VISIONARY INDIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER T. RAVI KUMAR TO VISIT JAPAN July 31 - Aug 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VISIONARY INDIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER T. RAVI KUMAR TO VISIT JAPAN
Speaking seminars scheduled in Osaka on July 31st and Tokyo on August 1st
July 16, 2010 (TOKYO) – The founder of Indian NPO, the Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV), and visionary human rights activist T. Ravi Kumar will speak in Japan for the first time this summer, in an effort to expand ARV’s message further than ever before on the international stage. Speaking seminars will be held on July 31st in Osaka and August 1st in Tokyo. The Osaka seminar will take place at Nishi-machi Koutou Kaikan (next to Shin Osaka Station, west exit) at 7-10-14 Nishi Nakashima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi. The Tokyo seminar will be held at Star Lecture Rooms on the third floor of Kawagami Building at 2-22-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Seminars in both locations will be held in Japanese from 14:00 to 15:15 and in English from15:30 to 16:45.
Founded in 2001 by T. Ravi Kumar, a human rights activist, The Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV) is an Indian non-profit, social service. ARV’s vision is to create a society where the poorest, most discriminated and vulnerable communities are made aware of their rights and are empowered to access their entitlements and natural resources. ARV volunteers focus their efforts on scheduled castes and tribes, in particular, the Dalits - who are among the most marginalized social group in India. ARV draws its strength from Kumar’s leadership, its grassroots networks and dedicated local and international volunteers.
Following the Asian Tsunami of 2004 that devastated the coastal regions of southern India, ARV partnered with Longitude- a U.S.-based 501c3 non-profit organization that works with the leaders of grassroots educational and human rights initiatives in resource-poor countries. In 2005, Rick Mickelson (who was working as an English teacher in Japan at the time) led the first Longitude volunteer expedition to India. He mobilized an international team that helped build safe, permanent homes in the village of Kothasathram Indirinagar (KI). Kumar has mobilized more than 300 international volunteers in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
-more-
The volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but almost all have been residents of Japan and many are/were English teachers living in Japan. As a result of these Japan-based volunteer trips, Kumar has been able to establish a plethora of programs that provide Dalit communities with their basic human needs as well as the education and confidence to fight for their rights now and in the future. These programs include but are not limited to: Children’s feeding programs, children’s education and healthcare initiatives in 25 villages and safe, permanent housing in three villages. In addition to spreading the message of the plight of his people, he also hopes to learn from the Japanese. As a first world country, Japan has many accomplished experts in the fields of human rights, sustainable agriculture and education.
Although it has been more than 50 years since the ratification of the Indian constitution declaring all Indian citizens equal, many Dalits and tribal communities remain forgotten by the government. Kumar’s approach in helping these communities is very unique in that he goes directly into beleaguered and discriminated villages and becomes an expert in the issues they face. This has made him successful in precisely articulating their needs and, in turn, gaining financial support from the Indian government. ARV is currently lobbying the Indian government to address the lack of safe drinking water and employment opportunities in the Kolleru Lake region of Andhra Pradesh.
Kumar values every human life as precious and worth fighting for. "Even if we have no funding coming in, I will go to the villages one by one, and I will talk to the people. I will teach them how to stand up for themselves. Even if only one or two villages are uplifted during the course of my lifetime, I will know that my life is worth living," he says.
About T.Ravi Kumar:
Kumar is a pivotal member of social action groups such as Food First Information Action Network (FIAN), Habitat for Humanity, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and HOPE (Helping Organization for Poor and Exploited). He has spoken about the Dalit people and their plight at conferences all over India, in Switzerland and at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome.
- ### -
Media Contacts:
Kristin Namimoto | Jonathan Slakey
Kristin@golongitude.org | Jonathan@golongitude.org
080-6404-4036
For more information:
Please visit http://golongitude.org/uncaste-india
VISIONARY INDIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER T. RAVI KUMAR TO VISIT JAPAN
Speaking seminars scheduled in Osaka on July 31st and Tokyo on August 1st
July 16, 2010 (TOKYO) – The founder of Indian NPO, the Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV), and visionary human rights activist T. Ravi Kumar will speak in Japan for the first time this summer, in an effort to expand ARV’s message further than ever before on the international stage. Speaking seminars will be held on July 31st in Osaka and August 1st in Tokyo. The Osaka seminar will take place at Nishi-machi Koutou Kaikan (next to Shin Osaka Station, west exit) at 7-10-14 Nishi Nakashima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi. The Tokyo seminar will be held at Star Lecture Rooms on the third floor of Kawagami Building at 2-22-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Seminars in both locations will be held in Japanese from 14:00 to 15:15 and in English from15:30 to 16:45.
Founded in 2001 by T. Ravi Kumar, a human rights activist, The Association of Relief Volunteers (ARV) is an Indian non-profit, social service. ARV’s vision is to create a society where the poorest, most discriminated and vulnerable communities are made aware of their rights and are empowered to access their entitlements and natural resources. ARV volunteers focus their efforts on scheduled castes and tribes, in particular, the Dalits - who are among the most marginalized social group in India. ARV draws its strength from Kumar’s leadership, its grassroots networks and dedicated local and international volunteers.
Following the Asian Tsunami of 2004 that devastated the coastal regions of southern India, ARV partnered with Longitude- a U.S.-based 501c3 non-profit organization that works with the leaders of grassroots educational and human rights initiatives in resource-poor countries. In 2005, Rick Mickelson (who was working as an English teacher in Japan at the time) led the first Longitude volunteer expedition to India. He mobilized an international team that helped build safe, permanent homes in the village of Kothasathram Indirinagar (KI). Kumar has mobilized more than 300 international volunteers in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
-more-
The volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but almost all have been residents of Japan and many are/were English teachers living in Japan. As a result of these Japan-based volunteer trips, Kumar has been able to establish a plethora of programs that provide Dalit communities with their basic human needs as well as the education and confidence to fight for their rights now and in the future. These programs include but are not limited to: Children’s feeding programs, children’s education and healthcare initiatives in 25 villages and safe, permanent housing in three villages. In addition to spreading the message of the plight of his people, he also hopes to learn from the Japanese. As a first world country, Japan has many accomplished experts in the fields of human rights, sustainable agriculture and education.
Although it has been more than 50 years since the ratification of the Indian constitution declaring all Indian citizens equal, many Dalits and tribal communities remain forgotten by the government. Kumar’s approach in helping these communities is very unique in that he goes directly into beleaguered and discriminated villages and becomes an expert in the issues they face. This has made him successful in precisely articulating their needs and, in turn, gaining financial support from the Indian government. ARV is currently lobbying the Indian government to address the lack of safe drinking water and employment opportunities in the Kolleru Lake region of Andhra Pradesh.
Kumar values every human life as precious and worth fighting for. "Even if we have no funding coming in, I will go to the villages one by one, and I will talk to the people. I will teach them how to stand up for themselves. Even if only one or two villages are uplifted during the course of my lifetime, I will know that my life is worth living," he says.
About T.Ravi Kumar:
Kumar is a pivotal member of social action groups such as Food First Information Action Network (FIAN), Habitat for Humanity, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and HOPE (Helping Organization for Poor and Exploited). He has spoken about the Dalit people and their plight at conferences all over India, in Switzerland and at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome.
- ### -
Media Contacts:
Kristin Namimoto | Jonathan Slakey
Kristin@golongitude.org | Jonathan@golongitude.org
080-6404-4036
For more information:
Please visit http://golongitude.org/uncaste-india
Comments
Post a Comment