About E&A

• About E&A
• E&A Team
• Track record
• Report Downloads
• Press & Articles
• Pro Bono
• Values & Objectives
• Join Ellwood & Atfield

Pro Bono > Jeevika

Ellwood and Atfield's pro bono client for 2009/2010 is Jeevika Trust, a UK-based NGO that supports rural projects across villages in India. E&A recruited two communications professionals to work in Delhi for one year from February 2009.

Jeevika's aim is to empower villagers by creating rural livelihoods, such as bee-keeping or candle-making. Jeevika elicits support from business, politics and local leaders to get projects going. This model of sustainable development is based on the idea of ‘small is beautiful' - the philosophy of Schumacher that empowering one person or a family helps to empower a whole village.

We heard about the work of Jeevika Trust in 2007, through one of our clients, Mark Hoda at Network Rail, who is a Trustee of the charity. Jeevika's chief executive, Andrew Redpath, then approached E&A, asking for our help to raise the organisation's profile with key media and political stakeholders in the UK and in India. We realised Jeevika had a valuable story to tell, and many communications people would love to work professionally abroad for a good cause.

After scoping out the project with Jeevika's CEO and the director in Delhi, Dr Giri, we agreed to recruit one communications professional to work in India. We advertised the role and conducted a search. Dr Giri visited the UK to interview the shortlisted candidates at E&A's Westminster offices in autumn 2008. As the project developed, it became clear that two communications professionals would be required in Delhi.

In February 2009, Michael Connellan, a news editor, and Angie Windle, from the New Local Government Network, started work in Delhi. Michael is handling the regional media, and Angie is managing stakeholder events. Both enjoyed their time so much in Delhi that their contracts have been extended.

Visit the website Read Michael Connellan's report on Communications in India