Objective
Social development initiatives stand a better chance of succeeding on the sustainability paradigm when communities and its individuals take ownership at every stage, right from planning and funding to implementation and sustainability of their initiatives. This accountability on the part of the community can be brought about by sensitizing them to the need of the initiative and then empowering them to actively participate in the projects.
The Art of Living places its Karmayog wing in that unique position to drive this objective across all its social development projects and initiatives. Karmayog, with its flagship offering, the Youth Leadership Training Program and other rural demography centric workshops, takes the onus of creating community leaders, called the Yuvacharyas, and build their skills for them to function as human resources for the effective implementation of all development initiatives.
Karmayog is a potent methodology that caters to the twin objective of empowering rural India through its individuals by bringing about behavioral change at the grass root level by means of awareness and capacity building, and at the same time raise a dedicated work force to spearhead development.
At the core of this operation lies the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) that was crafted as a vehicle to nurture local youth to rise above their circumstances and give them an opportunity to take leadership in the effective implementation of development initiatives.
Revive human values
Encouraging patriotism, spiritual centeredness, physically robustness and a sense of giving
A self-reliant rural India
Motivating the shift from ‘want state’ to becoming the ‘drivers of change’
Uplift communities
Communities empowered to take ownership for sustainable development
“Every moment you spend on this planet, remember that you are here for a unique purpose and cause , far greater than to just eat, sleep, and talk.”
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Approach
The Karmayog model is unique in its ability to integrate any issue into its leadership training model to ensure behavioural change regarding the issue on a sustainable basis. It primarily expedites the shift in mindset from a ‘want state’ to becoming the ‘drivers of change’. Working in isolation on individual sectors leads to fragmented working. Thus, The Art of Living emphasises on an integrated and holistic approach. It leverages its wide range of expertise in almost all sectors such as agriculture, education, good governance, health, hygiene, watershed development, waste management, women empowerment, skilling, digital India, youth empowerment, deaddiction etc.in implementing the need based requirement, as this ensures convergence by making village a unit over sector. It is brought about by:
- Capacity building, wherein motivated youth are selected from the local communities and trained appropriately, equipping them with the right knowledge and tools required to take leadership in the task at hand
- Community mobilization, wherein local communities are sensitized towards the development needs and maximum utilization and management of natural resources
- Convergence of schemes under various departments, wherein the community gets a better understanding of the available schemes for them and how to best leverage upon them for their growth
- Encouraging active participation of the individuals and community in the planning, execution and sustenance of social development projects
The community youth who are empowered by YLTP are called ‘Yuvacharya'. They act as the ‘change agents’ in their communities. The Yuvacharyas have a strong sense of ownership for the change they seek. Their knowledge of their geography and other local factors are pivotal in the smooth execution of the projects. They implement projects on the ground under the close supervision of their mentors. After the project is over, these Yuvacharyas ensure continuity and sustainability of the project. They are spiritually mature and sober like a saint, and are disciplined and ready to do anything for the development of their country, just like a soldier
Our strategy
Capacity building
Training and equipping local youth with right knowledge and tools
Community mobilization
Sensitizing local community towards the need of sustainable development
Convergence of schemes
Better understanding on how to leverage available schemes
Encouraging participation
Enabling community ownership in planning, execution and sustenance of projects
YLTP Song of the Art of Living
Impact
| Name of the activity | No. of activities | No. of participants |
|---|---|---|
| Health camps | 43980 | 236930 |
| Toilets built | 7557 | 144808 |
| De-addiction camps | 2615 | 8452 |
| Gobar gas plant | 175 | 12266 |
| No. of soak pits | 33 | 482 |
| Cleaning camps | 1250 | 1590 |
| Tree plantation | 596868 | 1216845 |
Inspiration from the community
STORIES
I am more skilled at solving problems
"Working for projects with Karmayog gave me a larger perspective on social issues. Like every person has a different fingerprint, every village has its own different problems. I am more focused and better skilled in solving problems now."
My small efforts can bring big changes
“Karmayog projects showed how my small efforts can bring big changes to people. Social issues can be transformed into sustainable positive steps by bringing awareness to people and empowering them to come out of their sufferings.”
Contact Us
projects@yltp.vvki.org+91 8061125621
