Project RISHI
Project RISHI (Rural India Social and Health Improvement) is a 501(3)(c) not-for-profit, apolitical organization based in the United States with the goal of transforming rural Indian villages through healthcare and economic development.
Project RISHI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the sustainable development and growth of rural India communities. In partnership with local community members and social enterprises, we identify issues central to our target communities and provide the resources necessary to implement solutions through extensive field research and on-campus initiatives.
History
Project RISHI was founded in January 2005 by Dr. Eri S. Srivatsan, Dr. Ravi Menghani, Dr. Daniel Choi, Dr. Grant Lee, and Aswin Sekar, all at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since its founding, Project RISHI has grown to 5 additional chapters, whose partner communities are located throughout India. The chapters are overseen by the National Board.
National Board
The National Board is composed of an Executive Director, two Assistant Directors, a Secretary, a Director of Alumni Relations, a Historian, a Webmaster, two Directors of Initiatives, a Director of Marketing, a Director of Finance, and representatives from each chapter.
The National Board was formed to serve as a resource for each chapter, providing connections amongst the chapters, funds for events to benefit all of the chapters, and an advisory board to guide the chapters.
Fall of 2012, the National Board hosted its first event - A National Retreat at a Lake Tahoe. Members from each of the chapters and representatives from the national board met for the weekend to get to know each other and discuss each chapter's project.
Current chapters
Project RISHI currently has 6 chapters with five chapters in California, and one chapter in Illinois.
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, San Diego
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Irvine
- Northwestern University
University of California, Los Angeles
The UCLA Project RISHI chapter was founded in January 2005 by Dr. Srivatsan, Dr. Menghani, Dr. Lee, Dr. Choi, and Aswin Sekar. The UCLA chapter currently works in the village of Vadamanappakkam, Tamil Nadu, near the cities of Kancheepuram and Vellore. To understand The Primary concerns of the villagers in Vadamanapakkam, UCLA students designed and gathered lots of survey data during the initial summer trips. The first project implemented by the UCLA chapter was the playground enclosure, which helped to keep schoolchildren away from the dangers of trespassers and grazing animals. Understanding that access to medical care was a primary concern in the village, the UCLA chapter built a local permanent health clinic staffed with multiple doctors for the weekday and weekend shifts. The UCLA chapter continues to maintain the health clinic and provide funding for the hospital staff and expenses.
Improving the rural sanitary conditions of Vadamanapakkam is also one of the primary concerns of the UCLA Chapter. In order to tackle this issue, the UCLA Chapter built 10 restrooms at the elementary and high schools and refurnished several public restrooms. Currently, the UCLA Chapter is working on researching ways to solve the water scarcity and quality problems. UCLA hopes to network with other water conservation organizations to help implement a proper water purification system. Other on-going projects include a mobile clinic program to improve the healthcare accessibility for the surrounding villages around Vadamanapakkam. UCLA hopes to use the mobile clinic program as a vehicle for both clinical and public health projects.
The UCLA chapter is ACTIVE in event planning for fundraising and raising awareness AbOUT Project RISHI. On November 18th, 2011, the UCLA Chapter hosted a charity celebrity hip-hop concert at the Music Box Hollywood. The sold-out event, which more than 1200 people attended, featured popular artists such as Kendrick Lamar, DJ Green Lantern, Busta Rhymes, and Dr. Dre. The UCLA Chapter hopes to continue its major fundraising efforts by partnering with corporate sponsors and recruiting new donors.
University of California, Berkeley
The UC Berkeley Chapter of Project RISHI was established in March 2008 and has continually worked in tandem with UCLA to develop sustainable solutions to rural development in Vadamanappakkam, a village located 100 km south of Chennai in Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu. There are approximately 900 households in the village, which roughly comprises a population of 3,000 individuals. The majority of adults are agricultural and textile workers who suffer from a variety of occupational maladies and socio-economic hardships, that invariably correlate with poor health and sanitation standards.
In an attempt to address these vital health concerns, UC Berkeley continues to maintain and improve the free clinic that was built by the UCLA chapter in 2005. Our chapter further aspires to engage in education-based projects that will lead to preventative health measures and increasing awareness of occupational hazards, proper hygienic practices, and disease prevention within the community. The UC Berkeley chapter has completed five consecutive trips to Vadamanappakkam for three weeks each summer. Approximately fifteen students attend each trip and endeavor to directly implement sustainable projects and educational programs within the village Moreover, each trip also encompasses community development, project maintenance, health camps, and surveys ranging from village economics to women’s health.
During the summer of 2011, several exemplary community members helped to facilitate the formation of an English tutoring program for school-age children. With the support of the UC Berkeley chapter, this tutoring program has continued to take place each weekend, regardless of our physical absence, and has grown to over 50 students throughout the course of the year. Additionally, the UC Berkeley chapter has improved clinical services, has fostered various health education programs, has undertaken extensive surveys to better understand the needs of the community, and will continue to analyze and address issues of water scarcity, sanitation and school education.
In an attempt to facilitate and assist the aims of rural Indian villages towards social, health and economic improvement, members of the UC Berkeley chapter collaborate with professors, doctors, professionals, and social entrepreneurs to spread awareness and acquire new perspectives. On campus, the UC Berkeley chapter holds weekly meetings to discuss and decide upon proper action for projects that must be maintained within the village or will be newly inaugurated over the summer. We also organize an annual symposium, hold on-campus fundraisers, consistently apply for grants, and engage in continual contact with donors throughout the year. Each of these undertakings invariably encourages greater awareness of Project RISHI’s vision and helps to raise the necessary funds to directly finance our projects.
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego chapter of Project RISHI was founded in 2009 1. The UCSD chapter works to support Anandwan, a leprosy colony in rural Maharashtra, India, and its satellites sites, all of which were founded by renowned philanthropist, Baba Amte. The colony supports about 4000 people and is treating a couple hundred active cases of leprosy at any given time. The heavy stigma surrounding leprosy, especially in rural areas, forces many afflicted persons as well as their families to be shunned from their communities. At Anandwan, patients are treated and cured of the disease as well as given vocational rehabilitation (sewing, metalwork, farming, etc.) in order to restore their dignity and give them valuable skills if they should decide to leave the colony. Unfortunately, the stigma has also caused Anandwan to lack significant support from the government. Though support per patient was recently increased from Rs.15 per patient, per day, to Rs.66 2, this is still not enough to support the medical, educational and rehabilitative needs of a patient. In addition to these needs, Anandwan is located in an area facing long droughts, unsafe water, lack of wildlife preservation, and lack of basic literacy and education.
The UCSD Chapter's first trip to Anandwan was in summer of 2010. During the summer of 2012, members visited again and focused on two major projects: interactive health education camps for primary school children and support for the orchestra of the able-disabled, Swaranandwan 3 in spreading their message of acceptance.
On campus, UCSD holds fundraisers and educational events to promote the message of Anandwan as well as fund projects. All proceeds from fundraising during the year go directly toward funding projects.
University of California, Davis
The University of California at Davis chapter was founded in 2009. This chapter works along side with the UCSD chapter to support the villages of Anadhwan, Somnath, and Hemelkasa, all located in Marashtra, India. These were founded by renowned philanthropist Baba Amte, who focused his efforts for the rehabilitation and empowerment of the under-privileged, those particularly plagued by leprosy. The chapter at UC Davis works with those same ideals with the hopes to continue and further his goals. The UCDavis Chapter's first trip was in the summer of 2010 along with UCSD. During the summer of 2013, UC Davis hopes to launch their second trip working with their goals of which include, water purification, a supply of basic first aid kits in all the villagers homes, as well as the construction of a computer lab where students can learn and grow to keep up with the modern world. The chapter at UC Davis continues their on campus efforts in social awareness to the problems facing third world countries such as India as well as fundraising projects. All profits made, go directly into funding the projects. They also make sure that all work done is done directly so no money is gone to waste with third party contractors.
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine chapter of Project RISHI was founded in Spring 2011 by Sriram Cherukupalli and Divya Majji. UC Irvine has chosen to support the village of Bodagattu, located in Andhra Pradesh, India with a population of 1000. Most of the villagers are farmers who work in nearby fields, earning a daily income of 10-15 rupees and subsisting on a diet of rice and lentils. A building used as an elementary school exists in the village; however, the rooms used for classes are devoid of desks, books, or blackboards and the teachers are volunteers who are poorly educated themselves. Water is also a major issue in Bodagattu; most of the pumps are dried out or broken, and only one bore well tank is used for everyone. Medical supplies are at a minimum and a government-sponsored doctor only provides general check-ups once a month.
UCI’s first trip to Bodagattu will take place in December 2012 during which it will focus on three sustainable projects: opening a medical camp, constructing rainwater harvesting tanks, and conducting educational programs for the residents on prominent public health issues. Door to door surveys will be performed to learn more about the medical conditions that plague the village. UC Irvine hosts unique fundraisers throughout the year to fund ongoing projects; these include eyebrow and facial threading, henna tattoo drawings, boba and samosa sales, and various others. Recently, the chapter gained further funding by becoming the official charity of the UCI Indian Sub-continental club's annual culture show.
Northwestern University
The Northwestern chapter of Project RISHI was founded in May 2011. Northwestern is working to support the village of Charnia, located in Haryana, India. The Charnian population mainly consists of farmers and laborers; the laborers are mainly employed in a brick manufacturing factory, and therefore, they suffer from a wide range of respiratory issues. In addition, anemia and pregnancy and maternal/child health issues are prevalent in Charnia.
Northwestern's first trip to Charnia was in August 2011. In August 2012, 11 chapter members visited Charnia to assess the social and health needs of the villagers and gather data on water quality. In collaboration with the Param Seva Trust, the two organizations hosted a health camp for the community, and physicians from Chandigarh and surrounding areas screened the patients. Eventually, the chapter aspires to build a clinic in Charnia to provide a proximate medical facility for the villagers.
On campus, Northwestern holds fundraisers, and proceeds are used for the purchase of medical supplies. In addition, the chapter hosts speakers from the Chicago area to educate members.