Biodiversity Convention: Seed, Soil & Millets

Ashes to Artistry

In the ever-changing cycle of nature, pine trees gracefully shed their needles each  year, a process that ensures their continued health. These fallen needles,  eventually decomposing, make way for new growth. However, it is important to understand the implications of dried pine needles in certain contexts. With their  high resin content, dried pine needles become highly flammable, posing a fire  risk, particularly during dry conditions. This vulnerability can lead to forest fires,  causing extensive damage and threatening ecosystems.

Beyond the risk of fires, pine needles can also hinder the growth of new plants.  Their presence on the forest floor blocks sunlight and moisture, creating an inhospitable environment for emerging flora. Biodiversity may suffer as the layer  of pine needles becomes an obstacle for the establishment and development of  new plant life.

opportunity to transform pine needles  into something remarkable.  Handicrafts made from pine needles  offer a means to reduce waste and contribute to environmental  sustainability. By repurposing this  natural resource, we divert pine needles  from landfills and incinerators,  effectively reducing the burden on our  ecosystems. Furthermore, the  utilization of pine needles in  handicrafts helps diminish the demand or synthetic materials, which often come at a great cost to the environment. 

The potential for creativity with pine needles knows no bounds. Skilled artisans  can weave, braid, and sew these needles, known as “piltu” or “pirul” in the local  language, into an array of beautiful and functional objects. From baskets and mats  to coasters, baskets and keychains, pine needle handicrafts offer a diverse range  of possibilities. Engaging in this art form transcends age barriers, providing an enjoyable and rewarding activity for all. It not only encourages creativity but also  fosters the acquisition of new skills, allowing individuals to forge a deeper  connection with nature and appreciate its inherent beauty.

In the pursuit of preserving traditional crafts and  empowering artisans,organizations like the Mount  Valley Development Association (MVDA) stand  as beacons of support.  MVDA provides a platform  for talented individuals,  offering them an opportunity  to showcase their skills and  contribute to a more  environmentally conscious  society. Through training  programs and workshops, this  organization equips artisans with the necessary knowledge and techniques to  excel in pine needle crafting. For many artisans, MVDA has been a  transformative force, allowing them to break free from societal constraints and  become financially independent. 

As we embrace the potential of pine needles and their role in handicrafts, we  embark on a journey that merges creativity, sustainability, and appreciation for  the natural world. By repurposing these discarded needles, we can reduce waste,  minimize environmental impact, and create unique pieces that celebrate the  beauty of nature. The art of pine needle handicrafts not only enriches our lives  with exquisite creations but also empowers artisans and supports organizations  like MVDA in their mission to foster positive change. Together, we can weave a  tapestry of creativity, resilience, and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting  impact on both our communities and the planet we call home.

Rural Girl Child Education: Shaping The Future Of Tomorrow

In today’s time, rural development education programs have emerged as a ray of hope for an enormous number of students. It has not only helped them shape their future but has also extended a prosperous lifestyle. Among all the rural students, the most benefited section of the students are girls. They have attained the best quality education and assistance

Education is an important asset for the overall development of the world. It helps in the flourishment of the nation as well as its people. However, a larger section of the world is acquiring the best quality education at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. Unfortunately, most students and youth enrolled at the educational institutes are male figures of society. In many parts of the world, especially India, rural girls are deprived of rights and responsibilities. This is because they are deprived of education as well as educational resources.

Understanding the importance and implementation of education in rural areas, the Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA) has emerged as a greater source of help for the larger section of the female population. MVDA is a civil society actor that works towards improving the lives of rural people, especially girl children by promoting girls education programs. The past success stories of MVDA establish a definite definition and worth of rural development education programs.

In this blog, we will discuss the role of educational programs in rural areas that help shape the girl child’s cognitive future.

Access to premium quality education

The majority of girls in rural areas are deprived of education. They don’t have access to educational resources due to various reasons like-

  • Poor infrastructure
  • Ruptured transportation
  • Unavailability of teachers
  • Lack of education resources.

Rural development education programs and girls education programs work effectively in areas with limited educational resources. With the help of experts and qualified educators, they help in the construction of schools as well as an efficient road that eliminates the hurdles in girls education. Establishing schools in the nearby locality helps the girls with better safety, which is one of the prime reasons for poor attendance of girls in class, as it eliminates the problem of distance travelling to school. 

Provision of gender-centric curriculum

The complete academic structure of the rural education program is designed keeping in mind the comfort of female students. The well-designed structure of the academic session is gender-responsive, which focuses on meeting the requirements of girls in the form of proper education related to:

  • Reproductive health
  • Hygiene health
  • Gender equality
  • Life skills
  • Future scope

The proper education on the above mentioned helps them form a well-defined decision for their life.

Offers complete  monitoring

Rural educational programs are well-designed to keep a complete record of every child’s evolution. The curriculum under rural development education programs is designed to keep a proper vigilance on every child’s complete development. The assigned educator keeps the complete records of every particular student, especially girls. They highlight the strength of the girl child so that she can be polished for future endeavours and earn the potential to work efficiently in their respective field.

Additional support for future education

There are multiple recorded cases of girls dropping out due to lake of money. The financial burden is one of the prime reasons among the girl’s students. The rural educational programs are well known for offering better financial aid to female students in the form of scholarships and or other financial assistance. These help in multiple ways. Like

  • Continuing their further education
  • Minimises the dependency on parents/benefactor(s).
  • Access to better resources such as books, uniforms, etc.
  • Covers school fees
  • Provides membership to libraries, educational websites, e-books, etc.

Breaking community barrier

Rural development education programs are a well-defined procedure to perform community engagement. The systematic and engaging practices to engage the community members help educate them in various ways.

  • People are made aware of women’s capabilities.
  • They are made to understand the importance of education for all concepts.
  • It helps in breaking the cultural norms related to female education.

In recent years, rural areas have seen a spike in the number of women securing jobs in various sectors of life. Additionally, the rural people are coming forward to extend their support in the rural educational programmes’ strategies, which aim to shape the future with females equally responsible for the success. 

Life skills and vocational training

Apart from contemporary education, there are various life skills as well as vocational courses that offer a better growth opportunity in life. Rural development education programs also hold the best provision of teachers who are well-trained to deliver the best life skills to the students. These life skills and vocational training courses help the girls earn a reputation and financial freedom in the world.

Promotes women empowerment

It is globally acclaimed that an educated woman is an extra step towards a better tomorrow. With the same ideology, girls education programs are preparing female students so as to take the lead in the various job fields. Apart from educating them, rural development education programs help female students with overall development. However, the results have started their effect on the larger section of the population, especially women. As the women in every field, whether it be medicine, engineering, corporate, etc., 02 out of 10 women hold a rural background.

Key points to consider about rural development education programs

There are several beneficial aspects of promoting girls education through various girls education programs. In order to make the best of the education, rural development education programs make the best use of resources in order to provide the following to aspiring female students.

  • They offer the best-in-class education for every class/subject.
  • Makes an appropriate atmosphere for the flourishment of every student.
  • Perform complete surveillance for every student’s complete growth.
  • Extends additional support in the form of scholarships and additional support.
  • Educates the community about the importance of female education.
  • Apart from mainstream education, it prepares students for every other field of life.
  • Encourages women’s participation and leadership in every work sector.

Final words!

It is said that every child deserves the right to education, so why the rural girls be deprived of it? Busting the fact, it is evident from the above discussion that female education is our best foot forward to a better nation. In doing so, Under rural development education programs, we, the Mount Valley Development Association (MVDA), work effortlessly to render the best quality education to every female child in the mountain region. The majority of female students in the mountains are deprived of their education rights due to financial shortcomings, domestic pressure, and low self-esteem to perform something new. With the effort of experient members, we invest our best effort at bringing change in the lives of female students.

If you also aim the same and want to contribute to the betterment of the, join your hand with the rural development education programs with us. With years of experience, we work for the country’s economic empowerment. In order to do so, we strengthen and improve the quality of life of the rural population. Our prime agent in providing service to the rural community is educating the youth with a special focus on girl child education. 

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Actionaid
Ajivika
American Indian Foundation
Bioversity International
EdelGive Foundation
Enduring Value
Global Environment Facility
Grow Fund
Himmotthan
ICAR
IFAD
Iimpact
IM-Swedish Development
India-Global Social Service Society
International Livestock Research Institute
LIC HFL
National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development
Organic Uttarakhand
OXFAM Hong Kong
OXFAM India
People’s Science Institute
Room to read
SOIR-IM
Tata – Leadership with  us
Tata Trusts
Uttarakhand Seva Nidhi Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan
World Food Programme