Community Volunteering in Rajasthan or Himachal

Why Go?

• Opportunity to Make A Difference
• Experience another culture
• Pre departure information and in-country orientation
• Providing Project Continuity
• Quality Volunteering Experience
• Project Guarantee
• Safety and Support

Overview

Volunteer in India - This program is specifically designed for 18-30 year olds, offering volunteering programs in two magnificent locations in India, the desert state of Rajasthan or the awe-inspiring Himalayan region.

Volunteer opportunities in India are in abundance. Spend your day assisting local teachers in rural schools teaching English or Maths, playing games with the children and making sure they get regular health check ups. Or maybe you would like to participate in health workshops for adolescent girls, or make a difference volunteering in an orphanage or a school for mentally challenged children.

The Youth Volunteer India programs in 2008 are available for participation with 4 to 12 week options. Not only do our programs offer the chance to volunteer with reputable NGOs in the area, our unique programs include exciting and varied cultural excursions and learning experiences. Go on a Camel Safari, or trekking in the Himalayas. Learn Yoga or attend workshops on Indian cooking. These programs are specifically designed to offer you a real experience of India, where you will enjoy meaningful cultural interaction and opportunities to travel and experience the wonderful surroundings.

Volunteer Activities

The volunteer activities in these projects primarily relate to education and child care in various institutions that we have identified as appropriate for volunteer and local intervention. We constantly seek expansion of the positive influence of the programs by including new activities that can engage volunteers in gainful activities for the local population. Specific projects run throughout the year, however, volunteers will visit the local projects as part of their orientation, there they will choose their preferred project for the duration of the progam. Projects vary depending on the needs of the location,

Education,Women Empowernment and Child care are the common activities that we offer in the Rajasthan and Himalaya regions.

Education:

Volunteers teaching in rural schools has been one of the most successful interventions of our partner and the most popular activity. Volunteers participate in educational enhancement for students of primary school specifically in the areas of English, Maths and enhancing creativity. In order to promote participation of more and more volunteers in this activity, you will be provided with detailed workbooks and guidelines for teaching. Those participants who have no formal education or practical experience in teaching can also carry out this activity comfortably with the help of aids provided.

Child Care:
In addition to the attention at schools, early childhood care and education is an area of critical need in rural areas. Drawing upon experience over the last few years our partner has taken up the responsibility of maintenance and care of local child care centres, and volunteers are encouraged to get involved. Also called Anganwari, these centres carry out holistic child care in the area.

Women Empowerment:
A variety of educational and confidence building activities are organized for the benefit of adolescent girls and women of the local community by volunteers. These activities are geared towards expanding the horizon of this often neglected section of the community with the purpose of giving them a sense of self-worth and empowerment.

Program Locations

During the period from September to March, the volunteer program is offered in the north-western state of Rajasthan, which is well known for its rich history and colorful culture. As the most popular tourist destination in India, Rajasthan offers significant advantages to our participants for exploring the very interesting region during and after the program.

The Himalayan location is available for volunteer participants from March to December, around the regionally important town of Palampur in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The "Himalaya Base " is located 30 kms from Dharamsala, the capital of the exiled Tibetan government and centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture, adding another cultural dimension to the numerous opportunities that the program offers.

Inclusions:

• Visa assistance
• Pickup at the New Delhi airport and one night in Delhi hotel.
• Home-stay with local English speaking families in Jaipur during orientation.
• Sightseeing of Amber fort in Jaipur with Elephant ride.
• Accommodation at the partner accommodation facility in Palampur
• Dedicated transport during the working days for local use throughout the program.
• All meals during the working days, orientation days (breakfasts only during excursions, unless otherwise specified.)
• Workshop for the group on yoga for 4 week project and yoga and Indian cooking for 8 week project.
• Dedicated on-site assistance of an English speaking translator cum helper for the first four weeks of the program (including the days of orientation program). In case of availability of a local English-speaking person at the project site (like teacher or doctor), the same may be engaged instead of an in-house translator.
• Fully-supported excursions
• Extensive pre-departure information, port-arrival printed material, regular training and support for preparing the volunteers for their experience.

Program Costs 2008

Prices valid 01 January 2008 - 31st December 2008

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Prices
	Price Per Person (AUD)	Price Per Day (AUD)
Volunteering in India (18 - 30 yrs)
Rajasthan & Himachal
4 Week Program	$1,987	$66
5 Week Program	$2,434	$70
6 Week Program	$2,702	$64
8 Week Program	$2,933	$52
10 Week Program	$3,648	$52
12 Week Program	$4,067	$48
Supplement charge to change programs
4 weeks	$327
Additional Charges
Extra Pick up at Delhi Airport	$48
Extra Night Hotel at Delhi Ariport	$130
Out of hour transfer to next destination outside Delhi	$253
Taj Mahal Option	$226

*Please note prices are in AUD and are per person and subject to change without notice. Visa fees, travel insurance and flights are not included. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the application form.

Departure Dates 2008

Himachal 2008
May 26 - June 22	May 26 - July 20
June 23 - July 20	June 23 - August 17
July 21 - August 17	July 21 - September 14
August 18 - September 14	August 18 - October 12
September 15 - October 12	September 15 - November 9
October 13 - November 9	October 13 - December 7
November 10 - December 7	November 10 - January 4 2009
December 8 - January 4 2009	December 8 - February 1 2009
Rajasthan 2008
4 Week Program	8 Week Program
Mar 19 - April 15
Summer Break
September 1 - September 28	September 1 - October 26
September 29 - October 26	September 29 - November 23
October 27 - November 23	October 27 - December 21
November 24 - December 21	November 24 - January 18 2009
December 22 - January 18 2009	December 22 - February 15 2009

1. These include the dates for both, the Himalaya and Rajasthan program.
2. The participants are expected to arrive between 10 AM on the dates mentioned until 10 AM on the next day. If the participants' flights arrive outside these times, then extra accommodation and transport is required to be arranged, hence requiring extra charges.
3. The maximum number of volunteers accepted for the 8 week program in the Himalaya program would be 20 per arrival.
4. All departures ex New Delhi.

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