Dahod, India

This dam at Agawada was built with the support of the New Zealand Government.

• Held celebrations for World AIDS Day, attended by 374 people.
• Held healthy baby contests in 40 villages. Parents brought more than 1,800 babies to participate.
• Checked the health of 176 children. Held eye checks and provided Vitamin A to 941 children to prevent night blindness.
• Conducted general health awareness workshops in several villages. In each village 25 to 30 people participated. Topics included general health, hygiene, cleanliness and nutrition.
• Held two training sessions for midwives on topics such as pre- and post-natal care, hygiene, immunisation and the importance of a nutritious diet for pregnant women.

Education

• Provided 2,500 sponsored children with school uniforms. School uniforms promote pride in education, help motivate children to continue their studies and encourage parents to allow them to do so. Each uniform is tailor made for a particular child, providing work for members of the local community.
• Provided sports gear to 20 schools.
• Held a regional sports event for 196 young people.
• Facilitated an excursion and picnic for 82 children and a youth camp for 180 young people.
• Organised International Children’s Day celebrations which were attended by around 300 children and their parents.

Infrastructure

• Constructed roof rainwater harvesting systems for 250 families and a drinking water tank to benefit 500 people.
• Constructed eight check dams. The dam at Agawada was funded with the help of the New Zealand Government.
• Deepened seven bore wells in four villages, each will benefit 30 families. The New Zealand Government funded the work on four of the wells.

Agriculture and food security

• Community members learn to conserve precious water.

  Constructed fishery ponds in two villages. After they have been filled by monsoon rains village fishery programmes will be established.
• Constructed 15 lift irrigation schemes to irrigate 150 acres of land above the level of water sources.
• Provided 23,600 kg of organic fertiliser to 236 farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their crops.
• Assisted 10 farmers to purchase improved cotton seed. For the past two years these farmers have suffered from reduced crop yields. The improved seed will increase their yield and therefore their income.
• Trained 150 farmers and 12 staff members in horticulture and water conservation with the help of a local agricultural university. Held awareness programmes for 222 other farmers.
• Took 250 farmers on educational trips to other communities.

Economic development

• Provided 20 families with assistance to start or improve their small grocery stores.
• Enrolled 18 young people in vocational courses, including driving training.