Description

Teach basic English to the Santhal tribal children in India. Two hundred kilometers from the city Kolkata (Calcutta) there are more than 700 hundred Santhal Tribe and 170 families who live in a remote village with no electricity, no sanitation not even one toilet, no land, no school to learn English and art.

Our organization is running a school in that remote village with 70 children. We need volunteers/interns to gain experience and help the Santhal Community.

We will provide accommodation and food, English breakfast and mouth watering Indian lunch and dinner. We also provide bicycle for transport for project work.The working time is Monday to Friday 2pm to 5pm in the project site.

During free time you can visit famous historical places. You can also study or learn foreign languages or learn paintings, sculpture, Indian classical music, instrument, classical Indian dances or enjoy with Bauls and their typical Indian folk.

This is a great opportunity to add some solid and meaningful international experience.

We will provide airport transfers and also provide train fair (2nd class) to reach the project site.

Highlights

This project will allow the participants to be immersed in the Santali culture, which has attracted many scholars and anthropologists for decades. The first attempt to study the Santali culture was done by the Christian missionaries. The most famous of them was the Norwegian born Reverend Paul Olaf Bodding. Unlike many other tribal groups of the Indian Subcontinent, the Santals are known for preserving their native language despite waves of migrations and invasions from Dravidians, Indo-Aryans, Mughals, Europeans, and others.

Santali culture is depicted in the paintings and artworks in the walls of their houses. Local mythology includes the stories of the Santal ancestors Pilchu Haram and Pilchu Bhudi.

The Santal people love music and dance. Like other Indian people groups, their culture has been influenced by mainstream Indian culture and by Western culture, but traditional music and dance still remain. Santal music differs from Hindustani classical music in significant ways. The Santal traditionally accompany many of their dances with two drums: the Tamak' and the Tumdak'. The flute was considered the mostimportant Santal traditional instrument and still evokes feelings of nostalgia for many Santal. Santal dance and music traditionally revolved around Santal religious celebrations. This is still true to a degree although traditional religious beliefs have been significantly altered by Hindu belief and Christian mission work. However, Santal music and dance both retain connections to traditional celebrations. The names of many Santal tunes are derived from the traditional ritual with which they were once associated. Sohrae tunes, for example, were those sung at the Sohrae festival.

The Santal community is devoid of any caste system and there is no distinction made on the basis of birth. They believe in supernatural beings and ancestral spirits. Santali rituals are mainly comprised of sacrificial offerings and invocations to the spirits, or bongas. The Santal system of governance, known as ManjhiParagana, may be compared to what is often called Local Self Governance. This body is responsible for making decisions to ameliorate the village's socioeconomic condition.

Qualifications

Can teach basic English to the children.

Intern Types

• Education
• Field-Study
• Social Work

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

300 per month per person

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training

Program Fees Include:

We will provide accommodation and food 3 times a day. Breakfast (English/Indian) and mouth watering Indian lunch and dinner.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Just teach basic English to the tribal children and play with smile!

Age Range

18 to 50

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

First Light India's Mission Statement

First Light India is a start-up NGO. We are giving service to the Santhal tribal community in India. We are running a school with 70 tribal children in a remote village. Our mission is to develop the education of the tribal children and the community. We are trying to protect the art and culture of the community tribe.

Year Founded

2007