, including the Centre for Tribal and Rural Development Trust, The World Wildlife Fund for Nature - India, and Myrada Kaveri Pradeshike Samsthe (MYKAPS), are also available for comment. For further information on Raleigh India, or to arrange an interview with past host country venturers, please contact:

Anne Grenyer
PR and Campaigns Manager
Raleigh
Tel: 020 7183 1298
Email: anne.grenyer@raleigh.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

Raleigh

Raleigh is a youth and education charity. Since 1984 our expeditions have inspired 30,000 people from all walks of life, nationalities and ages to be all they can be, helping them develop new skills, friendships and make a difference to communities and environments across the world.

We all have an expedition within us. Find yours at raleighinternational.org

Raleigh India

Raleigh India was established in February 2008, focusing on projects in the Southern Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It has run five successful expeditions involving venturers from India, the UK, Hong Kong, China, the Netherlands and the Ukraine. A quarter (25 per cent) of places on Raleigh India expeditions are sponsored and open to young people from India through the HCV programme. For more information about Raleigh India sponsorship opportunities, please contact Gavin Shelton on 0821 243 5533 or email gavin@raleighindia.org

Raleigh India is a programme unit of NESA - a non-profit social development organisation having its registered office at 93/2 Charles Campbell Road, Cox Town, Bangalore - 560005. NESA is registered under Karnataka Societies Act - wide no. 936-97-98.

Aviva

Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2007. For more information, please contact Vanessa Rhodes, Aviva Senior Group Media Relations Manager, on 020 7662 2482 or email Vanessa.rhodes@aviva.com