Programmes

Restless Development presently works in three districts in the state of Tamil Nadu: Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur and Vellore.

Our objectives are to:

• Empower young people to take up leading roles in decision-making processes.
• Enable young people to make responsible decisions regarding their basic health and sexual health, supported by their communities and government
• Support young people to secure improved livelihood opportunities

“Restless Development activities were very useful to the community. Their focus on sanitation has helped us as a community in addressing open air defecation/urination”

Veeraraghavan, Nayaganpet Panchayat President

“Restless Development has made us feel equipped. We were unused utensils, now we are of use to people”

Renuga, volunteer peer educator

The big picture

To further our mission of placing young people at the heart of leadership and decision making, Restless Development works with a range of partners to provide improved learning opportunities for both its volunteers and for young people in the community. We work with philanthropic and corporate partners to deliver life changing education to over 36,000 young people a year, and to improve facilities in schools to create an impact for young people today and in the future. 

The Youth Empowerment Programme, delivered by volunteers in the field, is accredited by the Centre for International Social Work of Madras Christian College. This gives volunteers academic accreditation from a nationally recognised tertiary education institution, and is illustrative of the high standards of our training and our commitment to cultivating its young leaders.

“Getting the certificate from such an esteemed college and wearing the graduation robe were one of the proudest moments of my life”

Devika, volunteer peer educator

Our other supporters include:

• The Robert Christie Foundation and HIVOS, supporting our work in 23 schools, promoting education on gender, citizenship, and sexual and reproductive health with over 36,000 young people.
• The ICICI Foundations educational initiative, supporting our work in literacy with over 3,000 students in 31 government schools.
• Australian Volunteers International, who worked with us on the Sustainable Livelihood Programme in Thattankuttai and Thandayankottai.
• dance4life, who work with us to promote HIV and AIDS awareness to over 40,000 young people.
• The NASSCOM Foundation, who helped set up Village Knowledge Centres, providing outreach to young people and communities using Information and Communication Technology.

Restless Development’s work in India supports the Millennium Development Goals by:

• Promoting increased awareness and acquisition of education, and parental buy-in to young people’s decision-making (Target 2.A). 
• Promoting gender equality and representation (Target 3.A).
• Reducing the incidence of HIV and AIDS (Target 6.A) through the Youth Empowerment Programme.
• Engaging volunteers and staff directly, and via partnerships, to improve livelihoods opportunities (Target 1.B)
• Increasing access to digital information (Target 8.F).

We also support the goals of the current Five Year Plan of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, by enabling young people’s personal development, greater female participation in youth development, and transcending boundaries to engage rural youth in nation building.