Blog Action Day 2014 - Inequality

Basti Ram are taking part in Blog Action Day 2014!

Inequality is at the heart of many campaigns and issues that organisations worldwide work on. 

Inequality - a huge problem which is affecting thousands of individuals across the world.

The UK is a prime example of inequality being existent, we have children who are being born into working class backgrounds and the majority of these lack the resources or support to become socially mobile. We live in a three class society and to be able to move up these classes is virtually impossible. In the society we live in, the best resources are allocated to those who can afford it - leaving the rest helpless.

Who determines that some individuals should be better off than others? We should ultimately all be given the same opportunities and those who are worse off, should be given financial support to allow them to become mobile.

As an organisation, Basti Ram wants to help give children in India equal choices; they shouldn't be restricted by their caste, class or gender as they are now. Basti Ram helps to provide these children with resources and education which will help shape and improve their lives for the better – education is priceless. We want to help these children break out of this cycle, enabling future generations to improve their lives.

By Dillon Parmar
Social Media Volunteer
 

 #BAD2014 #Inequality #blogaction14

Introducing Autumn Years: The 50+ Teaching Project

India…Incredible India…

India is the seventh-largest country, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. India has so much to offer but how many of us have actually been?

Our projects here at Basti Ram may seem only for students but our Autumn Years is designed for adults aged 50+. If you are considering a different kind of away break this year, then this is the project for you…

The project is set in Udaipur (the set of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Octopussy). This project will allow you to explore parts of India- allowing you to embrace a new culture as well as volunteering in rural communities. You will deliver English lessons to children who have only had the first opportunity to join the education system. This project gives volunteers the opportunity to volunteer as a teacher in a local primary school and destitute boy’s home. On our teaching programme, volunteers enjoy a fully supported experience from the moment they arrive at Udaipur airport.

If this sounds like something you would be interested for 2015 please get in touch! Our first project is running this November from Saturday 8th November to Sunday 23rd November 2014. 

For more information about the Autumn years project please follow this link; http://www.bastiram.org/autumn-years-teaching-project-for-the-over-50s

For further information please email volunteer@bastiram.org or call our UK office on 0203 714 5549/ 0771 780 4120.

By Dillon Parmar
Social Media and Blogger Volunteer 

Good things come to those who wait, but do they?

Growing up in such a materialistic world, makes one greedy, makes one wanting all that they see. Life is much more beyond what we own and which phone we have, life is something desired and something which is ultimately a gift. Why spend our life feeling envious of others? Many people who I know that are wealthy are not normally happy, because they just want more money. I have been bought up in a working class household, where both of my parents work to provide my brother and I with the best, the last time I checked we seemed quite happy.

A key memory from my childhood that I remember is going to Toys R Us with my dad and when we would get home I would always be upset. I recall wanting everything from there, every single object in the shop. My parents would never disappoint me and I would always find my favourite toy in my hands when it was my birthday or Christmas.

Sure material objects will always come to us, but for the greater things in life if you wait, you will not progress. You always hear people saying, a-levels are going to be hard but you just brush that off until you are placed in the situation. Surely everything is going to be hard when you first do it right? If you stay focused and dedicated who says you can’t get that A? We have opportunities to do our best, I believe while we have the chance, we should prosper and strive for the very best. If you leave it too late, you will end up regretting it later on in life. 

My motto for my final year of college is strive, be motivated  and try your best, if it doesn’t end up how you wanted- at least you know you tried.

By Dillon Parmar (Social Media Volunteer)

Why should you volunteer?

 

Hi! My name is Dillon and I am 17 years old. Firstly, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog post, I am a new youth volunteer for Basti Ram and I will be helping Basti Ram with their social media. This week’s blog is all about volunteering, something which is very vital in my life as it is going to help me shape my life and hopefully help me to become a journalist which I have always dreamed of.

Volunteering, is any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups). Here at Basti Ram we are always looking for volunteers, whatever skills you may hold - ranging from being a wizz on computers to wanting to be able to volunteer with new people, here at Basti Ram we are able to help you learn new skills. As a growing charity, we are always looking for people to join us on board and help us grow, not only as a charity but as a team, at Basti Ram we always say we are like one big family. 

Volunteering may have a stigma of not being worth your time as it’s unpaid but there are many advantages, not only for Basti Ram but for yourself. I am currently applying for university and voluntary work stands out on your UCAS application- thousands of students apply and you need to think of ways of making yourself different. Whether you have two hours a week or 3 days free a week, utilize that time now as it will benefit you in the future. Living in a society where thousands are unemployed, being a volunteer allows you to gain the same skills but just being in a different situation. Volunteering doesn't have to take place in your local area, it could be in our headoffice in London, remotely or even in a different country. If this stands out to you, feel free to contact us at Basti Ram and look at our website for all the opportunities we have (http://www.bastiram.org/volunteering).

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Basti Ram!!!

Hello everyone!

We have had such a fantastic year here at Basti Ram. This year we have focused on increasing our profile and expanding. We have moved offices (twice!) and had some amazing trips to India.

A massive Thank You to all of our members of staff and volunteers who have helped out this year.

We ended our year with a little Christmas Party at the Golden Bee in Shoreditch. It was a lovely evening and the perfect way to toast to a successful year.

Loving life in our Christmas Jumpers!!

We have so much more coming in 2014, with more trips to India, fundraising events and some exciting meetings which we'll keep you posted on.

We hope you enjoy the festivities; eat and drink far too much in the next couple of weeks and stay safe!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Until 2014...

From the Basti Ram team :) x

Exciting New Partnerships: The Future of Diaspora Organisations involvement in International Development

Here at Basti Ram we have some exciting developments happening with our network organisation the Diaspora Volunteering Alliance (DVA) and their new partnership with Bond for International Development.

Here is a little intro into the two organisations (if you don’t already know): 

The DVA help by bringing together UK organisations with a common interest in engaging and sending Diaspora volunteers to support projects in their countries and continents of origin.

Bond is the UK membership body for organisations working in international development or supporting those that do through funding, research, training and other services. 

http://www.bond.org.uk/annual-conference

This all started with myself (Rachel Stovold) attending BOND’s annual conference "The Shock of the New: Bringing Innovation Back to Development". This conference is the largest of its kind in Europe with some of the best speakers in the international development sector. Sessions I attended were

1. Where is the public heart and mind on international development?
2. New collaborations: engaging diaspora communities 
3. Six new ideas to transform your approach to funding

So why is this partnership important?

Firstly, on an international level diaspora organisations can provide:

1. Connections: to local grassroots international development work. 
2. Diversity and Inclusivity: talking to a range of people and specifically those with a local knowledge of that country and area rather than a focus on just large international aid agencies.
3. Sustainability: by gaining information on local needs from local people this leads to local ownership and in the long term sustainability. 
4. International aid agencies can also learn from diaspora organisation in relation to doing things on a budget. Many diaspora organisations are commonly small organisations who have a big impact but on a small budget.

Secondly, diaspora organisations don't just work in their home country but also with diaspora communities in the UK.

This partnership is important because the positive contribution of UK diaspora communities in tackling poverty and inequality often receives very little acknowledgement, with diaspora-led organisations tending to sit on the margins of the development sector. Recently established NGOs are beginning to understand how stronger, strategic links with diaspora-led NGOs and communities could be of real benefit to both parties, but often neither party has the confidence or knowledge to take it further.

So what might we expect from this?

So Basti Ram will receive a 1 year free membership with BOND that will provide us with:

• Improving the capacity of a small organisation like ourselves. 
• Links to larger aid agencies and support around working in partnership with them. 
• Involvement on global campaigns and a working group will be set up for diaspora organisations around Post-2015. 
• Provide research around diaspora involvement in development.
• A chance for a national organisation to show public support and value the diaspora communities’ role in international development.

From this you can see why we are excited! We will keep you posted about future updates and look out for our future campaign around Female Infanticide in India.

If you would like to know anymore information please do not hesitate to email me at rachel.bastiram@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading

Rachel, Fundraising Officer/ Project Leader =)
 

Follow @BastiRamUK

Basti Rams new home

Hello! We are now officially in our new office yay!
 

It has definitely lived up to expectations and we are all so happy in Basti Rams new home :)

We are sharing offices with the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS). NCVYS work with and support many voluntary youth organisations. All work done by members of NCVYS is for the benefit of Young people in England. Basti Ram are members of NCVYS along with almost 300 other voluntary or charity organisations – sharing an office with them means we will have access to some exciting opportunities and contacts for the future.

 Everyone here seems lovely - We have already made some new friends! :)
  

 

Although we were sad to say goodbye to Ilford, being in Old street has its perks – We can’t wait to explore the area. Pop in and say hello if you are around…You might even get a cuppa out of us!

Sumeet :)