Concept

"Livelihoods Volunteer Force to enhance* the livelihoods of the poor"

Akshara Sakthi, [meaning sustainable force], livelihoods volunteer force, works with rural/urban/tribal poor livelihoods to better the livelihoods and quality of life of the poor and participate in the effort(s) for economic poverty reduction. The volunteers themselves may come from various parts of the country and outside. The effort will begin with Andhra Pradesh. Akshara Sakthi, mobilizing the volunteer force, works for improving existing rural/urban/tribal livelihoods, identifying and utilizing best practitioners’ within the existing livelihoods, bridging the gaps in these livelihoods, and identifying and availing viable new livelihoods opportunities, leading to the built-up five capitals – natural, physical, social, human and financial - of livelihoods and contributing to functioning four arrows – increasing incomes, decreasing expenditure, increasing employment and decreasing risks – of livelihoods.

Further it works to better the quality of life of the poor, including education, health and other public services. The volunteers may begin their work to develop the villages/clusters/districts/states from where they have come. Gradually it builds of the momentum for pro-poor policy advocacy that creates enabling environment for the existing and new livelihoods of the poor to thrive.

Finally, Akshara Sakthi offers a variety of forums for volunteer-contribution to the integrated human development.

Purpose

Purpose:

Akshara Sakthi’s raison d’etre is to support, sustain and offer appropriate support of volunteer force to development initiatives/projects/activities for the purpose of contributing to integrated human development and ecological security/integrity, particularly enhancing the livelihoods and quality of life of the poor, in the county, beginning with Andhra Pradesh.

Akshara Sakthi Volunteer Force programmes include scanning the best practices in the existing livelihoods, building the conscience and consciousness of all the stakeholders in fighting poverty, knowledge augmentation campaigns, skill building facilitations, forums for poor and non-poor to fight poverty together, support in building five capitals of the livelihoods, and volunteer livelihoods support and hand-holding for the collective struggle(s) of the poor.

Consolidating Existing Livelihoods and finding new Livelihood Opportunities towards

	Increasing the incomes,
	Decreasing the Expenditure (money, cost, time, energy)
	Increasing the Employment (days), and
	Decreasing the risks

Vision and Values

Vision 2010:

By 2010, 100000+ members would have joined the Akhsarashakti and supporting in rural/urban/tribal livelihoods of the poor and would have begun to invest a minimum of 1.2 million+ person-days per annum towards improving the quality of life of the poor. Conservatively this means an investment of Rs.1200 million+.

Core Values:

Faith in the capacity of the people;
Hope that poverty is eradicable;
Volunteer can make a significant difference;
Teamwork/learning; and
Integrity

Initial Activites

Initial Activities:

• Design livelihoods support and poverty reduction programs/initiatives/campaigns and mobilize volunteer force to initiate and/or participate;
  
  
• develop and nurture volunteers in livelihoods support and building their conscience towards fighting poverty;
  
  
• evolve programs/schemes/activities to involve volunteers to support/enhance quality life of poor, by strengthening the existing livelihoods and/or adding new viable livelihoods;
  
  
• mobilize volunteers to support individuals/institutions/CBOs/groups at the grass roots or otherwise to build the five capitals (natural, physical, social, human and financial) of livelihoods and utilize them effectively so as to improve livelihoods of poor and to evolve systems to ensure equity and justice in their utilization;
  
  
• mobilize volunteers to offer know-how, advice and technical guidance in the field of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry rural livelihoods, water resources, forestry, new and renewable energy sources, rural industries, formal and non-formal education, community health, habitat and environment, information technology and communications, and any other fields considered useful for promoting integrated human development;
  
  
• share information in the form of papers, seminars, e-literature, electronic media, print media, and any other related media, directly or through identified volunteers, which will enhance the livelihoods of the rural/urban/tribal poor;
  
  
• foster public understanding of and support for development issues; and
  
  
• take up such other activities as may be necessary from time to time for furthering and promoting the objectives of Akshara Sakthi.

Membership

Membership:

• Individual Members:
  Any person, above the age of 18 years, with clear interest/ commitment to volunteer and give at least a day per month towards improving the livelihoods and quality of life of the poor and committed to the aims and activities of Akshara Sakthi, may seek membership of Akshara Sakthi. The member who commits more than three days a month is recognized as a lead member (lead volunteer).
  
  
• Institutional Members:
  Any formal/informal organisation with clear interest/ commitment to volunteer at least 10 person-days a month towards improving the livelihoods and quality of life of the poor and committed to the aims and activities of Akshara Sakthi, may seek membership of Akshara Sakthi.