Teaching underprivileged children in remote villages of Tamil Nadu

  India

Bangalore

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: April 13 - April 26, 2009

Description: Yercaud is a beautiful hill station situated in the state of Tamil Nadu with a fantastic landscape - surrounded by coffee and tea plantations.

The short-term volunteer project intends to support schools involved in promoting education to the underprivileged children and other like-minded social organizations. Free education is essential in bringing more awareness to the down-trodden society and inspire people with a sense of self-worth. This aim is accomplished with the help of bright and caring groups of international volunteers who work tirelessly in programs such as Happy Hearts, which involve interaction with children of local schools who may not have even seen the insides of a classroom. This encourages the children to come out of their shell and free their inhibitions while asking questions, gaining more knowledge and getting more confidence with each step. Happy Hearts is all about building those essential stepping-stones of education in a child's life, while lighting the lamp of curiosity and sparking the appetite to learn more. Experimentation for a child is a part of the process and each child is encouraged to test new waters and see the universe around. Formal education cannot succeed without a basic infrastructure in place. The work will be in the villages around the beautiful mountains, isolated from the rest of the world.

The project takes place in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, 30 km from Salem town, South of Bangalore. Accessible only by bus from Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and other small towns in Tamil Nadu.

Highlights: There is an extra fee of $260 US for participation in this project, intended to support the hosting organization.

Cost in US$: $290 US

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Motivated to work voluntarily within an international team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to India Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.