Outreach Association of Volunteers for Rural Development

Outreach Association of Volunteers for Rural Development specializes in promoting sustainable livelihoods and Integrated Natural Resource Management. Its vision is to ensure that vulnerable communities have access to and control over social, technological, economic, and ecological interventions to sustain their lives while remaining insulated from climate change impacts. The focus is on organizing these communities into viable institutions, enabling people to become self-reliant in addressing their security needs.

Major Interventions:

Natural Resource Management: It implements soil and moisture conservation measures across farmland to reduce erosion and optimize water use. It desilts water tanks to restore rainwater harvesting capacity and constructs new structures to improve water access for rural villages.

Sustainable Agriculture: Outreach establishes Farm Field Schools to provide training in sustainable crop production techniques. It promotes water-efficient methods and demand management practices among farmers cultivating water-intensive crops to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.

Social Forestry and Environmental Conservation: The NGO reforests wasteland with indigenous tree species to contribute to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. It promotes social forestry on private lands, contributing to sustainable land management and providing alternative income streams for farmers through agroforestry.

Water Conservation and Security: It constructs rooftop rainwater harvesting structures, field ponds, check dams, and injection borewells. These efforts focus on enhancing water access, replenishing groundwater, and building a water-positive future for regions facing scarcity.

Women's Empowerment and Livelihood Diversification: Outreach engages with Self-Help Groups to facilitate bank linkages that support women in pursuing income-generating activities such as dairy farming and tailoring. It provides training to improve economic resilience and supports the development of micro-enterprises.

Youth Skill Development: It trains rural youth in essential employability skills to help them secure jobs in sectors like retail and hospitality. Programs also promote digital literacy and job readiness, equipping young people with the tools to start their own enterprises and build sustainable careers.