Makkal Mandram Commune Invites Volunteers
Press Release
08 August, 2015
Countercurrents.org
Makkal Mandram Commune is looking for volunteers to join us in our work. We welcome both long term and short term volunteers. The duration for short term volunteers is 15 days to one month, while persons who are willing to stay for a longer duration of 3-4 months are equally welcome.
Volunteers with knowledge and skills in farming, gardening, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, etc. are more than welcome.
We expect the volunteers to accept that Makkal Mandram Commune is not for having a cheap holiday, but for leading a down-to-earth life that is based on the twin axis of struggle and creation.
We also expect the volunteers to willingly join in the daily commune activities and community chores.
We would prefer volunteers to have completed 20 years of age.
Volunteers would be provided accommodation in our shared building. Living and sleeping quarters would be communal. There are lots of open spaces and quiet corners for a person seeking solitude, though ‘privacy’ as is generally understood by the middle class is neither sought nor available here.
We hope volunteers would respect our choice of keeping the commune an alcohol and smoke free space.
The commune is a meat lover’s delight where every locally obtainable type of meat is relished, though not on a daily basis. But vegetarians need not get disheartened, we would be willing to accommodate them also.
Type of activities / tasks
Organizing people – mobilization, propaganda work,
Awareness raising / Campaign work,
House work,
Farming and Gardening,
General Maintenance,
Building,
Teaching – socially relevant, academics, physical exercises, martial arts etc.,
Art project, painting, postering etc.,
Animal care,
Languages spoken
Tamil and English
(There are members who are fluent in Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi)
What else ...
We are particularly keen on long term volunteers who are passionate about participating in people’s struggles / movements and social activism and have experience of working on a farm or have knowledge of plants, herbs etc; or experience in constructing rural buildings or welding or carpentry work and knowledge about alternative sustainable technology. Otherwise an interest in people’s struggles or social movements and activism, farming and willingness to work in the community cheerfully is more than enough for us to welcome you with open arms. We assure volunteers that they would get an invaluable experience of life in rural Tamil Nadu in all its complexities. Please go through the intro of Makkal Mandram and The Commune to get a better idea of what you are getting into. About Makkal Mandram Makkal Mandram is a people’s organization based in Kancheepuram and working in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu. We have been actively mobilizing the marginalized sections of people like Adivasis, Dalits, women, rural and urban poor. We work with the perception that gross economic, social, cultural & political repression of these people constitutes grave violation of their basic human rights. Makkal Mandram conducts campaigns to bring such awareness among the people; tries to get Central and State policies implemented in favour of the marginalized people; organizes people to struggle and create a just and humane society.
About The Commune
A core group of activists of Makkal Mandram live in a Commune and are in the forefront of leading the people’s movement. The members come from different caste, class, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
We see this commune as an alternative to the biological family. Instead of the self-centred approach of caring only for one’s biological or legal family, we believe that the larger community – be it the village, country or world – is our family, and we need to work for its progress and well-being.
We do not own private property separately. All resources and property belongs to the collective. Members can enjoy it as long as they are part of the commune. Income earned by members is pooled and used for collective activities.
We continuously seek to challenge domination culture mind-set within ourselves and outside. Hence we consciously address issues of class, caste and patriarchal values in our daily lives.
We seek to understand human society from a rational and ethical perspective that is based on scientific temper. Most of us are either atheists or sceptics and do not believe in any religion.
We take decisions collectively based on consensus. Regular sharing and communication takes place through Planning sessions, Evaluation and Feedback sessions, Collective Sharing sessions where all members participate. Discussions, debates, brainstorming, ranting, outpouring, all find a place in these sessions.
Our friends and sympathisers support us with regular donations in cash or kind. We also engage in small economic activities like brick making and vegetable farming to sustain us financially. Our latest venture is the opening of an herbal shop, which shows promising signs of sustainability.
We value both physical and intellectual work as necessary and don’t see a hierarchy between the two. We respect experience and willingness to learn more than bookish understanding. Our experience shows that collective human labour can accomplish the impossible.
Each member takes part in all the activities / tasks / work, ranging from routine housework to social / cultural / political organizing. Men also do cooking, washing, cleaning and other chores, while women give leadership and also do typical male jobs, thus breaking gender roles and stereotypes.
Children are an essential part of the commune. Nurturing and bringing up children is the responsibility of the entire commune and not just their parents. We bring up children with certain core ethical values like Equality, Freedom, Justice, Sharing, Co-operation, Sustainability, Responsibility, Sacrifice, Doing, Self-Discipline, Commitment and Contentment.
We believe that leading a sustainable life in harmony with nature is essential for continued human existence on this planet. Hence we strive to lead a - simple life by reducing our material needs; balanced life by harmonizing with nature; rural life that affords us time to smell the jasmines and listen to the myna sing.
Contact us
Persons interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch with us at the following email ids:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Alternately, call these numbers: +91 9585430895 / +91 9787011896
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