Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development (VILD) is the resource centre of SVYM at Mysore to implement the TRAC services. VILD aims to produce leaders and committed human resources for development by generating experience based knowledge in the NPO sector through research, advocating and influencing government policies and programs, and providing structured educational programs in order to ultimately empower nongovernmental agencies, youth, women and the professionals of this country for developmental work.

Following is the brief introduction of the programmes and projects being implemented from VILD

SVYM runs India’s first rural-based comprehensive HIV/AIDS program, which has been hailed as a “Best Practice Model” by UNAIDS. According to NACO, Karnataka is a high-risk state, having one of the highest Antenatal Clinic HIV and General Population HIV prevalence rates in the country. In order to target this population, SVYM has initiated a multifaceted strategy, comprising projects in five integrated steps. SVYM works not only to treat the medical and psychosocial needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, but also targets populations at risk for contracting the disease, trains physicians, Counselors and other health care professionals across the state on specific issues and partners with other NGOs as well as the government to make policy changes at the state & national level.

Continuing Education and Training Centre (CETC)

The Organisation is recognized as the Continuing Education and Training Centre (CETC) For two states Karnataka and Maharashtra by the EngenderHealth Society. The project is being implemented from 2006 to train service providers in various aspects of HIV/AIDS management. The project is funded by EngenderHealth Society through GFATM Round IV Grant.

Under the project, Healthcare personnel receive the following types of trainings:

Counsellors and social workers – HIV treatment and ART adherence

Field and health care workers – Home Based Care

Peer educators – Treatment adherence

Medical Professionals [from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland] – Medical Management of HIV

Youth for Development (Y4D)

Novel and flagship programme of the Organization Training Course – “Youth for Development” was initiated in 2006 to develop skills and competency in committed rural youth and create young social entrepreneurs at the village level. Youth from across Karnataka are trained to take up developmental initiatives on the principles of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi.

The fourteen week training course is implemented in four phases providing a combination of knowledge, attitude and skill-based practice sessions. The course module includes training on necessary life skills to work with the community (including management and leadership skills) and skills required to assess the needs of the community via a Community Needs Assessment. Additionally youth learn how to design and implement field projects, implement action plans as well as develop vocational skills crucial to their projects. Exposure visits are also arranged to various model development sites to observe processes and impact on the community.

Vocational Skill Training for the Siblings of Child Labourers of Chamarajanagar district

Project Start Date: 2006

ILO, through National Child Labour Project Society, Chamarajanagar is supporting vocational skill training of the elder siblings of child labourers from the 35 Gram Panchayaths of Chamarajanagar district. More than 400 youngsters have received vocational skills of different trades under the project. Facilitation of employment is also made under the project through the placement wing of the Organisation.

Short Term Programmes

In order to share the experiences of over two decades, the Organisation has initiated short term programmes for different stakeholders to build their capacities.

PROBASE (Professionally Organized Block Placement Activity for the Social Entrepreneurs) is the novel course for the MSW students implemented under these programmes.

Regional Resource Training Centre (RRTC)

Project Start Date: 2007

Aim: To guide medical and nursing professionals to develop commitment and competence while caring for persons living with HIV/AIDS

Area served: Kodagu, Chamrajanagar, Bijapur, Bagalkot, and Mysore districts Funding Partners: Karnataka Health Promotion Trust