RDI has been working with youth and adolescents since its inception in 1991 enabling their learning and development through various health-based, training and exposure activities. Primarily RDI supports building their capacity in health, education, income generation, skill development and water-sanitation on a regular basis.
In recent days, many activities and events were launched wherein adolescents and youth from remote rural hilly areas were engaged in various activities like adolescent health trainings, road safety campaigns, celebrations of national youth day event, first responder trainings and personality development sessions. RDI celebrated Youth Day with adolescents and youth from villages of Bahadarabad block of Haridwar district. They were engaged in online sessions on career counselling, yoga and value-based education. The participants found it quite interesting and useful and wanted more interactions in the future.
RDI launched a campaign on Road Safety Week. Road safety has been a big issue as far as youth behaviour is concerned. India accounts for about 5 lakh road accidents annually, one of the highest in the world in which about 1.5 lakh people die and another 3 lakh become crippled. As per information of Road and Transport Ministry of India around 71% of 4.49 lakh road accidents in India in 2019 were due to speeding. RDI considers this issue as part of adolescents’ well-being promoting safe behavior and practices among youth and adolescents while driving.
The campaigns were carried out in remote hilly areas of Dehradun, Pauri and some Haridwar districts; engaging over 200 participants including drivers, conductors, peer educators, students, community members and local health workers. Sessions on first responder training were conducted and participants demonstrated how to deal with an emergency situation after an accident. Online sessions on road safety were conducted with adolescents. An informative booklet on first aid and emergency support for drivers and conductors were also distributed at different stages of the campaigns.
Distribution of Food Kit
In response to Covid-19 pandemic relief services, RDI distributed over 189 food kits to the community people facing vulnerable situations at various places of Dehradun, Haridwar and Pauri districts in December and January. This also included distribution of 56 kits to the Leprosy Ashram of the Khel gaon in Dehradun district. 46 scholars were given hygiene and nutrition kits.
