Business Development and Medical Project in Bankura, West Bengal

MondoChallenge has been working in association with CARE international to help grassroots organisations such as Bikash since Nov 2004. Bikash (meaning development in Bengali) focuses on the three main inter-related areas of Disability, Micro-Finance and Health and Nutrition.

Since the start of Bikash’s micro-finance programme in March 2002 a total of 4,200,000rs has been dispersed in small scale loans. This has helped a total of 650 women’s groups. Many members have been able to lift their families out of poverty due to this scheme and amazingly repayment of loans is presently 100%.

Volunteers need to have at least 4 years business experience. The job will focus on the following areas, depending on the skills of the individual volunteer.

Organizational development

• Building of International and Domestic profile
• Establishment of income generation and fundraising for Bikash
• Capacity building especially in area of Marketing/Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy

Micro-Finance Help to identify successful income generating activities for rural villagers

• Streamline and improve loan system
• Create tools to monitor the use and effectiveness of loans
• Create system to effectively monitor and match supply and demand

Volunteers with a medical background (including nutritionists, physiotherapists and health managers) can volunteer in order to improve and assist with health education, rural home visits, and training of staff and local people.

Bikash is based in the town of Bankura, located 6 hrs west of Kolkata. Although way off the tourist trail Bankura is rich in cultural heritage and is famous for it’s terracotta pottery.

Interested? To find out about the next step to becoming a volunteer, read our application process.