A Profile
Vision: To exist in a world where each individual feels ecologically, socially and morally responsible and is capable of sensitizing others towards the same.
Mission: To imbibe within the individuals, particularly the youth and children, the spirit of productive voluntary action, to cause significant sensitization within themselves and others around them, on conservation and protection of immediate environment; of care, concern and respect to all forms of life and living beings and to take initiatives in volunteerism towards the well-being of self and society.
Belief: Each human envisions a world that allows dignified living, has caring individuals and a nurturing environment. We, at SPARSH, believe that each one of us is willing to do our bit to contribute towards bringing into life, such a world.
Journey so far: We have persistently been furthering the following causes, issues and initiatives:-
A> Environment Education and Conservation:
- Savers Sparsh: Environment education initiative for youth through experiential learning within nature. Camping, trekking, nature trails, bird-watching, snake-identification & bite management, butterfly watching, Green events, etc.
- Bhubaneswar Naturalists e-community for sharing of perspectives, learning, resources, and networking among conservationists, wildlife photographers, professionals, students and nature enthusiasts globally.
- Member of ‘Chetna Avijan’- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s awareness and cleanliness drive
- Adopting schools (public, private as well as slum based) & Organizing contests and competitions on general awareness on environment, sanitation & less paper use in schools, colleges and educational institutions of higher studies
- Training to destitute women, unemployed girls and school children in making paper bags out of unused or recycled paper
- Awareness and sensitization on reuse of polythene and promotion of jute, paper and cloth bags for regular use and Management of kitchen waste
- EcoTeachers’ Training to facilitate activity-based environment education in schools
- Ecokids’ Workshops to encourage environment education
- Kidprints: Children’s art and craft from waste; Children’s own eco-merchandize
B> Voluntary blood donation movement in the city and other districts of the state.
- Awareness generation on Blood safety, demystifying blood donation, blood-related diseases, etc. through donation camps, seminars, workshops, interactive sessions at educational institutes, etc.
- Liaisoning with Government agencies, blood banks and advocacy on Blood safety
- Counseling, consultancy and personalized service to provide timely & safe blood to individuals
- Associate of the Blood Bank, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar and Indian Red Cross Society, Orissa State Branch
- Member of Orissa Voluntary Blood Donors & Motivators’ Association
C> Volunteerism for disaster management (preparedness, relief & rehabilitation)
- Mobilizing youth volunteers from schools, colleges& other educational institutions for relief packing, distribution, information dissemination and rehabilitation camps
- Camps, workshops for youth from disaster-affected rural areas
- Assistance to Government and international humanitarian agencies, like Spanish Red Cross, German Red Cross and Amcross in fund-raising, mobilising relief and resources
D> Facilitating better livelihood opportunities:
- Recognized institution under SSNP program of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, deemed university, Bhubaneswar for providing vocational training to retrenched government employees
- Vocational & skill development Training and hand-holding support to Destitute, unemployed and underemployed women and youth from slums and rural areas for enhanced income generation through self-employment
- Liaisoning and placement to literate unemployed youths
E> Other activities:
- Organizing Health camps for rural artisans in remote rural areas, sponsored by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Bhubaneswar
- Awareness on HIV/AIDS sponsored by Orissa State AIDS Control Organization and IEC material development
In the pipeline:
- Networking with other NGOs to install and initiate school-based handmade paper units as models in environment protection and volunteerism
- Rigorous school and college based campaigns on economic use of water
- Promotion of Rooftop Rain water harvesting models for simplex and duplex type houses and apartments in the city
- Solid waste management technologies for new and developing housing societies
