Avani is an Indian voluntary organization working in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, located in the middle ranges of the Central Himalayan region. Avani focuses on the creation of livelihood opportunities through preservation of traditional craft, dissemination of appropriate technology and farm based activities. The development of handmade and naturally dyed textiles with local plants currently provides such an opportunity. Recently, Avani has started a program of silk cultivation with the local farmers to ensure that the raw material of the end products is produced in Uttaranchal.

In order to give more people in the region the opportunity to participate in Avani, the organisation plans to upscale the production. Interns will work on creating a cohesive and comprehensive marketing strategy to increase the sale of Avani products. They will examine Avani's current marketing strategies and improve them by bringing in new tools and recommending new concepts, especially in the field of internet marketing. The aim is to reach new clients in remote markets in an economically efficient way. The task includes the use of marketing tools as e.g. electronic media, promotional materials and e-marketing. Interns should also establish new business relations to support Avani in entering into new export markets.

As Avani's work includes a lot of aspects ranging from women’s empowerment to environmental preservation, interns will have to think about how to communicate this in a comprehensive way.

Interns should have experience in the field of marketing and/or public relations, especially by means of electronic media. Prior practical experience in the field of IT, especially HTML, would be an asset but is not mandatory. More importantly, GLEN-participants should feel comfortable to live and work in very remote areas and have a strong interest in rural development. Interns are required to bring their own computer.

The scheduled time for the internship is June/July to September/October 2012. Training and preparation seminars prior to the internship will be held in English. The tandem will be formed by a French participant and a German/Swiss participant.