ODAM is a South Indian NGO working to improve the lives of the rural poor, especially women and children, small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and other disadvantaged and socially oppressed communities in Tamilnadu through providing them opportunities for socio-economic empowerment. One of our main programs is working with a vast network of Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), providing them with loan acquisition assistance, business and vocational trainings, and ongoing organizational support. It is our belief that through the setting up of SHG's we can break to poverty cycle and achieve a positive socio-economic transformation among local women. ODAM has been instrumental in the setting up of 820 SHG's over the past ten years with over 12,500 members in total.
In addition to the SHGs, ODAM programs include: A Bio-Diesel Demonstration and Production Program; A new Fair Trade soap initiative; Residential Schools for Victims of Child Labor, Rural Sanitation Programs, and ongoing Community Education and Development.
We are seeking volunteers who can bring their skills and outside perspective to help us build and strengthen our programs. Many women volunteers choose to spend a portion of their time volunteering their much needed enthusiasm in the classroom, helping school children (or ODAM staff) practice spoken English while dedicated their afternoons to our other projects.
We are looking for volunteers with a background in Fair Trade organizing and product development to assist in the creation of a successful Fair Trade on Arts and Crafts, Fashion Technology, Soap Enterprise to be managed by local women.
We need Volunteers for cotton bags and dressing material:
Last year ODAM organized skill training for 25 rural young women in manual sewing machine. Now, we bought 5 electric sewing machines (used) and training them to stitch cotton bags and dressing material.
Our long term goal is to avail microfinance facility to these young women to buy new electric sewing machines (single and double needle), cutting machine, Zig-zag machines, embroidery machines and other related tools for full furnished readymade garment unit.
We plan to market the produced material to global market through fair trade. In this connection, we are in need of volunteers who are in designing in cotton material.
A Self-Help Group volunteer might spend time meeting with the women's groups, encouraging them, assisting them in developing their business plans, and brainstorming new ways to increase their economic independence.
Seed Specialists and Chemists are needed to work full time on our Bio-Diesel project, providing technical assistance and advice to our staff as the program continues to grow.
Experience fund raisers, grant writers, resource developers, or organizational consultants are needed at Organizational Development Volunteers to help advance our programs and grow our NGO.
Spoken English lady teachers who wish to dedicate their service full-time to teaching are, of course, always needed and welcome. Experience not necessary, only an open-mind and plenty of enthusiasm.
We ask that all volunteers contribute 150 Euros per month to cover the costs of accommodation and food during their stay.
ODAM VOLUNTEERS:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/volunteerODAM/VolunteersInODAM#
Previous Pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/home?tab=mq
ODAM Video Clips:
http://www.youtube.com/odam42
ODAM Volunteer in TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOKExSEczBY
Stalin L A Minister of Tamilnadu honors foreigners on 05 12 2008 in Revolving fund for 500 Women Self Help Groups function at Virudunagar.
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=zECf_0jMcTU
Seminar for Tamilnadu NGOs by IHC
INDIA HABITAT CENTRE SEMINAR SERIES ON
‘HARNESSING THE STRENGTHS OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FOR ENHANCING DELIVERY CAPABILITIES’
(SUPPORTED BY IRISH AID)
Facilitated by: ODAM
Date: 29th July to 1st August 08 Venue: Pillar House, Madurai
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/IHCSeminarAtPillarHouse/photo#s5229860697276870306
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsMo6ZKMw-k
Zero Kap ODAM Beneficiaries Photos in Slideshow:
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/ZeroKapBeneficiaries/photo#s5203831737778656178
For ODAM Rural Cultural Training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIKiMoLDOqo
International Women's Day Celebrated by ODAM Barathi Mahalir Sanga Self Help Group Federation on 30th March 08
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/InternationalWomenSDay30March08/photo#s5185565430442866530
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls was observed in Tiruchuli on 25.11.07 by ODAM NGO and Barathi Mahalir Sanga Federation. 1200 women SHG members participated in the meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the elimination of violence against women and girls.
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/InternationalDayForTheEliminationOfViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls/photo#s5136805516578416162
Volunteers in Cricket like Match with ODAM Staff Photos and Video:
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/ODAMVolunteersCricketLikeMatchWithODAMStaff/photo#s5127912309703647410
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-226581355761715302&hl=en
Our Volunteers participated in our Women Self Help Groups Block Level Coordination Committee Meetings on 22nd at Reddiyapatti, 23rd at Narikudi, 24th at Kariyapatti.
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/BLCCMeetingOct07/photo#s5125100497694169698
TNVHA IRISH Youth Leaders Ref Training for Male:
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/TNVHAIRISHYouthLeadersRefTrainingForMale/photo#s5123477271845524114
TNVHA IRISH Youth Leaders Ref Training for Female:
http://picasaweb.google.com/odamjr/TNVHAIRISHYouthLeadersRefTrainingForFemale/photo#s5123623695870579682
ODAM staff cultural teem:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1923304626906117430&hl=en
Sheduled Tribe woman getting rice:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3488310025891964164&q=adhivasi&total=1&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
For further details:
http://www.odam.in/
