IndianWildlifeClub -Are you ready to be a wilderness Volunteer?
This project also has a Changeshop where you can read more about its latest progress.
Ir ao Changeshop: IndianWildlifeClub.com.
Online Communities of Practice is an idea whose time has come. The two way exchange from online to ground is the way to go!
Sobre Você
Sobre Você
Nome
Susan
Sobrenome
Sharma
URL do Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/susansharma
Sobre Sua Organização
Nome da Organização
IndianWildlifeClub.com
Página da organização na internet
País da organização
Índia, HR
Países onde este projeto vem gerando impacto social
Índia
Sua organização é
OSCIP/ONG
Há quanto tempo sua organização está em operação?
Mais de 5 anos
As informações que você fornecer aqui serão usadas para preencher todas as partes do seu perfil deixadas em branco, como interesses, informação da organização e website. Nenhuma informação do contato será tornada pública. Por favor, desmarque aqui se você não deseja que isso aconteça..
INOVAÇÃO
Nome Projeto/Inovação
IndianWildlifeClub -Are you ready to be a wilderness Volunteer?
Selecione o estágio que melhor se aplica à solução
Expandindo (o próximo passo é aumentar o impacto em escala local ou mesmo global)
Há quanto tempo está em funcionamento?
Em execução por mais de 5 anos
A necessidade: descreva o que sua solução necessita e o tamanho e/ou a dinâmica das comunidades que você envolverá
IndianWildlifeClub.com (IWC) is an interactive media portal which brings together a community of nature lovers from across the world who wish to conserve India's natural wealth. We democratize the challenge of Environment conservation by making it a personal concern. The first online nature club of India has, evolved into an initiative to involve the common man in the cause of conservation. The innovation of our idea is that we push environment issues from grassroots, managed by field level content writers and conservationists putting together a community of practice (CoP) focused on nature. CoPs on the Internet, is an idea whose time has come. The ever growing niche community at IWC believes that environmental sustainability is everyone's concern, if each one discovers her own personal reason to be concerned about it. Wilderness Conservation Volunteer Project (WCV) is the first major ground level activity we are planning, bowing to the demands of our active members. IWC will train volunteers before placement in pre-qualified projects. It will also monitor, document and archive data gathered by volunteers. WCV leverages IWC online presence and takes it to the logical next level.
A solução: explique o que sua solução oferece e de que forma ela é inovadora. Como você levará sua solução para os usuários ou beneficiários? Seja específico!
Interactive features of the portal help each individual contribute his own thoughts/feelings/content and thereby help him express his personal interest and in turn gain a stake holding in the larger environmental dialogue. A registered user of IWC gets a personalized learning page, which keeps track of her communications and encourages her to search for more information.
IWC has the unique mission of
1. Building an online community of practice of nature lovers by harnessing the power of the Internet and social media to bring together nature lovers in a manner that makes it easy and interesting for each individual to contribute to, as well as learn from the diverse experience of others.
2. Bringing together the environmentalist and the nature enthusiasts, in order to broad base the dialogue on, as well as concern for environmental sustainability.
Each member of IndianWildlifeclub.com feels unique as a result of her engagement with the club:
1. I have contributed to nature in my own small way by sharing my experiences /knowledge with others.
2.I am part of an environmental movement.
3.I have come to know more about the bounties of nature and appreciate nature more.
Many of our registered users have been giving feedback expressing a wish to do volunteer work. WCV project will start as a web 2.0 information exchange for volunteers and NGOs. IWC will train these volunteers to work in pre-selected projects. IWC will curate multimedia content from these "field level reporters" and use the content to document the work and also to motivate other volunteers.
O modelo: mostre em detalhes um exemplo específico de como sua solução faz a diferença pelo uso de tecnologias de informação e mídias
The real impact of an online club will be felt over a period of time when the community grows and is able to influence policy. The acceptance of IWC in conservation and wildlife circles and the responses to our photo exhibitions and film screenings are proof that the impact can be translated to ground level action with ease and conviction.
IWC almost never deals with the so called “breaking news”. However, the fine print, often ignored by popular media is picked up by us and put across in our CoP. Involving persons with influence, both for action and to mould opinion, in the drive to conserve nature is what the club is doing. A specific example is the Forest Rights Bill which was passed by the Indian Parliament. IWC submitted to the concerned Ministry the opinions of some of our members from the legal profession and from foresters when the bill was open for debate.
Another example is the response we received for a recent survey we conducted on “Wilderness conservation volunteers”. More than 300 volunteers are willing to pledge their time upto one year with NGOs/Government agencies involved in conservation work on a volunteering basis.
Our monthly online chat on specific issues has invariably thrown up solutions during discussion among drawn from various parts of the country. Transcriptions of our chats are added to our searchable archives instantly. Many of them need to be followed up on ground and that is what prompted us to conceptualize a wilderness volunteer program. 420 people responded to our online survey to formulate the WCV project.
O mercado: quem são seus colegas e concorrentes? Que desafios eles podem representar para seu sucesso ou crescimento?
The most famous Conservation organizations in India are World Wildlife Fund(India)-WWF(I) and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Both these organizations are ground focused and talk largely to the converted. IWC targets a population who are outside the conservation network either due to a busy life style or simply because of lack of access to conservation organizations. IWC brings together NGOs from all over India and our registered users are from every corner of India where Internet facility is available. Internet is expected to be available at all the 0.6million villages of India soon and our portal is poised for a take off.
The "Alexa" statistics for IndianWildlifeClub.com show that the site is most popular with the age group 25-34, the active working age group. It does give us satisfaction that we manage getting the attention of some of the busiest people who are currently taking decisions pertaining to our environment. These decisions could be regarding building a road through a national park, granting of a mining license in a forest, using pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture or something as simple as deciding on having a back yard garden in the house.
IMPACTO SOCIAL
Temas relacionados à inscrição
Histórico da criação: queremos saber sobre seu momento "Eureca!". Compartilhe a história de onde e quando o fundador percebeu o potencial desta solução para mudar o mundo.
After giving up regular employment as a Banker and armed with a Ph.d in MIS, I wanted to combine my love for Computers with my passion for saving the environment. What permeates my being -love for nature' is an affair which started long ago. The defining moment was my first visit to the Corbett National Park in India almost twenty five years back. Talking to Subedar Ali, the mahout, who was attacked by a Bengal Tiger in the forest and barely escaped death, opened up for me, the potential of the human mind to love nature above all. Subedar Ali came back to work in the forest doing the work of a mahout taking tourists to the forest on elephant back to see tigers and other wild animals, his passion for the forest undiminished. The passion of this common man was no less than a Jim Corbett, Jane Goodall, a Bill gates or a Narayanamurthy or Mike Pandey.
The need to connect passionate minds well known and not so well known-that was the key to saving the environment, it dawned on me. Hence the decision to start a niche online community with user generated content as against a broad cast model for creating environment awareness. This CoP is now 11 years old and poised to take off.
Especifique a intensidade e a escala de impacto social desta solução até o momento
The social Impact is by way of
1.Increasing awareness and sensitivity among India’s middle-class numbering 300M about the need to protect India's bio-diversity.
2.Rallying their active support in shaping legal, political, cultural and behavioral changes that are designed to protect India’s natural riches including the Wildlife.
3.Creating a searchable learning resource by codifying and archiving the explicit knowledge of this Community. This resource can complement what is taught in text books in schools and colleges.
4. Willingness of Wildlife Experts to communicate and involve with IWC members is a recent phenomenon, earned after eleven years of being online.
Qual é o impacto projetado para os próximos 1 - 5 anos? A ideia pode ser aproveitada? Como?
As IWC moves to next stage of actively participating in on-ground Projects, we expect an ncrease in membership base of IWC. We also set course for Scientific Data Gathering, Capture and Knowledge Management.
As we create a database of pre-qualified, high impact on-ground Projects, Project Implementing/Funding Agencies and certified Volunteers, we also Monitor/document Project Outcomes, thus becoming a Repository of Best Practices in Wilderness Conservation through community participation.
This repository will boost partnerships with local communities living close to forests, as much as for the larger community.
As soluções vencedoras apresentam um plano elaborado de como atingirão e marcarão o crescimento. Identifique uma meta para os próximos seis meses visando ao crescimento do impacto
Data collection for WCV project to be completed.
Tarefas para 6 meses
Atividade 1
Appoint a national coordinator
Atividade 2
Prequalify projects for volunteering
Atividade 3
Prepare training programs for volunteers
Agora vá mais longe. Identifique uma meta de impacto para os próximos 12 meses
WCV exchange in place matching volunteers with NGO/Govt department project requirements
Tarefas para 12 meses
Atividade 1
dedicated server ( now weare on a VPS) and security walls in place for IWC
Atividade 2
Database coding work
Atividade 3
Selection of volunteers and start of training programs for volunteers.
Quantas pessoas foram impactadas por seu projeto?
1,001 - 10,000
Quantas pessoas poderão ser impactadas por seu projeto nos próximos três anos?
> 10.000
SUSTENTABILIDADE
Explique como sua empresa, programa, serviço ou produto está estruturado
modelo híbrido
Que barreiras impediram o sucesso de seu projeto até agora? Como você planeja superar esses e outros desafios para fazer seu projeto crescer?
The major barrier has been lack of funds which prevented us from going in for a robust server and code base. This led to compromising our database to sustained hacking and we had to withdraw all our interactive features for nearly a year. We are now back for over a year with robust coding and a VPS server, thanks to a project grant from the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research.
As we grow our solution, we want to ensure that we have a dedicated server and adequate funding for writing the required applications for the proposed Information Exchange. Lack of funds is also preventing us from monetizing our own you tube channel called "Wildbytes.tv", which has been approved as a partner channel by youtube. We have just started approaching funding agencies.
Que tipo de mudanças você prevê para os setores de tecnologia da informação e de mídia na próxima década? Como sua solução se adaptará para refletir o ambiente em mudança? Como sua solução estimulará essa mudança?
I do see that mobile media is catching up in a big way in developing nations. Mobile specific applications can be developed on IWC. These applications will help volunteers upload data directly into our website once the WCV project takes off.
Gaming media are also a great way to target youngsters by creating creative games based on wildlife adventures.
We do have the talent and creativity to adapt to any situation. Members of our team have already faced bottlenecks which will make less committed persons give it all up.
O fracasso nem sempre é uma opção. Se sua solução não conseguir evoluir nos próximos dois anos, de que outras formas você pretende explorar sua ideia?
Failure is not an option at all. If WCV exchange fails to garner financial support from funding agencies, we propose to approach Corporates and if we draw a blank there too, the option of registering IWC as a charity and asking for donations which are exempt from tax, is there. But this is absolutely the last option for us. The founder firmly believes that wildlife in India should not be made to beg.
Amplie suas seleções, explicando como você mantém seu projeto financeiramente
IWC Founder (Dr. Susan Sharma) created IWC Platform by investing nearly US $ 20,000 of her own and her husband's cash savings. Additionally the Indian Council of social sciences Research -ICSSR ( An apex research organization of the Government of India) recognized IWC and gave Project grant of US $10,000 part of which was used for upgrading the program code and hosting after the database hacking.
Wildscapes.net, the product store of IWC generates some revenue from sales. IWC also generates negligible advertisement income mainly from tour operators. Becoming a full fledged youtube partner (partnership already approved) will increase advertisement income.
Por favor, explique de que forma o estabelecimento de parcerias é importante para o sucesso de sua inovação
We do not have legal partnerships with anyone. However we are networked with WWF(I), Bombay Natural history Society (BNHS), World Pheasant Association (WPA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). We have agreements with tour operators who are empaneled with us and also with product suppliers for wildscapes.net. We have produced five documentaries all of which are certified in the infotainment and educational categories. The films we produced have been extensively used by NGOs(WWF India, WPA, BNHS etc.) and Government Ministry of Adult education.
Que tipo de equipe (contratados, voluntários, etc.) garantirá que você atinja as metas de crescimento identificadas na seção Impacto social?
Our team currently consists of a technical consultant, graphic designer and content curator (the founder). We do not have an editing studio and all post production is outsourced. To achieve scale with the WCV project, we need a national coordinator and four regional coordinators. The WCV project is aimed at providing volunteers to NGOs/Government agencies working in wilderness areas. The reports filed by these volunteers will give field based data, which is valuable content. The wilderness volunteers will thus double up as cub reporters for IWC.
O Changemakers é um espaço cooperativo e de apoio. Especifique os recursos comunitários de que você precisa para desenvolver e sustentar sua iniciativa. [Selecione todas as opções que se aplicarem]
Investimento, Marketing/Mídia.
Especifique os recursos que você pode oferecer de suporte a outras iniciativas. [Selecione todas as opções que se aplicarem]
Pesquisa/Informações, Colaboração/Rede de contato.
Explique as necessidades ou ofertas mencionadas acima e/ou sugira categorias de suporte não especificadas na lista
Investment to the tune of Us $ 10,000 will be needed to create the web2.0 information exchange for wilderness conservation volunteers. This will take care of hardware and software requirements for the web 2.0 exchange Change makers can help us market our products and services increasing our revenue streams.
IWC has archived data of ten years, consisting of e-zine articles, blogs, trip reports and chat transcripts, all relating to Indian wildlife. To avoid information overload, we have developed a system where randomly picked up article, blog, video etc appear on the homepage. Our analysis has shown that a visitor to IWC spends on an average 14 minutes on the site with an average page view of eight pages. We are also open to collaboration and networking with like -minded projects.
Resumo
Defina sua empresa, programa, serviço ou produto em uma ou duas frases curtas
IndianWildlifeClub.com is the first online nature club of India. Our Volunteer project leverages the club's online impact.
Identifique o que sua solução tem de inovadora em uma ou duas frases curtas
Online Communities of Practice is an idea whose time has come. The two way exchange from online to ground is the way to go!
| Anexo | Tamanho |
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| villach29sep_presentation.jpg | 865 bytes |
| vivek_collage_wildbytes.jpg | 1.04 KB |
| exh_2004.jpg | 1.02 KB |
| birdsarecoming.jpg | 962 bytes |
| iwc_ad_resized.jpg | 1016 bytes |
| exh_2006.jpg | 1.04 KB |
| iwc_logo.jpg | 5.52 KB |
 | 91 semanas atrás Susan Sharma disse: I can think of Sierra Club as one of the prominent clubs who have popularized travel for exploration of wilderness places. The ... sobre esse Competition Entry. - leia mais > |
| 91 semanas atrás Ravi Saxena disse: Hi Dr. Sharma, I see you have placed a lot of effort into this organization and muscled through some tough times. You mentioned that ... sobre esse Competition Entry. - leia mais > |
| 94 semanas atrás Susan Sharma atualizou esta Competition Entry. |
| 94 semanas atrás Susan Sharma atualizou esta Competition Entry. |
| 94 semanas atrás Susan Sharma enviou esta ideia. |