CYSD

CYSD, Centre for Youth and Social Development, is guided by a vision of social development that emphasizes peoples’ ability to reshape their lives through cooperative initiatives at the community level. For three decades, CYSD has worked towards the development of the deprived and marginalized communities in the remotest areas of the Orissa state of India.

The primary agenda of CYSD’s Community-Centric Strategy to bring inclusive and sustainable development involves: gender mainstreaming, action research, networking and advocacy. Its extensive research studies influence the public and policy-makers to initiate change. They are backed by strong local, regional and national CSO networks.

Elementary Education

CYSD enhances access and enrollment in schools for children in tribal areas by mobilizing communities, and by building the capacity of community-based organizations, statutory committees, teachers and children peer groups. Major issues include differences in dialect, inadequate and untrained teachers, and an existing uniform policy and procedural implementation that ignores the contextual needs of tribal children. To support the children and schools, CYSD develops innovative learning materials and textbooks written in local tribal languages. In conjunction with this, the Education Watch Group advocates for the rights of the tribal communities.

Sustainable Livelihood

CYSD aims to improve people’s livelihood prospects by increasing food security through concrete agricultural action plans that fulfill the needs of small and marginal farmers in Orissa. Taking issues such as absentee landlordism, incomplete land consolidations and un-formalized tenancy addressed the action plans include generating adequate employment opportunities and reorienting agriculture towards export. Extensive research and training on proper fertilizer consumption, seed replacements and management of water resources also leads to improved agricultural practices.

Participatory Governance

CYSD believes that community empowerment and social development are best achieved through greater citizen participation with decentralized local self-governance. CYSD works towards improving people’s ability to analyze local development issues, place their legitimate demands before the mainstream agencies, and create pressure to promote and strengthen fair initiatives through community organizations.

Partners

CYSD is part of several global alliances such as Social Watch, VSO, CIVICUS and Plan International.

It is also affiliated with Credibility Alliance, an initiative that emerged from within the non-profit sector and which is committed to enhancing accountability and transparency in the voluntary sector. One World South Asia — who amplifies grassroots voices solutions through digital knowledge management — is another partner.

CYSD is, amongst others, part of the following state level campaigns:

- WE CAN is a Campaign to end violence against women;
- NAWO advocates, lobbies and campaigns on women related issues;
- Right To Information (RTI) is a campaign to empower people to use RTI as a tool to make public authorities accountable.