The Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV)

The Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV) was founded in 2001 by a group of individuals concerned with long-term development and human rights in Andhra Pradesh, India. To date, their work has been focused on Dalits and the Yanadi Tribe: some of the most marginalized groups in Andhra Pradesh. Since its inauguration, about 306 local and 172 international volunteers have worked with ARV to empower these vulnerable communities.

ARV has been partnered with Longitude since 2005. Longitude assists ARV with: program planning, marketing, fundraising as well as sending international volunteers to India to assist ARV first-hand through work camps.

ARV’s VISION
ARV’s vision for the future is threefold:

A society where the poorest, most discriminated against and vulnerable communities are aware of their rights and are empowered to access their entitlements and natural resources.
A society that works together to alleviate hunger and poverty, where opportunities to develop close the gap between rich and poor.
A society where democratic processes promote equal opportunities and social cohesion.

ARV’s MISSION

In order to create their vision, ARV members are working together with Longitude to advocate for the making and implementation of policies that focus on the people, and to increase the awareness of rights and entitlements among the poorest, most vulnerable and discriminated against communities. The aim is to consequently organise and empower communities to demand their own rights and entitlements from the state. Additionally, ARV helps to form community-based organizations to manage the equal distribution of natural resources and development opportunities.

ARV PROGRAMS

Building Communities (volunteer work camps)
Since 2005, Longitude has been sending international volunteers to India to work with ARV. The vast majority have taken part in work camps to help build houses, educate children and promote health and hygiene; all while communicating and interacting with the communities they are helping.

To date, 14 work camps encompassing 184 volunteers have taken place in the villages of Kothasatram-Indiranagar (KI) and Gummallapadu (GP). In KI volunteers helped to construct 45 houses and in GP volunteer have so far finished 25 houses, with a further 59 nearing completion.

The Children’s Feeding Centre
The Children’s Feeding Centre was set up in 2007 and ran for 24 months, providing each of the 80 children in the village of KI with one egg and one cup of milk per day. The children of the village were so malnourished that many were suffering from skin diseases and were not developing healthily.

At present ARV is now providing eggs and milk to only the most in need in the village. ARV is also assessing whether the program can be expanded to malnourished orphans, and HIV positive children in 22 villages surrounding Kolleru Lake.

Health Care Initiative
ARV currently provides medical assistance to the people of KI in the form of: doctor’s visits, free tests and free medicine. ARV plans to expand this program to 22 more villages.

Children’s Education Programs
So far, ARV has appointed teachers in 6 villages to tutor children every day before and after school, to ensure they attend and to communicate with their families about attendance and performance.

Widow Welfare Program
ARV distributed sarees to widows in Chevuru village in 2005 and 2009. They also continue to supply health care to these widows.

Emergency Relief
Since its inception, ARV has been providing aid in response to recurring cyclones and floods as well as the 2004 tsunami. Most recently, ARV responded to floods which claimed the lives of 35 people and 12,500 cattle.

Advocacy
ARV is lobbying the government to release the compensation promised to the people of Kolleru Lake following the destruction of their fish tanks in 2005. ARV is also pressuring the government to provide alternative livelihood opportunities to fishing, through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Lastly, ARV is campaigning for safe drinking water in the region.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
By supporting Longitude’s UnCaste India campaign or by donating towards any volunteer group workcamp, you will also be supporting the hugely worthwhile and life-altering projects run by ARV.

ARV CONTACT

Contact Ravi Kumar, ARV secretary by one of the following:

Address:
The Association of Relief Volunteers # 48-7-27,
E.S.I. Hospital Road, Gunadala,
Vijayawada Krishna Dist.,
Pin: 520004,
India

Email:
ravi2001arv@gmail.com

Phone:
+91 986 603 5859