Together with local NGO's we are conducting short-term volunteer projects for the local children and the Old Aged people and the local community. We will be working together in building a more peaceful and working environment with the local NGO. The work will be in the villages in the beautiful mountains, isolated from the rest of the world.
Accomodation:
At a guesthouse, in shared rooms.
Location:
Yercaud is a beautiful hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu with a fantastic landscape - surrounded by coffee and tea plantations.
In this project we will work along with different organizations involved in the development of the underprivileged. Activities will include educating the local community abouthealth and hygiene environmental and women's rights issues. Each project will be different and additional information about the specifics will be included with the info sheets.
Accomodation:
Accomodation will be in shared rooms at the FSL Base house
The Project: Valleys of the Himalayas - where the heaven meets the earth. This small paradise is home to the Dalai Lama and to a significant Tibetan settlement in India. Dharamsala is set in the backdrop of the snow-clad peaks of Dhauladhar Mountains. It is the capital of the Tibetan Government in exile and the residence of the Dalai Lama. In the first two weeks of the camp, the volunteers will get the opportunity to learn about the Tibetan culture and the different issues related to the exile of its people and the re-settlement in India. There will be cultural activities and exchange with the Tibetan Youth with the support of the Tibetan Welfare Office. The project will also include an awareness campaign for the protection of the environment and solid waste management in cooperation with the Tibetan welfare office. Furthermore, the volunteers will support a local Indian/Tibetan school in need of simple renovation work and interact with the school children. Finally on the third week of the camp volunteers will take part in a 4 day trekking activity around the mountains of Dharamsala and Triund. Location: Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, North India. 500 Kms north of Delhi. Dharamsala is accessible by bus on a daily basis from New Delhi and other smaller cities of North India. The nearest train stations are Pathankot and Kangra Mandir. Delhi is the nearest international airport. The exact Meeting Point will be mentioned in the info sheets. Accommodation: At a guesthouse, in shared rooms.
The Project: In this project we will work along with different organizations involved in the development of the underprivileged. The slum reality is a big issue in the entire country. Our aim is to spread awareness among the people and to give them more instruments to feel confident and feel free to decide for their future, and for the future of a new generation. The mission of this project is to: Organize a multi-purpose project to involve the community and sensitize community/people about the Health & Hygiene problems. Educate the children to build a better and more conscious society. Awareness of Environmental issues to children and villagers. Working with other NGO's in community service projects. The kind of schedule and the focus of the project will be adapted to the season, the possibilities and the needs of the moment, to improve the achievements in a long-term view. Every camp will be different. The work could be with orphan/school/street/slum children. The info sheets will give the full details about the particular camps. Location: Bangalore Rural & Urban, South India Bangalore is accessible by air, domestic and some international airlines fly directly to Bangalore International Airport. Trains and buses operate on an everyday basis from almost all major towns/cities in South India. The exact Meeting point will be mentioned in the info sheets. Accommodation: At the FSL Home base, in shared rooms.
The Project: Kundapur is a town situated on the west coast of Karnataka near the beach, and is very close to the Western Ghats (a mountain ridge). The Western Ghats is India's prime zone for bio-diversity, known for its animal and plant species in this region. FSL has been developing projects for many years in this region and has now formed a very strong network of local partners and local volunteers. We cooperate with a large number of schools, orphanages, institutions for special education and the local authorities to develop projects that are meaningful for the development of this rural town. Work camps will focus on rural development, environment protection and children. The volunteers will spread awareness about environment protection and solid waste management to schoolchildren. They will also be involved in activities such as Creative Education and teaching basic English and Maths through games, art and songs with the children from the local schools, including disabled kids (physically and/or mentally). The work might include some physical work for the renovation and betterment of the schools (painting, building playground, renovating kitchens and toilets etc.). Location: Kundapur is situated 100 kms north of the city of Mangalore, 300 kms from Panjim (Goa), and 450 kms from Bangalore. Kundapur is accessible by bus/train from Mangalore, Bangalore, Panjim (Goa), and Mumbai. There are international and domestic airports in Mangalore, Bangalore, Goa, and Mumbai. The exact meeting point will be mentioned in the info sheets. Accommodation: At the FSL Home Base, in shared rooms.
The Project: Chikmangalur is one of the largest coffee producing regions of Karnataka and boasts of the most extraordinary and hypnotizing landscapes in the region. Chikmangalur has a rich historical background and has one of the most interesting communities. During the work camp, volunteers will be involved in various activities ranging from physical work at the center, creative and entertainment activities in schools and kindergartens and awareness spreading on issues related to education, environment protection, health and hygiene. Volunteers can also visit the coffee plantations and take a walk in the reserve forests. Location: Chikmangalur is situated in the beautiful Kodagu region of Karnataka state and is very close to the Western Ghats (a mountain ridge). The Western Ghats is India's prime zone for bio-diversity, known for its animal and plant species in this region. Chikmangalur is accessible by bus/air from Mangalore and Bangalore. The nearest Rail junction is Mangalore. The exact meeting point will be mentioned in the Info Sheet. Accommodation: In Hostels, Hotels or Dormitories
Ayurveda is a 5000 year old Indian health care system that is widely practiced even today. "Ayur" in Sanskrit means "life" and "Veda" means "science". It is a perfect Science of health and longevity. This holistic science is the knowledge of complete balance of the Body, Mind and Spirit, including the emotions and psychology, on all levels. It includes in its consideration, longevity, rejuvenation and self-realization therapies through herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage, aromas, tantras, mantras, and meditation. According to Ayurvedic tradition, health is the balance of the elements air, earth, fire, and water and illness is an excess or deficiency of any particular element. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an in individual to take responsibility for their own health and well being. Ayurveda is also known as 'Ashtanga Veda' (the word literally means 'Eight branches of knowledge') as it is divided into eight specialized branches. Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India many thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of personal development in the world encompassing the entire Body, Mind and Spirit. It is the union between a person's own consciousness and the universal consciousness. The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5000 years. The word Yoga means "to join or yoke together," and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. The Project: The volunteers will be participating in learning the Basics of Yoga and Ayurveda in these three weeks of the work camp. Everyday there will be topics covered by a professional master (the person in charge of yoga and Ayurveda classes), which will be practiced by the volunteers. Yoga will be practiced every day. Apart from this, volunteers will also help at the Herbal garden and the nearby school. Furthermore, the volunteers will support a local school in need of simple renovation work and interact with the children teaching them basic English and Mathematics, Health and Hygiene awareness, environmental protection etc. Location: The state of Kerala is accessible by air, domestic and some international airlines. Trains and buses operate on an everyday basis from almost all major towns/cities in South India. The exact Meeting Point will be mentioned in the info sheets. Accommodation: At a guesthouse, in shared rooms
The Project: Pondicherry, one the former French Colonies, is located on the East Coast of India. It is one of the most touristic places in the region and has a lot to offer to the visitor. Its laidback atmosphere and amazing beaches give it a very distinctive touch. It is a prime location for learning yoga and meditation in one of its many ashrams. It is also the home of Auroville, the famous international community created by the Guru Sri Auro Bindo. FSL cooperates with our long-standing partner which is an active local NGO in the fields of education and renovation. In the past years our cooperation has allowed the success of many camps in which schools and villages have benefited from the work done, including the 2004 Tsunami-hit regions. The volunteers will be involved in various activities ranging from physical work at the center, creative and entertainment activities in schools and kindergartens and spreading awareness on issues related to education, environment protection, health and hygiene. The idea is to tackle burning issues that the rural populations are facing. Location: Pondicherry is located approximately 200 kms south from Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu State (East Coast). Pondicherry is accessible by bus from Chennai and Bangalore. There are domestic and international airports in Bangalore and Chennai. The exact meeting point will be mentioned in the info sheets. Accommodation: In a guesthouse, in shared rooms.
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
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