FSL India

 

 

(Field Services and Intercultural Learning India)

 

 

Promoting volunteering for the last 10 years

 

Long Term and Mid Term Volunteering (LTV/MTV) Programme

 

Programme Year: January - December 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Term Volunteering Programme

 

Programme Year: January to December 2012

 

 

An Overview of FSL India

 

Field Services and Intercultural Learning (FSL India) is a youth development organisation focused towards Intercultural Learning through Voluntary Services. It is a non-political, non-profit making voluntary organisation.

 

FSL India was set up to promote Global Understanding by providing opportunities to the youth to work in different cultural contexts to appreciate intercultural learning. Thereby, reducing boundaries and bringing people to work together in harmony by understanding the intercultural aspects focusing towards development of people and society through youth mobility and volunteerism.

 

FSL India was founded in the year 2000 and legally incorporated in 2001 as a Trust under Indian Trust Act 1882. FSL India was formed with the support of like-minded National and International Organisations with a primary purpose to bring about Global transformation, progress and growth through youth exchange programmes.

 

FSL India is headquartered in Bangalore, with regional offices in Karnataka (Bangalore, Mysore and Kundapur), Kerala (Kannur), and Tamil Nadu (Chennai). FSL India is well equipped with experienced associates who support the developmental activities across the country with the help of Local and Regional Partners.

 

Annually, FSL India mobilizes movement of 1800 youth from across the Globe with the support of International Partners and local NGOs.

 

Network and Collaborations:

 

By virtue of its affiliation, FSL India is a member of Network for Voluntary Development in Asia (NVDA) and Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS-UNESCO). Besides, FSL India collaborates and networks with Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations (Alliance) and Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) on youth volunteering and development programmes. FSL India networks with like-minded organisations across the world to promote youth mobility and intercultural learning. It acts as a support structure for youth and social organisations engaged in various development programmes such as: 1) Asia- Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE), 2) European Voluntary Service (EVS), 3) World Heritage Volunteers (WHV), and 4) Weltwaerts.

 

FSL India works in various fields in cooperation with Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, Ministry of Health, Education, Forest and Wildlife Departments and Local Self-governance Bodies.

 

FSL India has been implementing CSR projects, titled Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers and Model Village (MVP) in Tamil Nadu, South India. The project is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), South Korea.

 

Apart from this FSL India also, runs self funded Projects under Home Base Projects like the Sea Turtle Conservation, Environmental Education, Eco Tourism and Eco Clubs, Tent School for Migrant community.

 

 

 Our Programmes:

 

1)       LTV - Long Term Volunteering (more than 3 months)

2)       MTV - Mid Term Volunteering (up to 2 months)

3)       WC - Short Term Volunteering or Work Camps (WC). Up to 3 weeks

4)       OG – Out Going.

5)       HBP – Home Base Projects.

6)       MVP – Model Village Project.

 

Areas of Interest:

 

·         Medical & Health Care:

 

Health & Hygiene, HIV/AIDS, Disability, Medical Outreach Camps, Yoga and Ayurveda

 

·         Environment and Conservation:

 

Sea Turtle conservation, Rain Water Harvesting, Agriculture, Environment Protection, Eco-Tourism, Eco-clubs, Heritage Conservation, Water and Sanitation, Sea Turtle Conservation, Environment Education, Eco-Tourism, Eco-clubs.

 

·         Education:

 

Creative and interactive education, teaching of English language, developing teaching and learning aids, capacity development of teaching faculty, improve learning levels and cognitive skills of children.

 

·         Women & Childcare Development

 

Orphanages, Woman Empowerment, Street Children, and tent schools for children of migrant workers

 

·         Urban Development:

 

Slum Development, construction and renovation work.

 

·         Rural Development:

 

Promotion of model village, formation of self-help groups, organise women and youth for microfinance/micro-enterprise development and livelihood promotion, skill development, and employment generation.

·         Society and Culture:

 

Tibetan Culture, Tribal Development, Social Awareness and promotion of youth leadership.

In addition, FSL India also works on a range of self-initiated and self-funded Home Base projects. We have been engaging youth to supplement national and global efforts for attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

 

Our Ideology

 

We believe in giving an opportunity to every young person to make a difference in his/her own life and in the life of others that he/she comes across through the field of social work.

 

The thought behind placing volunteers throughout India and also across the world signifies our interest in the work and lives of people. By doing so we hope to make people more aware of the world in which they live and its possibilities.

 

The volunteer work that we promote is a type of informal education; gaining skills through practical experience, by meeting new people, facing and overcoming new challenges that arise during the programme. Volunteering does not require any specific skills but we encourage those interested in volunteering to be open and respectful to different cultural practices, and to participate in the project in all possible ways.

 

Volunteering in an inter-cultural setting is not necessarily a straightforward process and can be difficult and complex as well especially when working in sensitive social projects. However, participation within such a process can incredibly be rewarding, leading to a great sense of achievement and growth - technically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

 

Volunteering opportunities available at FSL India are considerably vast and include many different activities, which give volunteers opportunities to choose their own special area of interest. FSL India works primarily with existing organisations, NGOs and partners to meet the need of the communities. FSL India also has a number of self-funded and self-directed projects, which have been set up to meet the needs of the local community that is not being met through other means.

 

Involving international volunteers in local community development programmes adds an interesting perspective to the existing work - it provides opportunities to learn about other cultural practices and also stimulates discussions about internationalism in an age of increasing globalisation.

 

We believe that the experience to live and work with people from different cultural backgrounds contributes to mutual understanding and respect - something we should all work towards and feel responsible for in this world!

 

Thousands of volunteers contribute to our society worldwide on every single day.

Our Activities

 

During the last 10 years, FSL India has grown to become the largest volunteer hosting organization in the country, organising various volunteer and development projects throughout India mainly through Short Term Work camps and Long Term Volunteer (LTV) placements. Most of the projects are carried out independently, as previously mentioned, and some are undertaken in cooperation with local NGOs. This is because local NGOs are aware of the development work that needs to be undertaken done in an area. We support them in their efforts to address the issues and problems of the people.

 

Our support sometimes consists of financial support, but quite often our support goes in terms of placing volunteers from different countries to participate in the projects where they are interested to learn, share and are willing to work together for improvement and understanding.

 

 

 

 

Objectives:

 

·         Promote international understanding and cultural exchange

·         Encourage voluntary service as a means to contribute to peace, equality, democracy and above all development of the poor and the marginalized 

·         Support community development and bring an inter-cultural dimension to community development programmes

·         To conserve and protect our nature and eco-system

·         To bring global issues to local communities       

·         Facilitate and support the personal development and self-awareness of volunteers

 

What is needed to be an LTV/MTV!

 

We welcome anybody who is interested to participate in our voluntary programmes regardless of age, sex, religious belief, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Most of our programmes do not require any specific skills. But as the work is development and humanitarian in nature, we encourage volunteers to be:

 

Ø       Open Minded: It is essential to be open to new ideas, situations, morals, values and ways of doing things. Things may be different from what you are used to or your existing expectations. If you remain “open minded” then you will have new opportunities and new avenues. Broadening one’s mind is pre-requisite and the heart of inter-cultural exchange.

 

Ø       Flexible: Remaining flexible to ideas, people, situations and encounters is important. While working at development projects, you will be dealing with people and people are unpredictable. Taking a flexible approach is often is the best way to deal with such situations.

 

Ø       Creative: Innovating and adopting creative approach to your volunteer placement and work maintains motivation and prevents routine and boredom for yourself and the project. When you start to think creatively it is amazing what can be achieved

 

Structure of the Programme:

 

The LTV programme at FSL India is structured as follows:

 

ü       Application:  Volunteers must apply to our partner organizations in their own country.

 

ü       Placements: We will try and complete the placements of volunteers with projects as early as possible. Volunteers can apply for an LTV programme for a minimum of one month.

 

ü       Information: FSL India will send the required Information to the volunteers - including a pre-arrival letter, project profile, general information and travel details.

 

ü       Arrivals: Volunteers arrive at Kundapur by the first Monday of each month.

 

ü       Orientation week: The programme will start with a week-long orientation.

 

ü       Registration:  Your registration will be completed during the first week of arrival.

 

ü       Projects: Following the Orientation week, volunteers will join their respective projects in different locations, depending on the placement.

 

ü       Monitoring: Each volunteer is allocated to LTV Coordinator on his/her arrival. The LTV Coordinator supports the volunteer in their project, and monitors the progress during their voluntary service through Monthly reports, LTV get-togethers, one to one sessions, emails, phone calls, visits etc. Monthly Project visits are also made by the LTV coordinator during their placement where ever possible.

 

ü       LTV Get together: Once a month all volunteers get together to discuss their progress, share their experiences and challenges encountered. It is a great opportunity to reconnect with volunteers and to use them as a resource network on how to act within their own projects. We also have one-to-one supervision between LTV coordinators and volunteers to ensure that any challenges are tracked and dealt with at the earliest.

 

ü       Final evaluation: Volunteers are expected to complete and submit a Final Project report and evaluation. This details their work, progress, problems, solutions and suggestions for future volunteers and FSL India.  This report acts as a future resource and reference documents for new volunteers and enables FSL India to develop and improve the project.

 

 

Application:

 

In the section titled “LTV Project Information”, you will find details about the different fields of work that are available through our programme. Please go through them carefully and consider what really interests you the most. We request all applicants to list out three project choices in order of preference in their application form. We also request all volunteers who are applying to write a Motivation letter that accurately describes themselves, their skills and interests, past work experience, strengths and weaknesses etc. This information assists us to match you to the project as accurately as possible.

 

Placements:

 

Having accepted your application from your hosting organization, the placement and the projects will be organized on an individual basis, according to the preferences stated in your application form. Please be specific about your interests, experience and project choices in your application form. FSL India will place volunteers on a “first come first serve” basis and therefore some projects may get filled up. If your first project choice is full, we will offer you your second or third choice, or ask you to come later when the place is available.

Please note that even though we try our best to place you in the project of your first choice, we cannot fulfil everyone's wishes always.

 

Changes to project placements and hosting accommodation can be made only in special cases, but not before volunteers make sufficient effort to adapt and overcome initial challenges. We therefore, ask all participants to make a significant effort to stay in their assigned placement for a minimum of one month before changing to a new placement. We consider that one month is the time required to adapt to a long-term project and new surroundings.

Information sheet and Pre-arrival letter:

Your Info sheet will contain all the information that you need to prepare for your journey and stay in India. It is very important that you read the whole info sheet at least once and understand all the contents. Your info sheet will be sent to your sending organization one month prior to your arrival in India. The pre-arrival letter will include all the necessary information that will make your journey to Kundapur as smooth and trouble free as possible. Please make sure to read it carefully.

Arrival:

The starting date of the programme is the First Monday of Every Month: Participants should make sure that they arrive at Kundapur by the scheduled date. Kundapur is well connected by train and bus. All volunteers will meet at a common meeting point, where they will be picked up. Specific information regarding your arrival will be sent to you in a pre-arrival letter.

 

Registration:

 

All the registration formalities will be completed in the first three days of the orientation. This will consist of understanding and signing a contract; collecting the participation fee. Please note that the first three months fee is collected in the beginning, if you have applied for more than three months. If you have applied for less then three months, then the entire participation fee will be collected in the beginning.

 

Please make sure that you have the currency converted to Indian Rupees before you arrive and make sure that you have the full amount available with you. You will have to produce two photocopies of your passport and of your visa.

 

Orientation Week:

The schedule is flexible but the Orientation week usually contains the following procedures:

 

·         The LTV Programme introduction: Topics include Aims of the programme, way of working, finances, rules and expected behaviour.

 

·         India: Topics include Culture, Religion, habits, customs, history, geography, social issues etc.

 

·         Language Skills: India has 18 official languages, and many more dialects and sub-dialects. We will start with teaching the local language, Kannada. Do not forget that English is widely spoken throughout the country. However, we urge you to learn and speak the local language, since this will open more doors for you.

 

·         Projects: We will give you an overview of the projects of FSL India and an explanation and presentation of your particular placement. There will also be Project visits, where you will have the opportunity to meet current volunteers in the project who can share their experiences.

 

·         Information: Lots of new things will be introduced to you including some sessions on yoga, cooking and Hindu philosophy.

 

·         Local sightseeing: meeting people will make you feel right at home. You will have the opportunity to visit market places, Indian homes and natural sites in groups or individually during the free time.

 

·         Do’s and Don’ts: there are some simple rules, which can help you have a smooth integration with each other and with the local people. This will also help overcome your culture shock!

 

·         Intercultural Session: Do not forget to bring items from your home (photos, music, food, handicrafts, etc.) that might help you present your country and your culture to other volunteers as well as to the local youth.

 

·         Group games and discussions:  will be the methodology adopted during the orientation week, to make the theoretical sessions as dynamic and participatory as possible.

 

Volunteers will have to stay together in the FSL India centre at Kundapur in shared bedrooms, and will take all three vegetarian meals together. The FSL India Coordinators and team leaders will take care of all the activities and sessions for the entire orientation week.

 

LTV Get Together:

FSL India organises a Monthly Evaluation and reflection meeting for all volunteers. This is an occasion for volunteers to come together for a day to exchange their experiences, have fun and relax. These meetings will take place in different locations and will have different topics and activities. This offer is additional, so FSL India will provide basic food and accommodation and travel to the chosen location. It is a very good opportunity to meet and get to know the other volunteers as well as the FSL India staff team. There will be one-to-one sessions between the volunteer and LTV coordinator to discuss the progress and to resolve any issues and challenges faced.

 

Final Evaluation:

A Final Evaluation will be carried out at the end of the programme term and a personal meeting between the volunteer and the LTV Coordinator will be held at Kundapur centre. The Final Evaluation/Report outlines the work done by the volunteer where you can share your experiences (good and bad ones!) and complete a feedback form. The Final Evaluation serves as a guideline for future volunteers and for FSL India to improve upon the quality of its projects. FSL India will provide each volunteer with an official Certificate of Appreciation to formally attest your international voluntary experience. It will also be the time to say good-bye to all those who have made your experience in India a memorable one.

Costs Involved:

 

FSL India is a non–profit organization and does not depend on external funding. All costs of FSL- India are sustained through the participation fees from volunteers. We work only with local organizations that need our support.

 

Participation Fee INR 12,500 for each month*

 

Remember that the participation fee is non refundable. Please decide the duration of your programme carefully while you are applying.

 

If you have applied for more than three months, then the first three months fee is collected in the beginning.

If you have applied for less then three months, then the entire participation fee is collected in the beginning.

The participation fee will be collected only for a full month and it is not possible to apply for half a month.

 

The participation fee will be collected from the volunteers during the first three days of the orientation week. The amount will be collected only in the local currency (Indian Rupees). We do not accept any payments in foreign currency.

 

We expect volunteers to pay the first three months of the participation fee before starting the programme for practical and organizational reasons.

 

Please try to exchange your foreign currency as soon as possible. However, try not to exchange foreign currency at the airport as the rates are more disadvantageous. FSL India staff can assist you to find a convenient place/bureau of exchange for the convert your currency or travellers cheque and cash withdrawal at ATMs.

 

 

What does your programme participation fee cover?

 

We are a non-profit organization, and therefore we have kept our prices as affordable as possible. FSL India is a non-profit body registered under the Indian Trust Act. We receive absolutely no financial support from the government of India or from any other foreign agency. The main source of income available for FSL India is the participation fee that is collected from the volunteers.

 

Our income is spent as follows (from the most to the least expensive item):

Project development: this is the money that is spent to set up projects and travel to the different locations. Some projects require more investment than others.

 

·         Orientation and Evaluation weeks for volunteers/participants: the expenses related to food, accommodation, transportation, and activities organized during this first week.

·         Volunteers hosting payments: FSL India pays for the food, accommodation, transportation for participants, which differs from project to project.

·         Office expenses including salaries, telephone, internet, postage, photocopy, printing, stationery, electricity, gas, food (meals are provided to some staff), and equipment.

·         Rent: for the accommodation of its international staff members (Interns) in Bangalore and Kundapura.

·         Scholarships for Indians sent to projects abroad: FSL India sends volunteers from India to abroad on a sponsored programme.

·         Support expenses of local Indian youth trained and supported by us.

·         Donations to local social projects: Apart from supporting local NGOs by the placement of volunteers and by organizing short-term work camps, FSL India also makes occasional donations (in kind or in cash) to its partner NGOs.

·         Local transportation costs for staff to visit volunteers and projects: in order to visit their volunteers, the FSL LTV coordinators have to travel regularly to the locations of the projects throughout the country.

·         International travel costs to attend Conferences and international meetings: FSL India sends representatives to statutory meetings and conferences to interact with its worldwide partners and develop its activities.

·         Participation fees for international conferences and meetings

·         International membership fees: FSL India has to pay a fee to remain a member of international networks and platforms of like-minded organizations.        

·         Promotional Material and Website costs.

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LTV Project Information

 

The following section provides an overview of the Projects available from January 2012-December 2012.In this section you will find details about the type of projects that you can volunteer in. Please read these carefully before applying.

LTV O1 – TEACHING

 

LTV O1 A – Regular Teaching

LTV O1 B – Orphan Children Teaching

LTV O1 C – Ethnic Tribes Teaching

LTV O1 D – Street Children Teaching

 

LTV O2 – ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

LTV O2 A – Sea Turtle Conservation

LTV O2 B – Environmental Education

LTV O2 C – Eco-Tourism

LTV O2 D – Eco-Clubs

LTV O2 E – Rain Water Harvesting

LTV O2 F – Sanitation programme

 

LTV O3 – SOCIAL PROJECTS

 

LTV O3 A – Physically Handicapped and Mentally Challenged Children’s Project

LTV O3 B – Rehabilitation Projects

LTV O3 C – Old Age Home

LTV O3 D – Women Empowerment

LTV O3 E – Slum Development

 

LTV O4 – MEDICAL AND HEALTH

 

LTV O4 A – HIV and AIDS Awareness and Care of Support

LTV O4 B – Rural Medication

LTV O4 C – Rural Mid wife

LTV O5 - SPECIAL PROJECTS

LTV O5 A – Special teaching

LTV O5 B – Special learning

LTV O5 C – Model Village Project - Teaching

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LTV 01 – TEACHING

 

LTV O1 A – Regular Teaching

Education is an important tool for development. Teaching spoken English, basic Math, Health and Hygiene awareness, Environmental education and conducting co-curricular activities with local school children can be a rewarding experience.

 

You will be working in a Kannada Medium School, which lacks in resources and/or English teaching staff.  One of the important aims of this project is to support the staff in the classroom and to bring an international dimension to learning. Your tasks will be to assist with English language learning using creative teaching methods to encourage and to develop learning level and cognitive skills in the students. You will also assist with extra-curricular activities, inspiring children to learn new languages and learn about new cultures.

 

You may have to assist in developing teaching and learning aids with low cost or no cost locally available materials, and facilitate simulations games for the children and the teaching faculties. Undertake capacity development of teaching faculty in classroom management, children’s learning needs assessment. You will assist in designing developmentally appropriate tools and criteria for assessment children’s learning levels and cognitive skills, Individual goal setting for children with learning disability, lesson planning etc. You will be developing teaching-learning methods and pass this information (through the Final Evaluation/Report) to future volunteers with a view to creating long-term improvements to the educational model.

 

The volunteers should bring in creative ideas to initiate new activities in the school, for example, environmental, organizational or computer education. You have to love children, as you will be surrounded by them everyday. If you have many ideas in teaching different kinds of activities such as games, songs, arts and crafts or sports and athletics to children then this type of project is for you! You will be teaching a variety of subjects depending on your personal interests and skills. Volunteers should have a good level of spoken English and some knowledge in teaching children will be useful.

Note: Please note that the project will not run between the Months of March until May. Three weeks in October are winter holidays and depending on the school there are also holidays in December. During these months, volunteers are encouraged to take part in a summer and/or a winter holiday camp.

LTV O1 B – Orphan Children Teaching

 

Volunteers have the chance to work in orphanages, by supporting the staff in the project with the daily care of orphan children. The work is varied and so you must be flexible in tackling your work. The work could involve rehabilitation, education and supporting the orphan children to return and participate within mainstream life.The work might also include cleaning activities, cooking, gardening, playing with the children in the evening, helping with homework, teaching and singing.

 

A creative approach to work will be useful - If you have many ideas in teaching different kinds of activities such as games, songs, arts and crafts or sports and athletics to children, then this type of project is for you! You will need to take a flexible approach to the work with and be prepared to undertake variety of tasks.

The Info sheet will have more information regarding the individual projects with schedules, and activities.

LTV O1 C – Ethnic Tribes Teaching

There are several ethnic minorities in India. NGOs are working towards community development to prepare them to participate and compete within the mainstream society. The primary focus of NGOs is to help the tribal communities cope with issues that they are facing with- such as education problems, lack of adequate medical care and isolation. Working in this field requires a high degree of flexibility, and volunteers must try get involved directly with these people and with the staff of the local project.

 

Most projects in this field are located in rural and remote areas, near to or within the tribal communities. You will be working with tribal communities and therefore be prepared for bare minimum and simple living conditions. There will also be a strong language barrier which will be a challenge for anyone working in this field.

 

A prior experience or a good knowledge of these kinds of situations is appreciated. Most of the development work carried out by NGOs working towards community development projects is based on education, awareness, creation, livelihood promotion and health development. Therefore the volunteers will be required to teach in most of the projects where they work with tribal children. So an interest in teaching and love for children is important. However, you could also be supporting the staff in the daily running of the orphanage, when the children go to their normal school.

 

A creative approach to work is useful and you will have the opportunity to initiate new mini projects or activities. You will have to be prepared for a flexible approach to the work and be willing to undertake a variety of tasks.

 

If you have many ideas of teaching different kinds of activities such as games, songs, arts and crafts or sports and athletics to children, then this type of project is for you!

LTV O1 D – Street Children Teaching

 

Many NGOs and local initiatives in India work for the welfare of street children or “working children”, and FSL India is one of them. The aim is to take these children away from the streets and from their working place in order to give them a chance to live a decent and accepted standard of life. By placing them in centres, boarding schools and or day-care shelters, the children return to the regular schooling system and/or to train them in vocational education and give them skills that would help them find a decent job and keep them away from exploitation.

Much of the development work in street children projects is based on education known also as alternative education. Therefore, the volunteers will be required to teach in most of the projects where they work with street children. And hence an interest in teaching and love for children is essential in this project, like all teaching projects. Other work activities will involve supporting the staff in the daily running of the schools.

 

A creative approach to work and deal with the children will be useful and you will have the opportunity to initiate new mini projects or activities. You need to have a flexible approach to work children difficult circumstances and be prepared to undertake a variety of tasks.

 

In some cases the volunteer will be required to go amidst the “tent” community to raise awareness of the teaching programme, gain interest and collect children. If you have many ideas in teaching different kinds of activities such as games, songs, arts and crafts or sports and athletics to children, then this type of project assignment suit for you!

 

Note: These projects are running all year long

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LTV O2 – ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

LTV O2 A – Sea Turtle Conservation

For the last 15 years, the Sea Turtle population has been under threat from fishing and egg predation by locals. Three species of the protected Sea Turtles are nesting on India’s West Coast and all of them are endangered species. With an effort to save the life of these endangered species, promote eco-system and addresses environmental issues,  FSL India is working along 60 kilometre stretch of the beach in the south and north of Kundapur, Karnataka. Right now, the work is focused on sea turtle protection and conservation. The work involves surveys, data gathering and analysis, awareness generation amongst the local community and within schools, harbours and fishing communities. You will also be required to build hatcheries and temporary information centres, as well as design and create promotional material.

 

Please note: This project is seasonal and starts in August and runs until February, only for six months. The work requires high degree of motivation, interest and some knowledge in this particular field is useful. Please remember in the first month and the last month the majority of the work you will have to be engaged in documentations.

 

There is NO guarantee that you will see sea turtles, hatchlings or eggs whilst working on this project.

LTV O2 B – Environmental Education

This project has been set up by FSL India in collaboration with local NGOs. The primary aim is to educate lower economic and social groups, the local community, youth and children about environmental issues concerns, good practices and present situations. This project is usually run in rural areas where there has not been much development.

As a volunteer in this project, you have to develop and support with creative education in nature and ecology conservation and educate the local community on the economic and social benefits of environmental protection and conservation of nature and natural resources. You will have to visit schools, colleges, and youth groups and organise environmental educational workshops and disseminate information to various stakeholder on environment protection.

 

There is an ample opportunity to work with the local community where our volunteers, together with field assistants, try and create model streets. The local community is introduced to on Solid waste management, the building of compost pits and the separation of biodegradable material. There is a lot of scope for interested volunteers who have prior experience to bring in their ideas have them inbuilt component within the project.

 

*Please note minimum application for Environmental Education is for four months.

 

LTV O2 C – Eco Tourism

Ecotourism involves two major themes: Nature and Culture. Ecotourism is a form of responsible travel which contributes to the protection of the environment in natural areas, and the preservation of culture in local communities. It also provides conscious travellers with unique experiences which cannot be provided by mass tourism. This is a new project initiated by FSL India, which means there is still a lot to be explored and experimented while undertaking such developmentally appropriate interventions!

 

Volunteers will start by getting to know the village, neighbourhood and the villagers in order to work together with them and see the different aspects of their lives. Educating the locals about the problems and exploring possibilities with Eco-tourism is an important aspect of the work.

 

Volunteers have to develop a working methodology that taps into local resources and volunteers will develop a way of working, drawing local potential, introducing and setting up structures, such as:

 

·         Creating a database of information of the surrounding areas

·         Training and working with the local community in order to involve them and ensure active participation.

·         Raising awareness on environmental and cultural preservation

·         Setting up and running the Eco Tourism project

·         Making a website and promoting Ecotourism as a form of livelihoods for the local community.

The main fields of work are: art, traditional life, sights, environmental awareness, food, agriculture, industry, medicine, landscape, outdoor activities, religion, and spiritual experience. Each of these fields is divided into more sub-fields. You will be working in a small team or individually to complete the database. The work profile includes site-based research. Therefore, the ability to search and research, preparing documents write reports is appreciated.

*Please note minimum application is for four months.

 

LTV O2 D – Eco-Clubs

Eco-club is a governmental initiative which was introduced 5 years ago in government schools. As part of this initiative, Eco-clubs were formed in schools and the members are comprised of school children. The aim of Eco-club is to introduce environmental concerns and good practices to the school children so as to make them actively involved and to be aware of the necessity to protect nature. However, most government schools lack personnel and financial means to run the Eco-clubs effectively and efficiently. As a result, Eco-clubs have been formed in most schools but they do not function as these should have been.

 

Hence, the FSL India-Eco-Clubs projects were initiated with an objective of supporting schools, the children and the teachers. Since August 2008, volunteers have run a 5-sessions programme in different schools in the surrounding areas of Kundapur for the children in the 8th standard. These sessions combine theoretical and practical learning methods and input. Children those who have been trained this year, will train the next batch of children to run the Eco clubs. At the moment we have a potential of about 200 children ready to pursue our work.

 

As a volunteer your task will be to design and run the sessions in the schools with the help of other volunteers, a field assistant and teachers. You will have to be creative, innovative and love for children, as they are the primary stakeholders of the project. You will also get the chance to work with the local community in order to organize some outdoor events for the children.

LTV O2 E – Rain Water Harvesting

Water resource being one of the scarce natural resources, there is a tremendous need for harvesting available rain water. With the concept of catch where water it falls, FSL India networks with local organisations that are working for conservation and promotion of water resources through multiple approaches. Generating awareness among various sections of the local communities is an important dimension of FSL India's programmes. Volunteers can contributes to these initiatives through various creative input and participation in campaigns for promoting water literacy, documentation and research undertakings.

 

LTV O2 F – Sanitation Programme

Health and sanitation is the priority area in development, both in rural and urban areas. Especially, in villages, open defecation is common, thanks to want of proper education, awareness and traditional belief systems. FSL India is making its share of contribution through implementing sanitation based programmes through multiple interventions that includes 'Model Village Project', Environment Education Project and also through volunteer service in various locations.

 

These projects along with other objective, support 100% toilets construction in the villages and generate widespread awareness on various potential diseases due to want of proper hygiene and sanitation. Volunteer's works under sanitation would include construction of sanitary toilets, education and awareness generation among students and adult community in the proposed villages through innovative methods etc.

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LTV 03 – SOCIAL PROJECTS

LTV O3 A – Physically and Mentally Challenged Children’s Project

These children are discriminated and rejected by mainstream society and therefore volunteers are needed to participate and bring joy in their live of these children, and help the NGO to bring some structure changes in their daily lives and prepare them for adulthood.

 

Working with persons/children with various forms disability can be quite a challenging task for anyone. However, the spirit of these people can bring lot of joy and a lot can be learnt from this experiences. The main work will be teaching and supporting the staff in their daily activities for the care of physically and/or mentally disabled children. Individual goal setting and planning for holistic development of children/persons with disability with home-based, community based or institutional based approach is essential for which volunteer as part of the group would contribute great deal. It needs a bit of flexibility and openness to all kinds of works and activities.

 

Additional work activities would involve maintenance and gardening work, preparing meals, serving them, cleaning and giving company.

 

A creative approach to work is useful and you will have the opportunity to initiate new mini projects or activities. You will need to take a flexible approach to the work with and you should be prepared to undertake multi-tasks.

 

LTV O3 B – Rehabilitation Projects

There are many NGOs working for social inclusion projects where minorities or less fortunate people have been left behind in the race and struggle for economic and social justice. FSL India makes efforts to motivate/support them by placing interested volunteers to help them in their office, field work or to bring in new innovative ideas to their work. The work varies from project to project. Therefore, in the application volunteers must write clearly indicating why they want to work on such projects and also how they can contribute to the projects. Following are examples of the different kinds of projects:

 

·         Projects where working children are given vocational training ;

·         Projects where young people are given training in various trades ;

·         Projects where Micro-finances are given to a minority community and we help them to become economically stable.

·         Projects where computer education is given.

·         Projects with disabled children and/or adults, in order to give them more autonomy and to eventually reintegrate them in the mainstream of society.

 

Volunteers can help in many ways; for example there were instances when volunteers have taken photographs of local projects and helped them build a web page. Then volunteers in a vocational training centre helped the project to make a catalogue of all their products. Volunteers have helped projects by implementing a good filing system, helped in survey and data collection. Here creativity plays a major role, and prior experience can help the project as well as the volunteer.

 

FSL India also helps less fortunate youth from slums or low economic backgrounds by giving them training in camp leading or office work. For example, slum boys will be recruited and given training in camp leading. After training they will work as camp leaders for a year. Then they go back to their slum and organize work camps for the next year so as to bring in development to their community.

 

LTV O3 C – Old Age Home

FSL India helps many projects by sending volunteers to old age homes where the elderly are neglected and forgotten by the mainstream of society. Geriatric care and concern for the older people is becoming more important today. 

 

Working at an Old Aged home can be quite a challenging task. The work will include interacting with the old people and basic support towards the staff in their daily routine. Volunteers will take part helping in the daily activities, medical care, special programmes for physical exercise, and giving company to the elderly.

 

This project is for those who are willing to work with old people and also for those who like this kind of work.

LTV O3 D – Women Empowerment

 

Many NGOs and government organizations are increasingly putting women at the centre of their projects and are working out programmes and strategies in which they support the socially and economically disadvantaged women of India. Empowering women and educating them on their constitutional rights, and the law, work towards the achievement of social and economic security of women.

 

Since most of the women you are going to work with come from an underprivileged background low economic status, they speak very little or no English. Therefore, be prepared to find creative and alternative ways of communicating with such group. Please note that the work mainly involves working in the office with the NGO as well as field work.

LTV O3 E – Slum Development

Indian cities suffer from huge urbanization problems and slums are present and growing in many cities and town. These areas of the cities are clusters of houses and shacks built illegally, where all basic infrastructures are absent. Water and electricity supply and other civic amenities are scarce or non existent, hygiene is low and outbreaks of diseases are common. The rate of unemployment is very high.

 

The aim of many NGOs working in the slums is to improve the basic living conditions of the large number of people living in these slums. The volunteers will have the opportunity to join hands with the local NGOs to support ongoing projects such as awareness campaigns, literacy programmes, educational projects and empowerment of minorities.

 

A prior experience and/or a good knowledge of the situation are appreciated. Working and living conditions can be harder.

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LTV O4 – MEDICAL AND HEALTH

LTV O4 A – HIV/AIDS Awareness and Care of Support

HIV and AIDS related issues are a world wide problem which is threatening the entire human population. There are many NGOs taking up this issue and working to tackle this problem. Each NGO adapts different methods; some work in promoting awareness whereas other NGOs work directly with people who are infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteers applying for this field must have some prior experience or some medical background.

 

The work is varied and will involve assisting the NGOs in their programmes. The work would predominantly be awareness raising and not practical work with AIDS patients. In these organizations, volunteers will be required to help and give counselling, to work in hospitals or homes by treating patients, participating in daily care and also to provide education and social activities.

 

LTV O4 B – Rural Medication

The regional medical colleges and government institutes conduct rural health check-ups and rural medication as part of health legislations. There is always a lack of staff support.

 

The volunteers will work and serve as medical assistants and help the rural medical team as a team member. Volunteers applying for this programme must have medical background.

LTV O4 C – Rural Midwifery

Standards of safe practices are required to reassure women who plan to deliver their babies in rural settings. Sadly, government hospitals are severely under-staffed and over-worked. Thus medical and paramedical professional assistants are severely needed in these settings. Volunteers applying for this programme must be trained in a medical or paramedical filed so as contribute in health requirements of people. The volunteers will work and serve as medical assistants and help the rural medical team as a team member, within villages and government hospitals.

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LTV O5 - SPECIAL PROJECTS

LTV O5 A – Special teaching

Do you have any vocational or special skills other than what is mentioned in our project information section above? For example, are you a musician? Are you a carpenter? Are you an Electrician? Or do you have skills in sewing? Are you a qualified teacher in Math\s or IT/Computing, website design?

 

If so, we welcome you to contact us as we can consider special projects for you in which, you could use your special skills to benefit and serve an underprivileged community.

LTV O5 B – Special learning

 

As FSL India works towards cultural understanding, and hence we collaborate with many local institutes, schools, individual groups who are working to keep the local folk art, music, culture, traditions alive. We also have an option for placing volunteers who are interested in this field, to help these mini projects by involving themselves in these art forms to learn and to give performances to spread it to others.

The different fields are:

 

Dance

Music              

Wood Carving            

Stone Carving            

Yoga               

Massage

Eco Farming

Puppetry

Please note during free time the volunteers are also expected to be engaged in some social work like teaching in the local schools or helping other volunteers in other projects. For these projects, you have to pay an extra charge of approximately Rupees 2,000 - 3,000  per month depending on the skill you want to learn.

 

 

LTV O5 C – Model Village Project - Teaching

In May 2009, FSL India initiated the Model Village Project in 8 villages located in Kanchipuram district of Chennai. As part of the Model Village Project, a group of 8 villages will be developed over a period of 4 years with a long term sustainable outcome in perspective. Through the Model Village Project we promote and undertake activities related to Education, Medical and Health, Renovation, Environment and solid waste management, Income Generation activities for the local community etc. As a volunteer in this project, you will be placed in a Teaching project in the Government schools of the Model Village in Chennai.

 

Education is an important tool for development. Teaching spoken English, basic Maths, Health and Hygiene awareness, Environmental education and conducting extracurricular activities with local school children can be a rewarding experience.

 

You will be working in a Vernacular Medium School (Tamil), which lacks in resources and/or English teaching staff.  One of the important aims of this project is to support the staff in the classroom and to bring an international dimension to learning. Your tasks will be to assist with English language learning using creative teaching methods to encourage and to improve the learning levels and cognitive skills in the students. You will also assist with extracurricular activities, inspiring children to learn new languages and learn about new cultures.

 

You may have to assist in developing teaching and learning aids with low cost or no cost locally available materials, and facilitate simulations games for the children and the teaching faculties. Undertake capacity development of teaching faculty in classroom management, children’s learning needs assessment. You will assist in designing developmentally appropriate tools and criteria for assessment children’s learning levels and cognitive skills, Individual goal setting for children with learning disability, lesson planning etc. You will be developing teaching-learning methods and pass this information (through the Final Evaluation/Report) to future volunteers with a view to creating long-term improvements to the educational model.

 

The volunteers should bring in creative ideas to initiate new activities in the school, for example, environmental, organizational or computer education. You have to love children, as you will be surrounded by them every day. If you have many ideas in teaching different kinds of activities such as games, songs, arts and crafts or sports and athletics to children then this type of project is for you! You will be teaching a variety of subjects depending on your personal interests and skills. Volunteers should have a good level of spoken English and some knowledge in teaching children will be useful.

 

Note: Please note that the project will not run between the Months of March until May.  Three weeks in October are winter holidays and depending on the school there are also holidays in December. During these months, volunteers are encouraged to take part in a summer and/or a winter holiday camp.

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Accommodation for Volunteers:

 

Accommodation for volunteers can either be at the project, in a local host family or in a hostel –

Depending on the project, location and availability.

Living with a Host Family

You could be staying with local families near to the project. You could be sharing rooms with 2-3 volunteers or staying on your own.

 

What is it like to live with a host family?

The people who host volunteers are of all kinds - couples with or without children, joint families, single parents, single people etc. Host families provide accommodation, food, emotional and moral support, and guidance. A routine day in a host family is the behind-the-screen look into the culture of the hosting country and gives an insight into the customs of a family, which is an experience like no other for anyone who wants to learn about another culture. Not only learning, but the volunteer also develops an understanding of why the culture is the way it is. Host families help you interact with the local community, which increases your chances of making friends and contacts.

 

An Indian host family requires that the volunteer who lives in their home should be willing to become part of his/her host family with the same rights, that he/she should be prepared to help with the daily household chores (clean his/her room, help to prepare meals or to clean the dishes etc.). We also expect all the volunteers to make an honest and sincere effort to share the daily life of the family he/she has to live with. Volunteer are required to participate in family activities, show interest in the family functions and celebrations, help in the kitchen and play with the children. As volunteers you are also requested to respect the timings, refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol in the house unless permitted by the family.

 

Volunteers should be prepared for basic accommodation and basic Indian food three times a day. As part of the community living experience, volunteers are expected to adjust to shared bedrooms and bathrooms, strict timings for meals, house rules and etiquettes, and dress code.

 

Living at the Project

Sometimes, projects provide accommodation for the volunteers. The project will provide a room that is shared by other volunteers or with the staff of the project. You must respect the living conditions of the project, and respect for the local environment is expected at all times. For example, there will be a designated smoking area. Volunteers also should be ready for basic accommodation and basic Indian food three times a day. As part of the community living experience, volunteers are expected to adjust to shared bedrooms and bathrooms, strict timings for meals, house rules, and dress code.

 

What happens if I am unhappy with my project or hosting facilities?

Changes of placement and hosting facilities can be made only for very special reasons, but not before the volunteer displays an attempt to adjust and overcome the challenges that are present. We kindly ask all participants to stay in their assigned placement for a minimum of one month, as we encourage volunteers to try and adapt to the new environment.

 

EXPECTATIONS

 

“Your Expectations are your worst enemy!”

What do you expect from your volunteering experience?

 

Ø  To learn about a new culture?

Ø  To eat good food?

Ø  To take part in a political and/or humanitarian act?

Ø  To receive support and to help others?

Ø  To work within a dynamic team?

Ø  To change the world?

Ø  Or simply to have fun?

 

If these expectations are not met, how will this make you feel? Disappointed? Frustrated? Useless? Let down?

 

Imagine having NO expectations, meeting your new experience with an open-mind…. Will this enhance and enrich your experience?  

 

YES! It will give you the freedom to be open to all new  possibilities and opportunities. It will give you the chance to discover new things and for you to enjoy your wonderful personal experience, by accepting and enjoying everything that you come across.

 

 

What FSL India provides for you:

Ø  A comprehensive Orientation week

Ø  A LTV Coordinator/mentor at FSL India to support you in any case

Ø  A contact person to assist you in your project

Ø  Access to reports and project information that could be useful for your project

Ø  Transportation reimbursement from accommodation to your project.

Ø  Basic accommodation and food

Ø  Evaluation Meetings and LTV Get-togethers

Ø  An experience Certificate at the end of the programme term to formally attest your participation

Ø  An opportunity to engage within a programme that can be rewarding, fulfilling, educational and a lot of fun!

Please consider the following

You have a responsibility to read and understand this profile and to have attended the preparation meeting organized by your sending organization. You must also read the Information Sheet carefully before your arrival.

We also expect you to participate in the programme, and therefore we ask you to stay for the entire length of the placement. SO PLEASE PLAN ALL THE PERSONAL TRAVEL DETAILS THAT TAKE LONGER THAN THE WEEKEND, AFTER OR BEFORE YOUR PLACEMENT. Quitting your project before the end of the programme term can cause a lot of inconvenience to the project and the people involved in it.

 

Please remember the following:

 

·         Your actions will directly or indirectly affect the reputation and image of the organization.

·         It is important to respect the local culture/values and traditions and the religious beliefs and practices of the local people.

·         Realize that the living conditions are many times different than at home (no warm water/air-conditioning, no easy access to international phone or internet, no easy transportation at all times, mosquitoes…etc)

·         To make a serious effort in integrating into the local community.

·         It is easy to de-motivate other volunteers through careless complaining. You can avoid this by expressing yourself to your LTV coordinator.

·         It is important to support FSL India in our programmes and projects.

·         To be committed and show responsibility

·         That inter-cultural exchange is a complex process but highly rewarding

·         To have a good time!

 

Please consider all these points before you apply for a long-term volunteering project at FSL India.

 

 

 

Thank You !!!!!