Summer Trip and Voluntary Service in India

  India

Kolkata (Calcutta)

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months

Description: SMILE Society [member of CCIVS (UNESCO) & WANGO] one of the registered NGO, welcomes international volunteers in India. We have the following programs for our International Volunteers:

1. Long term Volunteer Programs [4-12 months]
2. Medium term Volunteer Programs [2-4 months]
3. Short term Volunteer programs [1-2 months]

This is a Program especially for the International Volunteers from age 16-60 yrs. From around the world to work as a Volunteer with our kids, in our Permanent Projects like 'Happy Home', 'Street Children Welfare', 'Kids' Land' Project. In this position volunteer can apply any time in the year.

4. Work Camp Programs [2/3 weeks]

Apart from our Permanent Projects, we have many other temporary projects at different places in India with the underprivileged kids of the Society.

5. Internship Programs [2/3/4 weeks for the International Students from 16-30 yrs].

This is a Program specially designed for the International Students who wish to do Volunteering in their holidays and like to achieve experience and knowledge to work with us. Volunteers can also have a chance to learn many things if they Participate in our Internship Programs. Any of the following sectors our Volunteer can choose:

a. Teaching English
b. Health problem among street /slum kids
c. Indian culture & tradition
d. Education system
e. Women's issue [Specially Girls]
f. Rural development sector
g. Language learning
h. Yoga learning

And many more!!!

During this program volunteer will stay with some host family / as a group/individually and prepare the report on their work. Our Volunteer will receive a special tutorial with the expert(s) in their field, twice in a week ,appointed by the Organization. Inter Volunteers will get constant support from the local staffs, sometimes local language create some distance with the local people but with the help of local staff that distance can be minimized.

6. Summer Mini Tour with Volunteering Program [2 weeks]

This is a tour program for the Volunteers who like to explore India at the same time do some Volunteering with the Street and Slum kids and share joy with them. During their Work in this program they can give these poor and under privilege children English Conversation training, Sanitation and Hygienic related education, playing & entertainment programs like drawing, music, dancing etc. During this Program our Volunteer can see the three different types of places Mountain, Forest, Ocean in West Bengal.

7. Summer Express Tour with Volunteering Program [1 month]

This is a tour program for the International Volunteers who like to explore India at the same time do some Volunteering with the Street and Slum kids and share joy with them. During their Work in this program they can give these poor and under privilege children English Conversation training, Sanitation and Hygienic related education, playing & entertainment programs like drawing, music, dancing etc. During this Program our Volunteer have a chance to explore the 3 best places for tourist Delhi [New and Old], New Delhi is the present India's Capital and the old Delhi which was also the Capital of India in the past. Then our Volunteer can see the most beautiful Structure of India, a construction of Love, Taj Mahal, Agra and lastly our Volunteer have a chance to enjoy the beauty of jaipur, the pink city of India at the state of Rajasthan and finally return back to Kolkata and celebrate their farewell party.

8. Construction Projects:

a. Constuction of 10 non formal schools for the slum and street kids
b. Construction of 3 medical centers at the different part of West Bengal
c. 2 Community houses and 5 vocational training center construction
d. 2 Night shelter construction for street kids

In the above mentioned Construction projects [No:8] we need volunteers in Group [10-15] or individuals of any age capable of helping our construction work. If any volunteer have the potensial to organize such group for 2 weeks program then pls. contact with Ms. Kamala at our Head Office. At the end of the program [3 days/2 night] we can organize a tour guided by us to Delhi/Agra. We are capable to organizing this program at any time of the year. Even interested individual volunteer[s] can contact for next available date and cost involved.

If any group[s] wish to arrange fund for any project are also most welcome.

Program Details:

- Duration: 2 - 48 weeks
- working hour: 4-8 /day
- Work type: construction
- Number of volunteers in one group: 6-20 with one group leader [we can accept more number of Volunteers in each group] also individuals are welcome.
- Age: no bar
- Food: 3 times local food
- Accommodation: 2-4 person in a room
- Transportation: In city during programme time is included.
- Tourist places: New Delhi [capital of India], Taj Mahal [Agra] and many more historical places in Delhi need extra cost
- Cost of the program: Minimum US$250 [we only accept cash payment]
- Program time: any time [flexible]
- Excluded: Air ticket from origin place to Kolkata, visa cost, insurances, medical, personal expenses, entry fees, camera fees [in some places], vaccination.
- Application: Pls. apply through our online Application form

Time of Joining in all other projects:

- Volunteers for Long/Medium/Short term Programs are welcome through out the year
- Volunteers for Internship Programs are welcome every month 1st. & 16th
- Summer mini & express tour Program volunteers are welcome on first and third Sunday of every month
- For construction projects volunteers and groups are welcome on every month [1st.-14th.]
- Volunteers for these tour programs are advised to reach our place at least by Saturday or latest by Sunday Morning
- Work camp Volunteers are welcome on work camp times Only (Pls. check our homepage for the workcamp dates)

All Program fees have to be paid at the time of Registration soon after reaching our Indian Head office. We do not accept Installment Payments. Fees are Non refundable and Non Transferable in any case.

Our fees for all the above mentioned programs are very low compared to the other organization and all of our money goes directly to our future projects, Kids' Land, Happy Home and other welfare activities for the underprivileged children in India.

Qualifications: What are the Volunteers' Requirements?

1. Volunteers should be 16 yrs. or more [All Volunteers below 20 yrs. of age need to take their Parents Permission].
2. Volunteers who are below 16 yrs. of age can also join our programme with any of their parents / guardian.
3. Volunteers who agree to "SMILE" Activities, Aim, Purpose etc. are welcome.
4. Volunteers need to pay the Participation Fees for every Program. "SMILE" Programs are solely dependent on the Participation Fees and the Donations from the Volunteers and its well wishers.
5. Volunteers have to be ready to adjust themselves to the different culture, food and the way of life.
6. All Volunteers need to apply for the Tourist Visa In their country at least 7 days before their journey.
7. Volunteers should make their medical insurance before their journey.
8. Not to involve any kind of illegal activities. "SMILE" will not be responsible for any of such situations.

Cost in US$: US$300 for 2 weeks (Tour cost extra)

Salary / Pay: No Salary

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 16-80

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

Participants Travel to India Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of depends on the program

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

SMILE -Society [Situational Management & Inter-Learning Establishment Society]'s Mission Statement: SMILE Society [registered NGO and member of CCIVS (UNESCO) & WANGO] was established on 31st.August 2003 by it's Founder & President 'Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty' [Deba]. SMILE's main purpose is to "Bring a smile to all the Kids" around the world. The children who cannot eat properly, cannot go to school, have to beg money & food every day on the street, have lost their parents or have nobody to support them, children who cannot live their life because of the essential requirements of human beings, We Like To Support Them. "SMILE" is trying to provide Love, Support, minimum Education & minimum requirements to Live and Study to the children in such stage. At the same time "SMILE" gives all the Volunteers the Opportunity to work with the needy children in the developing countries like India. So that they can also realize the actual picture of the children who are in need. "Happy Home Project" We have our own "Happy Home's first ,second & third centres are located in Kolkata(Calcutta) with our SMILE's kids from Slum & Street. We are trying provide them everything like food, clothing, education and planning to give them permanent night shelter very near future. We are looking for the long term volunteers to work with our children directly. All these children that we have at present are up to 13 yrs. old and they need real love and attachment from our volunteers. Our dream is to establish a free school & vocational training center for our "Happy Home" in near future. We like to build a person with more confidence & knowledge. It is our dream to make a man with soft feelings about other children too. Today's children will be tomorrow's Father/Mother. We believe that good children can make the good society and also the better world to live in.

Year Founded: 2003