Posted by Africa & Asia Venture on April 26th, 2012.
Voluntary Jobs
Location: Foothills of the Himalayas in the Lepcha region of Northern India
Closing Date: May 26th, 2012
Job Description
A volunteering project with the Lepchas is a unique experience for those ready for a challenge. It is a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange whilst teaching and living with the Lepcha people for 3 months in the foothills of the Himalayas. Lepchas have their own music, dances, herbal medicine and language (said to be the oldest spoken script in the world). Wanting to preserve their identity, they have built tiny cultural centres, or ‘night schools’, in each village where children are taught Lepcha traditions. If you are looking for a group based project and a truly unique cultural experience then volunteering with the Lepcha tribe may be for you. Your project is followed by an optional additional period of independent group travel in India all with 24-hour support from our local representative for four weeks.
Skills
Volunteers need to be English speaking and prepared to teach English at a basic level. It is ideal for those ready for a challenge and to be placed outside of their comfort zone. No formal teaching experience required. This is not a tourist holiday - it is about cultural immersion.
Spare time
Spare time in the evening or at weekends is spent preparing your lessons or with your host family and volunteer partner. This could involve helping with the cooking, cleaning, milking cows, ploughing the fields and simply becoming part of family life. There will be the opportunity to meet up with other volunteers in nearby villages too
Accommodation
You and your partner will live in one of the better off Lepcha houses in the village as a paying guest (we give you the money) during your teaching project. You have your own space, sometimes your own cottage, and ‘facilities’. It is basic i.e. no running water or electricity, so you will quickly adjust to this simple way of life. Your hosts will cook for you with their home grown produce and look after you as a good friend and honoured guest.
Set in a rural village of the Darjeeling District in the foothills of the Himalayas, you will start your day watching the sunrise over Kanchenjunga mountain. Whilst volunteering in India with the Lepchas you will teach children and some young adults English in the morning and evening at the ‘Lepcha Night Schools’, as well as learning about their Lepcha traditions (songs, dancing, language). School facilities are extremely basic with a lack of Government funding, but the confidence that you give the Lepcha children has meant that they do much better at local state or Christian schools, where you will teach for 2-3 hours during the day .
Our volunteer projects are a great way to improve your skills and enhance your CV - stand out from the crowd at job interviews! It is a competitive market out there - help others to help yourself!
Project dates - February to May/June.
Prices from GB£2985 - covers pre-departure information, online health check with InterHealth, telephone briefing and a face to face meeting, orientation on arrival, accommodation and basic food allowance during your volunteer placement, and of course 24 hour in-country back up from our local representative.
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