Model Rural Youth Development Organization

Model Rural Youth Development Organization (MRYDO) is a registered voluntary organization under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It was established in the year 1986 by a group of dedicated youth having experience in social development. The organizational vision is to contribute towards an inclusive society based on social justice, equality, non-discrimination and self reliance where all people live a life with dignity. The Organization runs as per the requirements under the Societies Registration Act. It has a Governing body, Executive Committee and General Body. The organization believes in working through a democratic and participatory process. Participation of people in all aspects of organization functioning and management is a core principle. In the early days, the organization was engaged with promoting awareness raising and implementing targeted development programmes for women, children, youth and other vulnerable categories of people on a small scale. During the initial stages all the work that was carried out on a voluntary basis. The funds for project activities were mobilized from individual contributions from team members and donations from public. The need for financial resources to undertake development activities at the grassroots level is quite high while the organizational funds mobilized were quite low. It was felt that the organization needed to work on a professional basis. External funds were felt necessary to support the ongoing developmental work from Government and other donors. Fundraising initiatives were undertaken on a professional basis and project proposals were developed and submitted to various developmental actors including Government, like-minded INGOs, Foundations and Corporates. The organization was successful in mobilizing external funding based on its strengths of the organization in managing funds and implementing programmes on a professional basis, rapport with relevant stakeholders including excluded communities. , , To realize the organizational vision, mission and goals, the development work focused on working with targeted reference communities including marginalized youth, women and children and their associations. Rights based approach of work is a core principle. The thematic areas of work included women empowerment, education, health, water & sanitation and vocational training of youth. MRYDO has developed innovative ways of working with excluded communities over the years under different social development projects. The organization has worked extensively on issues pertaining to formation and strengthening of self help groups, health, Tuberculosis, awareness generation on women and child rights and work on issues relating to HIV and AIDS and drug abuse. Bank linkages of reference communities with nationalized banks have been facilitated over the years. The organization has developed systems and processes to ensure a professional way of functioning to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels. The Organization has been recognized by the Government and donors as a resource agency contributing towards development of poor and marginalized people in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. MRYDO is a part of state and national level issue-based campaigns with other like-minded voluntary organizations and other developmental actors. Over the years, many developmental activities have been initiated with the support from various government agencies and like-minded donors. The various resource and funding organizations include nationalized banks, Government line departments, Mission Convergence, DOTS, DSACS and international donors like WaterAid and other Foundations.