AKSHARA
Mumbai, Maharashtra

CVU name: Apna TV  
Founded: 2006

Akshara is a non-profit organization based in Mumbai that works for the rights of women.  They were born out of the Indian woman's movement of the 1980s and continue to rally against gender violence and discrimination.

True to Apna TV's famous tag line ‘na ETV, na Zee TV, na CNN, na Star Plus, Yeh hai hamara Apna TV…’ this team has created a media space loved and owned by their community. They have created short films on the hopes and aspirations of people in their community, the importance of voting, the dire sanitation conditions in the slums, and the importance of speaking out against sexual harassment.  Apna TV is currently focusing their attention on the youth of their community, not only broadcasting their stories but also engaging them in the production process.  

CHILD IN NEED INSTITUTE
Kolkata, West Bengal
CVU name: Khobore Aamra
Founded: 2009

CINI helps mothers and children in India break free from the cycle of poverty.  They reach out across all levels of Indian society by going from door to door in the villages and slums as well as talking to locally elected representatives and influencing public policy.  Adopting a multi-layered, rights based approach, CINI works towards a sustainable improvement in nutrition, healthcare and education while trying to protect children whose lives are blighted by poverty.

The CVU is located in the rural villages of West Bengal and distributes important information to rural communities that rarely have access to media.  The community is embracing the opportunity to share its own stories, experiences, and struggles through film.  Each screening brings together diverse populations for critical conversations that have rarely happened in an organized setting before.

HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE HOSPITAL TRUST
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
CVU name: Hamaru Raibar
Founded: January 2008

The Rural Development Institute (RDI), a program of the HIHT, was created with an intention to not only provide the people of underdeveloped areas with quality health care, but also to ensure a better quality of life overall.  RDI does extensive field research and uses a multi-dimensional approach to address locally defined needs and priorities, in order to serve the people at large.

Hamaru Raibar actively shoots and screens in 25 villages.  They have supported various development initiatives and generated awareness on livelihoods, health, water, and traditions.  The Unit is now developing into a social enterprise by accepting paid assignments from HIHT and RDI, allowing them greater creativity and a bigger budget for their own productions.

LAYA
East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

CVU name: Manyam Praja Video 
Founded: 2006

Laya is a non-profit organization working with tribal communities to secure access and control of their land (including forest and water resources), to promote sustainable livelihood, and to ensure self-governance to encourage the survival of tribal identity and value systems.  They provide legal assistance and advocacy, encourage sustainable resource management, and empower women while also building the capacity of tribal youth.

Manyam Praja Video is made up of 14 young, dynamic community members who overcame the limitations of illiteracy, as well as the diversity of customs and languages, to educate their community about important social issues through film.  Their films have helped spread information to locals about malaria, natural medications, government accountability, and monsoon management strategies.  This CVU is a true celebration of a sacred culture being preserved through modern technology. 

Community Radio Station 
Founded: 2010

After successfully launching and sustaining a Community Video Unit, Laya is joining hands with Drishti once again to build a community radio station. 

M.F. HIMALAYAS
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 

Community Radio
Founded: 2010

Mount Forum visualizes a healthy, civilized equitable self-reliant and sustainable society where socio-economic and cultural prosperity and equality prevails based on ecological and environmental balance.

This will be a unique partnership between a college radio station housed at M.S. Pawar Institute, Mount Forum, and Drishti.

MITRA JYOTHI 
Bangalore, Karnataka
Community Radio
Founded: 2010

The mission of Mitra Jyothi is to assisit the visually impaired adults and their families lead independent and dignified lives through education, training, counseling, communication and technology.

We are excited to experiment with new technology and approaches to make radio a powerful tool for visually impaired individuals and their community.

NAVSARJAN
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
CVU name: Apna Malak Maa
Founded: 2006

Navsarjan is a grassroots Dalit organization dedicated to ensuring human rights for all.  Our mission is to eliminate discrimination based on untouchability practices; ensure equality of status and opportunities for all, regardless of caste, class or gender; and to ensure the rule of law. Working in more than 3,000 villages and citites, they are the largest Dalit organization in Gujarat, and one of the most effective in India.  

Apna Malak Maa is an all Dalit team working to bring together the people of 25 villages, irrespective of caste.  They have made films on the public distribution system, health, land rights and manual scavenging. 

NAZARIYA - DRISHTI'S YOUTH INITIATIVE
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Community Radio
Founded: 2010

Drishti is bringing our experience with community radio to Nazariya’s volunteers! Ahmedabad’s youth are coming together to create a space where young people, irrespective of gender, caste, class, religion, faith, sexual orientation, social and economic background or literacy status can freely and fearlessly voice and discuss issues affecting their lives.

PRAVAH
Jaipur, Rajasthan
CVU name: Aina
Founded: 2009
Blog: Pravahjaipuryouthjunction.blogspot.com 

Pravah is a Delhi based, non-profit organization helping expand young peoples' understanding of social justice through participatory learning and active citizenship.  The Jaipur Initiative has launched a series of campaigns and hosts a bi-monthly cafe to make space for conversations and film screenings.

Aina aims to bridge the gap between marginalized and middle class youth in Jaipur through film.  The CVU has just finished their first film on water shortages in the slum areas of Jaipur and is looking forward to screenings!

SAATH
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
CVU name: Samvad 
Founded: 2006
Blog: SamvadCVU.blogspot.com

SAATH is a non-profit organization working to improve conditions for the city's marginalized communities.  They utilize market-based strategies to create inclusive societies by empowering India’s urban and rural poor.  SAATH’s one-stop, integrated services reach over 100,000 slum dwellers in Ahmedabad, and many more in Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India.

Samvad's producers live in four slum areas around Ahmedabad.  They use the CVU to raise issues, stimulate discussion, and share stories to promote improvement and education in their community.  They have done great work to ease tensions between Hindu and Muslim audiences, to advocate for more livelihood options, and to encourage dialogue about gender.  The Samvad team is actively conducting innovative community video workshops to strengthen their community presence and make video accessible to others.

SANGRAM
Sangli, Maharashtra
CVU name: Sangli Talkies
Founded: 2009

A voluntary organization that works at the grass root level, SANGRAM started its work with women in prostitution and sex work from South Maharashtra and North Karnataka in 1992.  The organization works to create a collective consciousness among women, to increase their ability to negotiate safety independently, and strengthen women to assert their rights.  They also serve as a practical training ground for other NGO’s and GO’s interested in working on HIV/AIDS in a rural context. 

The unit has producers of different ages, professions, sexual orientations, and castes working together to create videos for the Sangli community. They are using community media to give their community a voice that is distinctly theirs.

YUVA
Mumbai, Maharashtra

CVU name: Hamari Awaaz
Founded: 2006

YUVA (Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action) is a non-profit human rights organization based in Mumbai.  They aim to promote a healthy Democracy by holding trainings and seminars that not only transfer knowledge or skills, but also engage the participant in a transformatory process.  Yuva reaches out to policy makers, allied State systems such as the police, the corporate sector, as well as social groups such as the street population, indigenous and tribal groups to explore creative and effective ways of addressing challenges.

Hamari Awaaz empowers marginalized youth from the slums of Mumbai to voice their stories.  This 5-member team continues to shed light on the causes of social problems as keenly observed by the very people who suffer because of them.  Their first film, Water, raised questions about the privatization of water and inspired the community to take action.  Water helped start important conversations about water rights that led to greater communication between the people and policy makers.  

YUVASHAKTI
Panchmahals, Gujarat
CVU name: Sakshi Media 
Founded: 2006

Yuvshakti is a non-profit organization working to inspire a new generation of youth in Gujarat.  They organize youth groups to build leadership qualities, raise awareness and to create spaces for youth to advocate for the rights of their communities and themselves.  

Sakshi Media is set up in an area very affected by the communal riots of 2002.  This team works tirelessly to promote harmony and reconciliation by engaging young people across different religions and castes.  Their first film on basic infrastructure exposed the misuse of funds by government officials.  They have also shot and screened films on subjects such as health, livelihoods and self-governance.  

HOPE KOLKATA FOUNDATION
Kolkata
CVU name: Apna Disha
Founded: 2010

All of the Apna Disha film – makers feel that they are making difference by working for the communities that they grew up in.