Description

It is evident that many children suffer from extreme poverty in India and cannot access affordable health care or sufficient educational resources. Often times their parents are unable to spend enough time to help with school work or may not even have the skills to do so. This center tries to not only provide basic access to these things but also to engage in community outreach to increase awareness.

Volunteers will help in day care centers, special education camps and computer education centers by teaching, cooking meals, helping with hygiene education and more. Volunteers will work with teachers, helping to create fun and inexpensive lesson plans, encouraging creativity in students, tutoring in conversational and written English and helping teach courses for children who may be falling behind. Additional help is needed to keep records of the children's health and vaccinations as well as visiting some of the new mothers and their babies in order to ensure they are both vaccinated properly and have adequate care.

Highlights

Volunteers will be picked up from the airport in Mumbai and stay the first night in a hotel arranged by Greenheart Travel. Participants will then head to a smaller town nearby to participate in a two day adventure program that includes trekking and overnight in a local Indian village as well as a two day yoga course at a local Ashram. From there, volunteers will head by train to Goa and begin there four day orientation to learn about cultural differences, health and safety, local customs and language, as well as any additional information you will need to know for your project.

Qualifications

There is no language requirement for this project. Experience working with children or in teaching is helpful but not necessary.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

4 weeks: 2,150

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Volunteers will stay at a "base-camp" located on Colva beach in Goa. With fifteen miles of white sand, the beach will become a comfortable home for you during the program. All meals are included at the "base-camps" and are prepared by project staff. There will be many vegetarian options available, and meat is generally prepared 2-3 times per week.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Greenheart Travel volunteers are all ages and come from diverse backgrounds. All are caring, flexible individuals who are interested in an authentic cultural experience rather than a typical tourist experience.

Age Range

18 and up

This Program is open to

American and Canadian Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Greenheart Travel's Mission Statement

Greenheart Travel is a division of the Center for Cultural Interchange. Founded in 1985, the Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding, academic development and world peace. Greenheart is CCI's way of promoting the health and welfare of the earth and its people through cultural exchange, ethical travel, responsible consumerism, and community service.

Year Founded

1985