Youth Service Center Bolangir

The Youth Service Center has implemented a community-based watershed programme in Bolangir, responding to the area's increasing drought and a drastic reduction in rainfall by over 60% in the past decade. This initiative focuses on land and water management in collaboration with the local community. Over three years, activities such as farm bunding, stone outlays, water absorption trenching, and tree plantation have significantly improved the livelihoods of poor farmers and landless individuals. Through the establishment of a Watershed Development Committee, the programme ensures sustainability by enforcing measures like prohibiting free grazing and tree cutting, as well as maintaining infrastructure.

The Youth Service Center is dedicated to advocating for child rights, striving to create a child-friendly society where every child enjoys their childhood rights. Through partnerships with global and local initiatives, it works to ensure the survival, development, protection, and participation rights of all children, emphasizing that child rights are everyone's responsibility. Its activities include raising awareness and educating communities about child rights, providing capacity-building training at various levels, and conducting research on child rights issues. The organisation actively engages in addressing issues such as child labour, child hunger, access to education, migrant children, children affected by disasters, HIV/AIDS, and disabilities, aiming to empower children and their families to participate in decision-making processes and find solutions.