Message from the President

Proud to be working with a civil society organization, where we could ensure the voices of the voiceless are heard and we were able to reach the unreachable communities, who are in the interior part of the villages. Would like to thank all the parterns and donors who supported us and continue to support us in creating a better society and environment for all and help in assuring equality for all.

We work in the fields of Natural Resource Management, Livelihoods, Community Development, Education, Sustainable Agriculture, Gender Equality, Social Development and Reforms, etc to make India as a safe , healthy and wealth nation.

Continue supporting us to create better citizens.

Venkatesh, President WCUSS

 

Weaker Communities Upliftment Service Society (WCUSS) is a not for profit and is registered in Andhra Pradesh. WCUSS has been working in the drought prone areas of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh since 1985, including Kurnool, Anantapur and later in Kadapa Dist. The organization was formed by Mr.N.J.Joseph a Social Worker and he and his team has been working very closely with the marginalized for their upliftment since 1985.

WCUSS has been involved as a resource organization for various programs, such as South Asia Poverty Alleviation Programme (SAPAP) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (APRLP) – Department for International Development (DFID) and the Self Help Group (SHG) and Watershed Programme in the State.

Since inception in 1985, WCUSS has created a vital niche for itself in the life of the local community, with understanding, compassion and co-operation, coupled with its expertise in developmental work.

WCUSS has rich experience in implementing large scale programs, research, impact assessment studies, evaluation studies, trainings etc on various issues concerning rural and urban development like livelihoods, education, natural resource management etc. The key expertise that the team offers includes the following:

• Conceptualizing and operationalizing large scale development programmes
• Use of participatory methods in implementation of development programmes
• Large scale research, studies, planning and evaluation exercises
• Creative communication, documentation and designing
• Capacity building and training

Vision

Overall empowering of the marginalized without degrading the natural environment

Mission

Educate and Organise the marginalized to take charge of their own development by sharing power and resources equally

Focus Areas

Though WCUSS works on a wholistic rural development concept, its main focus is on

• Natural Resource Management- Watershed Management, Agriculture, Soil and Moisture conservation, Social forestry, etc
• Livelihoods- Both on farm and off farm livelihoods
• Women empowerment- Organising women into groups and promote better livelihood activities
• Education- Especially bridge courses for school drop outs, quality education etc
• Sanitation
• Capacity building
• Research studies

Joseph is the founder member of WCUSS. He has done his Masters in Sociology and MPhil in Labour studies. He started his career as a community organizer with Rayalaseema Development Trust in the year 1974. He has worked closely with UNDP and APRLP DIFD as as a resource person and made WCUSS as a resource organization. He has worked extensively for poverty alleviation, creating community based organization at the village level, sustaining the CBOs and the livelihood activities, natural resource management, women empowerment and education. He has extensively contributed for the development of the downtrodden and the deprived communities.

Joseph has worked very closely with NABARD, Govt of Andhra Pradesh and various other international agencies for implementing various activities for the rural community. Currently he is guiding the team and the organization for strategic tie ups and in formulating the projects

B.Venkatesh is currently the President of WCUSS. He is a post graduate in Rural development and has worked for more than 25 years in the social sector especially with the deprived communities. He started his career as an animator and understood the entire rural issues and have become a leader. He is leading WCUSS since 2017. He has niche for organizing the community to own the development and make it sustainable

Mini Joseph is the Vice President of WCUSS. She is a post graduate in English literature and Psychology. She started her career as an English teacher and went to get trained in Psychology and counselling. Currently she is a practicing Psychologist. She supports WCUSS in developing projects and also train the team on the Psyco- Social counselling which helps the team in handling society better. This helps the organization in implementing the women empowerment and adolescent programmes in a better manner. She supports in managing the organization . Mini Joseph is pursuing her Doctorate

B.Rajendra Prasad is currently the Secretary and Treasurer of WCUSS. He is a commerce graduate and has been associated with WCUSS for the past 15 years. He started his career in supporting the accounts role and has slowly gained the knowledge to work with the community

B.Uma Maheshwari is currently the Joint Secretary of WCUSS. She holds a MSW degree and works very closely with women. She has contributed to the organization by forming women self help groups, networking them and empowering the women. She also has expertise in livelihoods and enable the women to get into livelihood activities which can help them in improving their economical status.

K.Venkateshwarulu is an executive board member of WCUSS. He is an graduate and has 15 years of work experience in implementing watershed development works, formation of self help groups and organizing the community. He has contributed largely in WCUSS water implementation programmes by managing the community participation and bringing in more participatory approach

Shaik Zubedabee is an executive board member of WCUSS. She is more oriented towards women empowerment, formation of self help groups, village organisations and livelihood activities. She guides the women on book keeping and help them with thrift and credit and bank linkages

Nulaka Pedda Samana is an executive board member of WCUSS. He holds a M.Tech degree in Civil Engineering. He is mainly into implementation of watershed activities of WCUSS especially the civil structures such as Check dams, farm ponds, percolation tanks, channels, rock fill dams, bunding etc.

• Quality Education
• Natural Resource Management
• Livelihoods
• Women Empowerment
• Sustainable agriculture
• Sanitation
• Inclusive societies for sustainable development