December 2011

The December 2011 Work Camp will take place from December 25 – January 3 in Chevuru village, Andhra Pradesh State, India. Our international volunteer group will help the villagers and local masons construct much-needed concrete houses in this Dalit village. This group will be led by volunteer Denise Schlickbernd, originally from the U.S. and now currently living in Japan. She volunteered with ARV and Longitude for the first time in Winter 2010 and is now looking forward to working with a new team of volunteers for Winter 2011!

Join her and help Uncaste India! Create a MyLongitude Account now to sign up for this life-changing trip! The cost of the trip is approximately $700 per volunteer. For further questions about joining the trip or volunteering with Longitude email volunteer@golongitude.org.

Chevuru Village Background

A total of 459 Dalits (formerly known as Untouchables), including 70 widows, live in thatched mud huts in Chevuru. Most of the adults in the village are unskilled agricultural laborers and are unable to find work outside the 3-month growing season each year. Because they earn barely enough wages to support their families, missing even one day of work to repair their fragile huts after heavy rain or floods can affect their ability to feed their children. Acquiring permanent housing will not only allow these Dalit villagers to work more days of the year but will also raise their social status, giving them the confidence they need in order to stand up for their rights.

Fifty-one families in Chevuru were able to begin building permanent houses under a state government scheme that provides housing grants to people living below the poverty line. However, these grants are not enough to cover the remaining costs of the houses. These families have requested Longitude and ARV’s financial assistance to complete their homes, which have been sitting unfinished since last year. In order to put a roof on every home, we must raise US $1500 per house.

How You Can Help

Our group’s fundraising goal of $15,000 will subsidize the completion of 10 houses in Chevuru. Please help us meet this goal by either fully or partially sponsoring one family’s home. A contribution of any amount will bring peace of mind and security to a very deserving Dalit family. Donations can be made through the trip fundraising page or through a personal fundraiser of a volunteer attending the trip.

Thank you to all of our wonderful donors and volunteers!