India Sports Coaching and Adventures

Volunteer Program

FAQs

Essential Extras

Why Go?

Overview

The Active in India program was launched in 2007 to offer participants an opportunity for adventurous and cultural travel experiences while also volunteering time to assist less fortunate children in rural areas of India. The program also offers an optional full week of adventure trip in the Himalayas or cultural travel through the colorful state of Rajasthan. After arrival in India, volunteers are orientated on social development work in India and placed in a culturally authentic rural setting, where time is spent teaching and organizing sports activities. On the weekends, participants also benefit from additional excursions to local points of interest.

Though sport in India is tremendously popular, it does not take a high priority in Schools. Sports activities and facilities are not supported adequately by the government and hence many kids lack regular and fun exercise that stimulates their motor functions and their ability to be part of a team. More than anything else they lack teachers who can present them for other kinds of sport, function as role models and be their coach.

OWH and our partners have launched this program to encourage and support sports activities in schools while giving volunteers a unique opportunity to get a close cultural interaction with the students through their sports coaching.

The program has three distinctive features, the last of which is optional:

1) Orientation

The orientation includes an introduction to cultural aspects of Indian society as well as a specific preparation and planning of the following weeks' sports teaching.

2) Sports Coaching

The main effort of the volunteers at the work placements is to create sports facilities and initiate sports activities for the schools' students.

The team together with teachers from the school will provide the necessary support and equipment. Sports activities can be carried out during sports periods and at volunteer initiated sports clubs in the evening. The objective of the sports activities is to introduce different sports to the students and teach them various skills and exercises which will stimulate motor function and encourage teamwork. The most popular sports are volleyball, basketball, football and cricket, but other sports and games are welcome.A part of the work will also be to develop sports facilities as these are generally poor or in a bad condition. Depending on the school's facilities the developmental side of the work can be anything from setting up a volleyball court, prepare the football pitch, build football goals and improve sports equipment.

3)Adventure / Cultural Touring (Optional)

The group kicks off with Adventure either to the fascinating Himalayas or to colourful Rajasthan (depending on the season). In the Himalaya, one week of thrilling adventure activities await your group, including rafting, trekking, wildlife, yoga and sightseeing. Groups coming into Rajasthan will experience real Indian culture from the major sights of Delhi, to the bustling markets of Jaipur and the spiritual ambience of holy lake town - Puskhar. This initial week of adventurous experiences serves as a team building opportunity.

Adventure Tours

Activities

2008 Program Costs

Prices
	Price Per Person (AUD)	Price Per Week (AUD)
India Sports Coaching and Adventure
No Excursion
4 Week Program	$1,690	$423
8 Week Program	$2,762	$345
Including Rajasthan Cultural Tour
4 Week Program	$2,574	$644
8 Week Program	$3,626	$453
Including Trekking/Wildlife Tour
4 Week Program	$3,128	$782
8 Week Program	$4,180	$523
Optional Add-On
Taj Mahal Tour	$226

Program Dates2008

The program is offered from 2008 starting in March with work placements in Himachal. From September 2008 placements are also offered in Rajasthan.

Download program dates - PDF

Inclusions

Visa assistance
Pickup at the New Delhi airport and one night in Delhi hotel.
All transfers by dedicated or public transport required by the program including:
- During orientation program in Rajasthan or in Himachal Pradesh
- Local sightseeing wherever applicable
- All excursions included in the programme as per the program
- Local transport at project locations
- All train journeys included in the programme
Adventure/ cultural tour (as applicable by program choice)
Accommodation minimum two and maximum four people per room.
Dedicated transport during the working days for local use throughout the program.
All meals during the Program (as per the meal plan suggested)
A one-week workshop for the group on yoga during the stay at the Base.
Dedicated on-site assistance of an English-speaking translator (including the days of orientation program).
The following, fully-supported excursions would be provided as a part of the program. The excursions differ at the two project locations:

For Rajasthan:

Camel safari excursion included for the volunteers on full board basis with overnight camping in the desert.

For Himalaya:

A one-night, two-day excursion to Amritsar, the holy city of Sikh religion, where the volunteers can visit a host of historical and religious sights. The famous Golden temple in Amritsar is the holiest shrine of Sikhism.
Materials and basic equipments required for the sports activities during the sports coaching like basketballs, volleyballs and footballs; volleyball net and baskets.
Support from IDEX and the schools involved.
Extensive pre-departure information, port-arrival printed material, regular training and support by IDEX for preparing the volunteers for their experience.

Other facilities provided for comfort and recreation of volunteers include:

Amenities like refrigerator, DVD player, television etc.
A Video library
Information and assistance for independent excursions during the weekends.
Board games and internet facilities (on nominal charges)

Conditions

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.
The maximum number of volunteers accepted for the 8-week program in the Himalaya program would be 20 per arrival.
All departures ex New Delhi
Prices subject to change without notice and are in AUD
Does not include flights
Travel insurance is compulsory