At Development Alternatives, our main priority is creating sustainable livelihoods. This online module explains our vision of what a sustainable livelihood is and describes a number of projects we are working on to make this vision a reality. It includes an overview of the technologies utilised and links to articles and other resources about Development Alternative's experiences promoting sustainable livelihoods in India.

But most importantly, we've talked to the villagers themselves and presented their stories here. Read a summary of these "Voices from the Field," and what they highlight about the notion of sustainable livelihoods, or learn more in depth about:

• Check-dams: Learn about how we are helping to improve access to water in North India, and securing the future of village farmers.
• Shelter: Visit Azadpura village where we started by building sustainable shelters and we are now working with tribal women to produce handicrafts.
• TARAGram: Meet a group of women in Madhya Pradesh who are making hand crafted paper and appropriate building materials.
• Vermicomposting: Read about the efforts of a group of women in South India who are creating and selling this rich compost.
• Weaving: Meet the women of Sathanur who are making a living creating beautiful cottons and silks.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainable livelihoods in other parts of the world, we encourage you to visit a similar module on sustainable livelihoods in Senegal created by Environnement et Développement du Tiers-Monde (ENDA). The learnings from both countries have also been brought together in an educational joint module on Sustainable Livelihoods.

Go to the joint module on Sustainable Livelihoods

Go to ENDA Sustainble Livelihoods Module (in French)