- Project:
Eco Tourism involves two major themes, Nature and Culture. Eco Tourism is a form of responsible travel which contributes to the protection of the environment in natural areas, and the preservation of culture in local communities. It also provides conscious travellers with unique experiences which cannot be provided by mass tourism.
This is a new project initiated by FSL, which means there is still a lot to be done! The volunteers will start by getting to know the village, neighbourhood and villagers in order to work together with them and see the different aspects of their lives. Educating the locals about the problems and exploring possibilities with Eco Tourism is an important aspect of the work. Volunteers have to develop a working methodology that taps into local resources. Volunteers will develop a way of working, drawing local potential, introducing and setting up structures, such as...
• Creating a database of information of the surrounding areas.
• Training and working with the local community in order to involve them in active participation.
• Raising environmental and cultural preservation awareness.
• Setting up and running the Eco Tourism project.
• Making a web site and promoting Eco Tourism as a form of livelihood for the local community.
The main fields of work are art, traditional life, sights, environmental awareness, food, agriculture, industry, medicine, landscape, outdoor activities, religion, and spiritual experience. Each of those fields is divided into more sub-fields. You will be working in a small team or individually to complete the database. The work will include site-based research, hence the ability to research and write reports is appreciated.
- Duration:
This is an ongoing project. Please note that the minimum period of stay is of four months.
- Information sheet and Pre-arrival letter:
Your Info sheet will contain all the information that you need to prepare for your journey and stay in India. It is very important that you read the whole info sheet at least once and understand all the contents. Your info sheet will be sent to your sending organization one month before your arrival in India.
The pre-arrival letter will include all the necessary information that will make your journey to the LTV centre (Kundapur) as smooth and trouble free as possible. Please make sure to read it carefully.
- Arrival:
- The starting date of the program is the First Monday of Every Month:
Participants should make sure that they arrive in Kundapur by that date. Kundapur is well connected by train and bus. All volunteers will meet at a common meeting point, where they will be picked up. Specific information regarding your arrival will be sent to you in a pre-arrival letter.
- Registration:
All the registration formalities will be done in the first three days of the orientation. This will consist of understanding and signing a contract; collecting the participation fee. Please note that the first three months fee is collected in the beginning, if you have applied for more than three months. If you have applied for less then three months, then the entire participation fee is collected in the beginning. Please make sure that you have the amount converted to Indian Rupees before your registration. You will need two photocopies of your passport and of your visa.
- Orientation Week:
The Orientation Week will take place at FSL India's Centre at Kundapur. The Orientation week will prepare you for your program and introduce you to Indian culture and people. This will be the time to ask any questions about the program, the organization, the country, the culture, etc.
- LTV Get Together:
FSL-India organises a Monthly Evaluation and reflection meeting for all volunteers. This is an occasion for volunteers to come together for a day to exchange experiences, have fun and relax. These meetings will take place in different locations and will have different topics and activities. This offer is additional, so FSL will provide basic food and accommodation and travel to the chosen location. It is a very good opportunity to meet
and get to know the other volunteers as well as the FSL staff team. There will be one-toone sessions between the volunteer and LTV coordinator to discuss the progress and to resolve any challenges faced.
- Final Evaluation:
A Final Evaluation will be carried out at the end of the program term and a personal meeting between the volunteer and the LTV Coordinator will be held at the Kundapur centre. The Final Evaluation/Report outlines the work done by the volunteer where you can share your experiences (good and bad ones!) and complete a feedback form. The Final Evaluation serves as a guideline for future volunteers and for FSL-India to improve upon the quality of its projects. FSL India will provide each volunteer with an official Certificate of Appreciation to formally attest your international voluntary experience. It will also be the time to say good-bye to all those who have made your experience in India a memorable one.
- Accommodation:
Accommodation for volunteers can either be at the project, in a local host family or in a hostel - depending on the project, location and availability.
- Living with a Host Family:
You could be staying with local families near to the project. You could be sharing rooms with 2-3 volunteers or staying on your own.
The people who host volunteers are of all kinds - couples with or without children, joint families, single parents, single people etc. Host families provide accommodation, food, emotional and moral support, and guidance. A routine day in a host family is the behind the screen look into the culture of the hosting country and gives an insight into the
customs of a family, which is an experience like no other for anyone who wants to learn about another culture. Not only learning, but the volunteer also develops an understanding of why the culture is the way it is. Host families help you to interact with the local community, which increases your chances of making friends and contacts.
An Indian host family requires that the volunteer who lives in their home should be willing to become part of his/her host family with the same rights, that he/she should be prepared to help with the daily household chores (clean his/her room, help to prepare meals or to clean the dishes etc.). We also expect all the volunteers to make an honest
effort to share the daily life of the family he/she is living with. The volunteer is required to participate in family activities, show interest in the family functions and activities, help in the kitchen and play with the children. You are also requested to respect the timings, refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol in the house unless permitted by
the family.
Volunteers should be prepared for basic accommodation and basic Indian food three times a day. As part of the community living experience, volunteers are expected to adjust to shared bedrooms and bathrooms, strict timings for meals, house rules, and dress code.
- Living at the Project:
Sometimes, projects provide accommodation for the volunteers. The project will provide a room that is shared by other volunteers or with the staff of the project. You must respect the living conditions of the project, and respect for the local environment is expected at all times. For example, there will be a designated smoking area.
Volunteers also should be ready for basic accommodation and basic Indian food three times a day. As part of the community living experience, volunteers are expected to adjust to shared bedrooms and bathrooms, strict timings for meals, house rules, and dress code.
What happens if I am unhappy with my project or hosting facilities?:
Changes of placement and hosting facilities can be made only for very special reasons, but not before the volunteer displays an attempt to adjust and overcome the challenges that are present. We kindly ask all participants to stay in their assigned placement for a minimum of one month, as we encourage volunteers to try and adapt to the new
environment.
- EXPECTATIONS:
"Your Expectations are your worst enemy!" -
What do you expect from your volunteering experience?
• To learn about a new culture?
• To eat good food?
• To take part in a political and/or humanitarian act?
• To receive support and to help others?
• To work within a dynamic team?
• To change the world?
• Or simply to have fun?
If these expectations are not met, how will this make you feel? Disappointed? Frustrated? Useless? Let down?
Imagine having NO expectations, meeting your new experience with an open-mind. Will this enhance and enrich your experience? YES! It will give you the freedom to be open to all new possibilities and opportunities. It will give you the chance to discover new things and for you to enjoy your wonderful personal experience, by accepting and enjoying everything that you come across.
- Costs:
FSL India is a non–profit organization and does not depend on external funding. All costs of FSL India are sustained through the participation fees from volunteers. We work only with local organizations that need our support.
Participation Fee – RS. 12,500/- for each month.
Remember that the participation fee is non refundable. Please decide the duration of your program carefully while you are applying.
If you have applied for more than three months, then the first three months fee is collected in the beginning. If you have applied for less then three months, then the entire participation fee is collected in the beginning. The participation fee will be collected only for a full month and it is not possible to apply for half a month. The participation fee will be collected from the volunteers during the first three days of the orientation week. The amount will be collected only in the local currency (Indian Rupees). We do not accept any payments in foreign currency. We expect volunteers to pay the first three months of the participation fee before starting the program for practical and organizational reasons.
The Participation fee is non-refundable.
Please try to exchange your foreign currency as soon as possible. However, try not to exchange foreign currency at the airport as the rates are more disadvantageous. FSL staff can assist you to find a convenient place for the exchange of currency and cash withdrawal at ATMs.
What does your program participation fee cover?:
We are a non-profit organization, so we have kept our participation fee as affordable as possible. FSL-India is a non-profit body registered under the Indian Trust Act. We receive absolutely no financial support from the government of India or from any other foreign agency. The main source of income available for FSL-India is the participation fee that is collected from the volunteers.
- Application Form:
FSL India requires that volunteers interested in applying for their project fill a different application form from our regular VEF. Therefore if you are interested to apply for this project please contact VAP so that we can email you the form.
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