SPED II (2006 - 2009)

SPED-II is a three-year Village Integration Development Program Implemented by Cultural Academy for Peace in collaboration with Save A Family Plan India (SAFP) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The main goal of this program is to contribute to the reduction of poverty by ensuring the efficient management of the natural resources, improved health condition, gender equality, improved living standard and improved economic condition of the community people. Cultural Academy for Peace envisions the creation of a model village as the end result of the project.

As part of the Project intervention is done in five major areas, such as:

• Improving health status of the communities
• Promotion of sustainable livelihood initiatives
• Gender mainstreaming
• Environment consciousness building
• Capacity building and promoting good governance

Objectives

• To empower and strengthen the capacities of the community and their grass root level organizations to improve access to local resources and to address the local socio-cultural gender, environmental and other developmental issues by participating in local governance process and networking.
• To facilitate the evolution of level poverty reduction initiatives, which are community driven and local resource based; in the areas of natural resource management, education, health and livelihood initiatives.

About the Project Area

The target area of SPED-II is Elankunnapuzha Panchayath in Vypin ,a costal area in the North -Western part of Cochin . According to the statistics Elankunnapuzha is distinct as the village having the highest population density in the continent of Asia . The Panchayath has got a population of 58007, most of who belong to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families. The educational status of the people is low and the major occupations are fishing and other related jobs.

Majority of the people live in very poor conditions with limited resources. Economic crisis and debt has become a part of their daily life especially at the times of rainy season. Seasonal unemployment and the related poverty, which is common with all the costal belt communities, exist here also. The village faces a severe problem of drinking water scarcity throughout the year and the only means to access drinking water is the tanker lorries, which frequently visits the village. The area is prone to communicable diseases mainly due to its geographical as well demographics specialties i.e. stagnation of water unhygienic surroundings, congested living pattern etc.

Alcoholism and drug abuse highly exist among the youth. Most of the drug abusers are IDUs (Intravenous Drug Users). This lead to a high risk of HIV infection, as needless may easily carry the HIV virus from one person to another.

Major project Activities

• Gender Awareness Classes
• Environment consciousness building
• Awareness classes on Good governance
• HIV/AIDS prevention programs
• Health Awareness classes
• Medical Camps & Distribution of medicines
• Income Generation Program for the community women
• Counseling services

Major Strategies

• Awareness to people through seminars, discussions and classes
• Development of Gender policies and Environment policies
• Application of Action research
• Integrated approach in all the activities
• Slide shows, Display of documentaries and performing arts.
• Distribution of study materials.

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