User:Oliviya Joshy/sandbox

Logo of totem Resource Centre

Totem Resource Center

Totem: Resource Centre is a non-governmental, non-denominational, not-for-profit organization which is located in Wayanad, Kerala, India, that came into formal existence in August 2019.

The organization was formed specifically to address the issues and concerns essential for the sustainable growth and development of Indian society. totem strives towards using socio-culturally specific and replicable models for continual improvement and applies the same for achieving its organizational goals. The totem's primary concern is the welfare of all human beings on the earth irrespective of any differences.

What we do:

Totem Resource Centre is serving a large number of tribal population, who need support for improving their quality of life. Totem has focused on community-based development in the fields of Education, Agriculture, Apiculture, Fisheries, Psychological Support, Medicinal Plants Cultivation, Waste Management, Science Popularization, Health and Hygiene, etc.

totem works as a Resource center for ethnic communities of India in general and Kerala in particular. The organization strives to make the voice of the voiceless heard. We direct our energies toward addressing the immediate needs and problems of ethnic communities and strive to make them self-reliant.

Through our activities, we attempt to redeem ethnic communities from the clutches of bondage and subjugation. Our initiatives are directed towards enabling these communities to live in today's global village with equality and freedom. Through these efforts, we hope to act as a catalyst for their empowerment.

1. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

totem's Community Empowerment program focuses on aiding sustainable development among ethnic communities. Undertaking extension work, we advocate the creation of self-help groups within different ethnic communities and use development models and materials to achieve this goal.

2. ADVOCACY PROGRAMME

totem considers advocacy as an important means of people's empowerment. We identify key issues of national and international concern, issues that have the potential to generate national debate, and those requiring awareness campaigning.

Through collaboration and consultations with concerned ethnic communities, we aid in developing proposals for change. The advocacy program is also involved in lobbying for the acceptance of these proposals and we conduct numerous short-term awareness campaigns. We also spearhead select long-term campaigns on issues that demand sustained advocacy, awareness, dialogue, and debate.

3. DOCUMENTATION & INFORMATION PROGRAMME

totem is committed to the documentation of the social and economic life of ethnic communities, and their tangible and intangible cultural traditions using digital media. We also strive towards making the information society of the wider world, till now beyond the reach of these communities, accessible. We help communities interact with and utilize the benefits offered by the information age towards their development and economic stability.

Notable leaders:

Jaisreekumar, Programme Coordinator

Jaisreekumar is a Cultural Anthropologist from Kerala. He received his M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Madras and his M.Phil. from Pondicherry Central University. As an Anthropologist Jaisreekumar is best known for his studies of the Kadar community of Athirappilly, Irular of Attappady, the Eravalan community of Chittur, and the Paniya community of Wayanad, especially with regard to various aspects of culture- the cultural transition and resource alienation. He was a delegate from India at International Ethnic Symposium which was held at Belem, Brazil on August 2018. Before joining the totem, he was working at CREST Calicut.