VSO is an international development charity that places highly skilled volunteers to fight poverty and disadvantage in 34 of the world’s poorest countries. Our volunteers share skills with local people so that when they leave the work continues. This is a unique, practical, effective and sustainable way to reduce poverty. There are 70 million disabled people in India who suffer unequal access to education, employment, and justice and are often excluded from the political processes. For example, although the average national enrolment rate is 56%, only 8% of India’s disabled children are in full-time education, and unemployment for disabled people is over 99%, compared to the national average of 8%. The disabled population in India is larger than any country in the world – a figure the same as the entire population of UK. An estimated five million people – ranking India one of the highest in the world – live with HIV & AIDS. Discrimination is a significant issue and there are many reports of HIV-positive people being excluded from society and decision-making processes. Children have been refused entrance to school, adults dismissed from jobs, and people disowned by their family and communities or refused proper medical care. Fear of discrimination is one of biggest barriers to controlling the spread of HIV because it deters women and men from being tested and declaring their status or seeking suitable care and treatment. VSO will place volunteers to work with organisations run by and directly for disabled people and people living with HIV & AIDS to raise awareness of their rights and the issues affecting them, and advocate for necessary changes in access to public services and appropriate care and treatment. The project will also focus on helping organisations become more inclusive and representative of women with disabilities and HIV & AIDS. Some of the volunteer activities: · Work with local organisations to strengthen their professional capacity to become more inclusive and representative of people with disabilities and HIV and AIDS. Activities include: strategic planning, human resource development, financial management, administration, training of trainers, information management systems, public communications and local fundraising. · Seek to ensure that disabled women are included and represented in the disability movement. Activities will include: organising and delivering gender equality training for partner organisations and promoting and supporting engagement between women’s networks and disability organisations through exchange visits and study tours. · Promote greater access to information, opportunities and quality services and raise awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and HIV & AIDS. Activities include: training partner organisations and volunteers in human rights, disability and HIV and AIDS equality; conducting exchange visits to other relevant organisations; supporting partner organisations on awareness raising campaigns; conducting access audits and promoting accessibility; expanding the reach of Indian Sign Language; engaging in campaigns for affordable medication; and working with service providers to promote services like counselling, rehabilitation etc as a right rather than charity. * Statistics source: VSO