Help open a shelter for children and old people in a poor rural area

  India

Pondicherry

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: May 5 - May 18

Description: Pondicherry, one of the former French Colonies, is located on the East Coast of India. It is one of the most tourist 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 also 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.

The volunteer project is organized in cooperation with an active local NGO in the field of rural development, education, women and minorities empowerment. In the past years many schools and villages have benefited from the work done by international volunteers, including in the Tsunami-hit regions. A home base will be opened in a village 10 km from the city, which will become a shelter for children and old aged people in an effort to support the poorer sections of the population in the district. The volunteers will be involved in various activities ranging from manual 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 the burning issues that the rural populations are facing in all ways.

Pondicherry is located approx. 200 km south from Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu State (East Coast). Pondicherry is accessible from Chennai and Bangalore by direct bus from both cities. There are domestic and international airports in Bangalore and Chennai.

There is an extra fee of $175 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 young 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.