Taaza Khabar: PJI Walks with Altaf Bhat Chisti

PJI Volunteers joined activist Altaf Bhat Chisti in his journey for peace this past Friday. After a number thought-provoking discussions with the Kashmiri native--who is walking from Mumbai to Delhi to campaign for peace in the Kashmir Valley--a number of PJI volunteers decided to walk a few kilometers alongside him, from Johari Bazaar to Lal Mahal in Jaipur city.

Altaf was 18 years old when he was picked up by terrorist groups and sent to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Three months later, upon returning, he laid down his AK-47 on the border and decided to devote his life to peace. Despite facing harassment from Indian officials and serving jail time for his past activities, he still continues to believe peace is the way forward for Kashmir, and works to spread this message everyday.

Around 15 PJI volunteers walked with Altaf after hearing his story. They marched together, continuing the peace campaign and working to make sure their voices are heard.

Keshav Modi, a volunteer, said "From Altaf, I came to learn many things about Kashmir, and the problems people face in Kashmir. Previously, I had only known one side of the story about BSF, but Altaf showed me the other face too, the many instances of cruelty. After learning from Altaf, I felt I wanted to do something for the Kashmiri people, so I walked with him"

Many other volunteers felt the same way. They want to make sure that the stories of actual Kashmiris like Altaf are heard, so India can address this issue in an open dialogue and find a peaceful way forward.

Taazaa Khabar: Conversation with Mohammed Altaf Bhat Chisti

Mohammed Altaf Bhat Chisti visited PJI yesterday to share his remarkable story and a conversation with the volunteers about issues relating to his native Kashmir. He is in the middle of a peace march from Mumbai to Delhi, to spread the message of peace in Kashmir, and we had the opportunity to  learn a great deal from his personal journey and transformation.

Altaf grew up in Kashmir, and at age 18, joined Al-umar-mazuhidin, a terrorist training organization in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After training for 3 months, he returned to his native place and realized that using violence is not the right way to bring peace to the region. He now believes that no religion or community has the right to kill innocent people, and using terrorism as a political strategy is against humanity, religion, and law.

Since his transformation, he has worked to promote a message of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He worked as a freelance journalist in the state for two years, but was arrested by the Border Security Force and sentenced to two years in jail. Even after being kept in Trinaga Central Jail and receiving cruel beatings by officials, he still believes peace is the way forward for the community that lives in Kashmir.

To promote this idea, he began his peace march from Mumbai on the 23rd of September, and has had conversations about these issues with people he meets along the way. He wants more people to know the real face of the Kashmiri people--what they feel and think, and what their issues and views really are.

He stopped by PJI for a tremendous conversation yesterday with around 25 volunteers, telling his story and answering countless questions. Volunteers asked about a wide range of subject: why many Kashmiri people don't want to be a citizens of an Indian state, what problems result from army occupation, and why the border is porous to terrorists. We learned a great deal about the reality of life in Kashmir, and Altaf's message for the way forward in this troubled region.

All are invited to accompany Altaf for the first kilometer of his walk to Delhi on Friday! Please meet at 2 pm, at Jama Mazid Johari Baazar. We will gather and join this heroic figure in spreading a message of peace.

Meet the 2010 Youth Changemakers

In celebrating the 2010 Jashn-e-Jaipur Youth Jumbish last week, we gave awards to 9 remarkable groups and individuals who have engaged in active citizenship and made contributions to social issues.

They are:

Jaiprakash Aajad
After regularly donating blood for the past three years, Jai established a youth group in his home village of Nila, in Jumba Rangand, and encouraged others to donate together. He also helps children from BPL families afford the cost of uniforms and books in pursuing education. He envisions a future where no one will suffer from a lack of blood in hospitals.

Aditi Chouhan
A B.A. student at Maharani College, Aditi works with the NGO Sidart to promote female empowerment and education. She has conducted awareness programs around women's rights and HIV/AIDS, and strives to help girls from BPL families get scholarships to attend school. Aditi says that she plans on continuously working for women and girls at every level of society.

Amaa Prith Kaur
Amaa works with Aadhar Parivar Seva to spread awareness of disease and education. After facing problems in her home life, she took responsibility by learning stitching, taking care of financial responsibilities, and inspiring others to get involved. She has assisted with the Badh Shiksha Samiti program on the issue of education.

Ashok Kumar Mahavar
Ashok also works with Aadhar Parivar Seva to spread awareness, by eradicating myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. He established a theater group that travels to bastis and local communities to raise awareness around this issue.

G21
G21 stands for Grouped into One, and is a student group from MNIT. After coming together to actively address quality and hygiene in their canteen, they broadened the group's goals and started a tree-planting program, as well as a tricycle donation program to people with disabilities.

Dusra Dashak
Dusra Dashak's Pindwana Program was awarded for its exceptional work on controversial issues with tribal communities. Controversial rituals such as kheemch wedding selections, dhudhan, and dayan are the topics of education campaigns and other programs by this organization.

                                                         Rashmi Patel

Rashmi is a theater artist who uses this integral medium for addressing social welfare. She is associated with the Rajasthan School of Theater, and has worked on a mass awareness program using theater for the past five years. She brings the program to local communities and also performs at JKK.

Yagyatosh Bagriya
Yagya works with Help in Suffering to rescue injured and neglected animals, and has devoted his life to animal welfare. He frequently finds injured animals and delivers them to the NGO. He also aims to inform people about the importance of animal well-being.

Suresh Bairwa
After recieving life-skill training from Dusra Dashak and working on his own problems, Suresh has inspired many towards the goal of social welfare. He spreads awareness around topics such as health, education, and sanitation, and has also dealt with issues     such as illiteracy and alcoholism.

Internships/fellowships/other opportunities

If you’re looking for a fellowship, internship, or volunteer position in a variety of areas that relate to development or active citizenship, take a look at this list of opportunities available:

Fellowships

Teach for India
“Teach For India is a nationwide movement of outstanding college graduates and young professionals who will commit two-years to teach full-time in under resourced schools and who will become lifelong leaders working from within various sectors toward the pursuit of equity in education.”
Specifics: 2 year commitment as a Teaching Fellow in an underserved English-medium primary school in Mumbai or Pune. Includes training summer, monthly stipend
Qualifications: Young professionals working full time OR students in final year of undergraduate or postgraduate degree; Excellent academic record; fluency in English; age 20-35; leadership skills, communication skills, ability to take on challenges
Application Deadlines: 10 October, 2010 (early), 28 November, 2010 (regular), 9 January, 2011 (final).

Indicorps
“Each year, Indicorps selects young professionals of Indian origin for one and two year service fellowships with grassroots service organizations in India.”
Specifics: 1 or 2 year commitment to work at an NGO, fellows apply to projects in their area of interest, includes month of orientation and period workshops. Includes living stipend to cover room, board, and fellowship-related travel.
Qualifications: Person of Indian origin; University degree OR five years work experience; interest in dedicated service and personal growth; visionary, passionate, and qualified for their particular project choice
Application Deadline: 15 August, 2011

SBI Youth For India
“Providing educated Indian youth with an opportunity to touch lives and create positive change at the grass root level in rural India.”
Specifics: one year placement at a rural NGO to work on social issues and aim for rural development on a specific project; includes stipend for living expenses
Qualifications: Indian citizenship, age 21-35, college graduate; motivated, successful candidate with passion for development work; demonstrated initiative and leadership potential in past
Application Deadline: 31 December, 2010

Ashoka Fellowship
“Ashoka Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs who we recognize to have innovative solutions to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society.”
Specifics: The fellowship program provides support to social entrepreneurs who are currently implementing a new social program, campaign, or organization.
Qualifications: Ashoka selects fellows that are exceptional social entrepreneurs, with a remarkable new and creative idea that will achieve social impact.
Application Deadline: fellows must be nominated by someone who believes they merit an Ashoka Fellowship; the nomination process can be started by emailing Ashoka’s India representative at Solomon Prakash at sprakash@ashoka.org

Deshpande Fellowship
“The Deshpande Fellowship Program consists of a seven-month program geared towards providing a budding batch of social entrepreneurs with the skills they need to create positive change in society.”
Specifics: The fellowship program provides training and hands-on learning experiences to social entrepreneurs over seven months; training takes place in Northwest Karnataka; includes salary of Rs. 10,000 per month
Qualifications: desire to create lasting social change; between 23-28 years of age; graduate or post-graduate degree; at least 6 months work experience in the development sector
Application Deadline: November 10, 2010

Internships/Volunteer Positions

EduCARE India
“EduCARE-India, a non-profit NGO, having hosted more than 100 interns and volunteers in the recent years, has developed a number of positions for international internship and volunteer work in India with a focus on several core areas of community education, development and welfare work.”
Specifics: EduCARE is based in Chandigarh, Punjab, and lists a number of internships and volunteer opportunities.

Pravah Delhi’s Rural Internship
Pravah Delhi’s SMILE (Students’ Mobilization Initiative for Learning through Exposure) program provides an opportunity to learn through an experience serving with a grassroots organization or movement in a rural area. Pravah is partnered with over 30 organizations across India. The internship includes a 3 day orientation, a 3-4 week internship period, and a 2 day feedback camp with other interns.
Specifics: The internship is for a period of one month, and includes a fee of Rs. 4000/-
Apply: contact or send application form to astha.gupta@pravah.org or 011-40505743

Resource Databases
Indiserve
Indiserve is a database of various NGOs and grassroots organizations throughout India actively seeking volunteers and interns. Each listing specifies qualifications, specific projects to be worked on, length of internship, and other information.

Idealist
Idealist is an international search engine for jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships, fellowships, campaigns, and other resources in the development and NGO sector.

College Project
College Project is a database for Indian college students searching for projects, internships, or corporate practical placements needed for their degrees, separated by degree type.