ABOUT MVDA

I could not stand by and watch. A simple question kept coming back to me: "If we are part of these communities, what can we do together to make things better?" I did not have all the answers. None of us did. What we had was the willingness to listen, to walk with people, to learn from their experiences and to believe that communities themselves hold much of the knowledge and strength needed to create change. Inspired by the principles of the Sarvodaya movement, we began working with young people, women and rural communities. Slowly, small efforts began to take shape. We started with strengthening livelihoods, working with local institutions, protecting natural resources, creating awareness, and helping people connect with opportunities and government programmes. In 1995, these efforts took an organised form with the establishment of the Mount Valley Development Association. But for me, MVDA was never just an organisation. It was, and remains, a relationship of trust with the people we work alongside. Over the years, the work has grown far beyond what we could have imagined in those early days. We have worked in agriculture and livelihoods, education, women's empowerment, health, natural resource management and climate resilience. We have walked into villages with challenges that sometimes seemed too large, and we have witnessed communities find their own strength to overcome them. And that is perhaps one of the most important lessons of my journey with MVDA. Development is not something we do for people. It is something we build with people.

I have seen a farmer regain confidence as her income improved, women speak up in decisions that once excluded them, young people find possibilities beyond migration, and girls begin to imagine an education and a future of their own. I have seen communities come together when times were hardest. These moments remind me why we began. Today, MVDA is much bigger than the group of people who started this journey. It belongs to our field teams who travel difficult roads to reach distant villages; to the women, farmers, children and young people who have trusted us; to our volunteers, partners, donors and supporters; and to every person who has contributed, even in a small way, to this journey. I am deeply grateful to all of them. More than three decades have passed, but the question that started MVDA still guides us: “What more can we do for our communities?” The challenges have changed. Climate change, migration, changing livelihoods, inequality and access limited access to quality education and healthcare are creating new realities for rural communities. But our commitment remains the same. To stay close to the people. To listen before we act. To respect local knowledge. To create opportunities rather than dependency. And to stand beside communities as they build a future that is more dignified, resilient and sustainable. I may have helped plant the first seed of MVDA, but the communities have nurtured it, our people have carried it forward, and countless partners have helped it grow. For that, I will always remain thankful. The journey that began in the hills with a small group of people and a simple belief continues. There is still much to do, many dreams to support, and many communities waiting to be heard. With hope and gratitude, Avtar Singh Negi Founder Secretary Mount Valley Development Association