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Week 1 – Orientation/Introduction:
The Introduction Week is the first step towards an amazing stay in a new country! It’s an action packed and fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know India, and all of its cultural aspects, through an unforgettable immersion experience.
Participants will meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and become familiar with the local customs. The Introduction Week will take place in the historical and charming city of Mysore. Loads of new things will be introduced to you as you experience the local culture first hand.
Mysore is a pleasant city with a very rich historical and cultural background. Mysore today, retains an old world charm, contributed by its broad shady avenues, well laid out gardens, fine buildings and a salubrious climate. It is quickly getting a place on the world IT map as well. It was the capital of Mysore State before the state of Karnataka came into existence from ancient times, this district has played a significant role in the history of South India.
The Mysore District is a popular tourist destination, offering several attractions ranging from the royal splendor of Mysore City and its fabulous Dasara Festival (September-October) to exquisite temples, pilgrimage centers and scenic spots. Mysore city is at 770m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore. Also known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint charm that never fails to enchant. was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, who declared their independence in the 16th century and ruled in Mysore until independence, barring three decades when Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan wrested power from them.
Srirangapatna nearby is where Tipu Sultan made his last stand against the might of the British Empire Located in the tropics. Mysore has a moderate climate, If you are visiting Mysore during the summer months then you will see that the temperature varies from 20° Celsius to 35° Celsius while the winter temperature of Mysore remains in the range of 12° Celsius to 30° Celsius.
Our schedule will be flexible but all introduction weeks typically consist of….
India: Culture, religion, habits, customs, history, social issues, are some of the topics that we will introduce you to through group discussions, workshops and visits.
Language Skills: A first contact with an Indian language and you will learn a few phrases to get by. Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, are the languages taught depending on your project placement. India has 18 official languages, and more than 1500 dialects and sub-dialects. We will start by teaching you only one! English is widely spoken all in all major cities.
Projects: If you proceed to do a volunteer project, we will give you an overview of the ongoing projects we support and send volunteers to, and an explanation of your particular placement. There will also be a project visit on site.
General Information: Many new things will be introduced to you through some sessions on yoga, cooking, team work, project work, customs, habits, behavioral aspects, dos & dint's, and emergency preparation.
Cultural Site Visits and meeting people will acclimatize you culturally. You will have the opportunity to visit market places, and natural sites in groups or individually during free time.
Participants are asked to bring small items from their home country (photos, music, food, etc.) and share their culture with the locals and other participants.
Start dates for our Discover India Program are noted below:
· January 7, 2008
· February 4, 2008
· March 3, 2008
· March 31, 2008
· April 28, 2008
· May 26, 2008
· June 23, 2008
· July 21, 2008
· August 18, 2008
· September 15, 2008
· October 13, 2008
· November 10, 2008
· December 8, 2008
Orientation/Introduction Food and Accommodation:
The participants will be staying together in our center in shared bedrooms, and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally traditional Indian, which at times can be spicy. The breakfast varies from rice to Indian breads. For lunch and dinner you will have a variety of dishes, made of rice with Indian sauces and some vegetables.
The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don’t forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.
There are no laundry facilities, so expect to wash your own clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy.
Our Program Coordinators will take care of all activities and sessions for the entire orientation week.
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Sample Orientation/Introduction Agenda
Monday (Intro/ Welcome Day)
After a delicious South Indian breakfast, there will be an introduction on our Discover India Program followed by a calm walk through the town, where we will have lunch. After that, we will have our afternoon session back at the centre. You will learn about the cultural and social guidelines. The day will end with a warm traditional welcome party, followed by dinner.
Tuesday (Yoga/ Projects/ Cooking/ Language)
An early morning wake-up call for a rejuvenating and relaxing Yoga lesson, followed by a healthy local breakfast.
In the morning we will have a discussion regarding our volunteer projects. The next step will be a cooking lesson where you will learn to cook your first “own Indian meal”, which you can cook back home and guaranteed to wow your family and friends! We will begin the afternoon with a Kannada Lesson, after which you can relax until dinner time.
Wednesday (Yoga/ Sessions/ Indian History/ Language)
An early morning wake-up call for a rejuvenating and relaxing Yoga lesson, followed by a healthy local breakfast.
The morning session will be about the theme ‘Women Traveler’. And the afternoon session will start with an Indian history lecture, followed by a Kannada lesson. We will end the day with a tasty Indian dinner.
Thursday (Yoga/ Mysore City Tour)
The day will start with a rejuvenating Yoga lesson. After breakfast, there will be time to explore the Mysore Palace, which was the home of the Wodeyars (local Kings), followed by a visit to the museum.
After lunch, we will head towards the Jaganmohan Art Gallery and dinner back at the center.
Friday (Day Visit-Shravanabelagola)
After an early breakfast, we will take the bus to the cultural heritage site called Shravanabelogola, where you can see the tallest monolithic statue in the world! This site is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India. We will have the entire day to explore the area before we take the bus back to Mysore later in the evening.
Saturday (Day Visit-Chamundi Hills)
Another day, another exciting trip! This time we will visit the Chamundi hills where there is a temple and the statue of a bull that is worshipped! Here you will get time to enjoy the amazing surroundings and have dinner, before returning to the center.
Sunday (Free Time & Shopping Day)
We kept our Sundays free to do some local shopping and to relax and have sometime on your own, after a busy week.
*** Note: Southern India has a tropical climate with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
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Weeks 2 & 3: Participants May Experience India at its Fullest by taking part in one, or a combination of, the program options below:
Option A - Community/Group Volunteering: (offered weekly – year round)
Our Community/Group Volunteering Program is a fantastic opportunity to be a responsible traveler and make a positive contribution during your stay. You will have the opportunity to participate actively in one of our community or teaching projects as noted below. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work along with different organizations involved in the upliftment and development of the underprivileged. The slum reality is a big issue in the entire country; our aim is to spread awareness among the people and to give them more instruments to feel confident and free to decide for their future, and for the future of a new generation.
Volunteering work and intercultural travel shares a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. At times, alterations in activities are due to changes in local conditions. This is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that it is.
Most of our projects are located in Mysore and surrounding areas and you will see that the majority of our projects deal with children and youth.
Although there are no specific qualifications needed, all participants must have an eagerness to learn, share your skills and have an open mind! Participants must bring loads of enthusiasm and be dedicated to their work.
Project Options:
- *Teach English & Special Education in a self-chosen fashion to the local children at a primary school, as well as at our center premises during and after school activities.
- Work with various youth centers involved in the development of the youth in surrounding areas.
- Organize a multi-purpose project to involve the community and sensitize community/people about Health & Hygiene problems.
- Environmental Issues
- Working in Community Service Projects
- Assisting at Orphanages
- Spread awareness on Women Rights Issues and social welfare.
- First Aid/CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) Training
*If you opt for a teaching project, volunteers should have a strong level of conversational English and although prior experience in teaching is highly appreciated, it is not necessary. The most important thing is that you have to enjoy spending time surrounded by children!
The mission of these projects is multi-fold:
- Teaching English is the main task, but teaching other subjects, such as arts and crafts or sports like football, hockey, cricket and athletics is also helpful.
- Motivating the children to learn.
- Instilling social, psychological and physical security to the children.
- Interactions with the children.
- To educate the children to build a better and more conscious society.
Community/Group Volunteering Food and Accommodation:
Accommodation will vary depending on the project, but will be in shared bedrooms. The food is generally traditional Indian, which at times can be spicy. The breakfast varies from rice to Indian breads. For lunch and dinner you will have a variety of dishes, made of rice with Indian sauces and some vegetables.
The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don’t forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.
There are no laundry facilities, so expect to wash your own clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy.
Even though you may only work for a few weeks, your contribution will make a very positive impact!
Option B - Culture: (offered on designated dates – contact IIVN for further information.)
Our culture week is a mix of travel, learning and lifestyle. It will be a great way to commence your second week in India and be a fantastic opportunity to get a first hand intro into the Indian culture.
During this week you will participate in basic Indian meditation lessons and visit several places of interest in Southern India. In this way you will be able to experience Indian cultural and religious diversity first-hand!
The program will have loads of places to visit including the historical temples in Nanjangud, the Golden Temple (Tibetan-Buddhist Monastery) and the historical town of Srirangapatna from where Tipu Sultan known as the Tiger of Mysore defied the British Empire and where he made his last stand against them before going down fighting and leading from the front.
Sample Culture Week Schedule and Activity
Monday (Indian Religion & Meditation Classes)
After breakfast, a documentary on Indian religion will be screened, which will give us a deeper insight into the various religions in India. After this, we will have a session on meditation followed by simple meditation techniques, which will keep you busy until dinner time.
Tuesday (Meditation Classes)
The entire day is dedicated to the power of meditation that helps you discover your inner strength and power, with breaks for lunch and dinner.
Wednesday (Meditation & Temple Visit)
We will start the day with a refreshing meditation session. After lunch we will take a trip to the historical temple in Nanjangud, and will be back at the center in time for dinner.
Thursday (Visit to the Tibetan Settlement & Temple Visit)
After breakfast we will take the bus to the Golden Temple (an Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Monastery), where you can observe the monks rituals during the course of the day. We will have some typical Tibetan food for lunch. You can also purchase souvenirs from some shops, which you can find near the temple. After that we will take the bus back to the center.
Friday (Cultural Visit)
After breakfast, we will take the bus to the historical town of Srirangapatna, where the Tiger of Mysore- Tipu Sultan constructed a fort. The fort was where Tipu Sultan made his last stand against the might of the British Empire. He died with a bloodied sword in his sand while leading from the front, defending a breach made in the fort wall.
There is an ancient temple from the 9th century with beautiful carvings and fort walls, which is called Ranganathaswamy. You will also visit the Mosque built by Tipu Sultan and the tomb where he is laid to rest. You will also be invited to take a walk near the river (Sangam), which is called the meeting of the three rivers. After which we take the bus back to the center just in time for dinner.
Saturday & Sunday
Free Time
Culture Week Food and Accommodation:
The participants will be staying together in our center in shared bedrooms, and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally traditional Indian, which at times can be spicy. The breakfast varies from rice to Indian breads. For lunch and dinner you will have a variety of dishes, made of rice with Indian sauces and some vegetables.
Accommodation will be in different guesthouses and will be clean and comfortable. The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don't forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.
There are no laundry facilities, so expect to wash your own clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy.
Our Program Coordinators will take care of all activities and sessions for the entire week.
*** Note: Southern India has a tropical climate with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
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Option C – Body & Mind: (offered weekly – year round)
Experience the power of Yoga & Ayurveda!
The word Ayurveda is derived from the two Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda (knowledge), meaning Knowledge of Life! Ayurveda is a 7000 years old ancient Indian science, which teaches "The art of Living". It teaches how to live a life without physiological and psychological ailments by making simple changes is your lifestyle.
Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" which means Union thus yoga means Union of mind and body. There is more to yoga than physical exercises, learn about different paths of yoga, do’s and don’ts, postures, breathing techniques and mediation to free you from stress, anxiety and physical ailments.
During this week, practice and learn from our experts in healing techniques of Ayurveda, Yoga & Meditation to have a healthy body and a sound mind.
Meditation is the art of focusing your mind, restraining your thoughts and looking deep into yourself. Practicing it can give you a better understanding of your purpose in life and of the divine, as well as provide you with certain physical and mental health benefits.
Our daily schedule will look as follows: The mornings start early with the Sunrise and followed with a guided Meditation session, followed by a Yoga Lesson.
The afternoons will have sessions on Ayurveda learning and an Ayurveda detox treatment. The evening will also have a guided Meditation session and breathing techniques.
1. Beginners:
They will be taught Surya Namaskar, commonly known as Sun Salutation or Sun Vitilation. This contains 12 consecutive Asanas. It is the only Asana which is done consecutively and gives flexibility to the body making the students fit to do second stage Yogasana.
2. Second Stage:
Students who practiced the Surya Namaskar properly will be taught several more Asanas or postures (maybe 15 depending on the student).
3. Advanced Stage:
Students completing the second stage will be taught further Asanas.
4. Pranayama – Yogic Breathing:
Those who have completed the advanced stage, can enter the interesting field of breathing. Various techniques of breathing to cool the body, heat the body, breathing for concentration, and breathing for cleaning the body from toxic air will be taught.
During the Ayurvedic treatment you will experience an Ayurvedic Massage with herbal oils, a Body Scrub which will help in overall blood circulation, removes toxins and bring the natural glow back to your skin. You will also receive a Dhara treatment where warm oil flows through a vessel straight onto your forehead at a slow pace, this will help in soothing your forehead and help clear sinuses and mental obstructions, and will set you in the relax mood.
During the entire week you could also go for long walks in the gardens, enjoy nature, or simply relax.
Food will be vegetarian and will contain lots of fresh fruit and tropical veggies, the menu’s are carefully selected to make you feel refreshed and more energetic. Participants are advised to refrain from smoking or consuming alcohol and soft drinks.
Mental & Physical Benefit
The physical and mental benefits received from this program are enormous if practiced in daily life. In general, practice of yoga, meditation and ayurveda will help bring down stress, relives physical ailments, boosts physical strength, stamina and flexibility, boosts impulse control, and bestows great skill in concentration and self control. They also enhance mental clarity, and boosts the functioning of the immune system while improving overall blood circulation and results in healthy glowing skin and in making you feel younger. Meditation itself will help infuse a sense of balance and help bestow peace of mind, and a more positive and peaceful outlook on life.
Option D – Trekking: (offered on designated dates – contact IIVN for further information.)
For the next week, you will have the opportunity to explore India at its wildest! Do an Environmental Trek in the Mudumalai national park with our experienced Guides and go wildlife spotting with them in some of South India's largest reserve forests. Following the national park adventure, you will visit the Blue mountains (called the Nilgiris locally) and the famous South Indian hill station-Ooty, where you can do some more trekking and visit the tea estates and gardens.
Sample Trekking Agenda
Monday (Elephant Camp & Night Safari)
We will take the bus to Mudumalai National Park, which is a 3-hour bus ride from the centre. After lunch, we will visit the Elephant Camp, where you can see the animals being fed. Before dinner, we will go for a night safari in the jeeps, before we retire for the day.
Tuesday (Elephant Ride & Trek)
We will rise early in the morning to take an elephant ride and then will go for breakfast. You will then have some free time to walk around and see the natural surroundings. After lunch, we head for a trek into the forest guided by professionals. We will come back just before dinner and rest for the night.
Wednesday (Visit Ooty)
After an early breakfast, we will enjoy a bus safari, after which we will head towards Ooty - a 3 hour bus ride. We will arrive in Ooty and we will take a relaxing stroll through the town.
Thursday (Ooty)
We will enjoy a boat ride right after breakfast. And after lunch, we will visit the famous botanical garden, where you can enjoy viewing the beautiful displays of a wide variety of flowers. After dinner, we will have a good night rest and prepare ourselves for the next day.
Friday (Trek & Tea Gardens)
We will have an early breakfast and, after that, there will be a half-day trek through the mountains and a stroll through the tea gardens. If we are not too tired by this time, we can visit a tea factory, where you can buy some fresh tea leaves to stimulate the body. We will have dinner at a restaurant.
Saturday
After breakfast we will return to Mysore, which is a 6 hours bus ride. We will stay in Mysore for the night at the center.
Sunday
We will leave to Bangalore after breakfast .We have lunch and then it free time until we take the bus ride to Goa, which is an overnight journey.
Trekking Food and Accommodation:
The participants will be staying together in our center in shared bedrooms, and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally traditional Indian, which at times can be spicy. The breakfast varies from rice to Indian breads. For lunch and dinner you will have a variety of dishes, made of rice with Indian sauces and some vegetables.
Accommodation will be in different guesthouses and will be clean and comfortable. The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don’t forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.
There are no laundry facilities, so expect to wash your own clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy.
Our Program Coordinators will take care of all activities and sessions for the entire week.
*** Note: Southern India has a tropical climate with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
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Week 4 – Beach Week:
Relax by the Beach-that’s what this week is all about! We have an ideal program for you to relax, have fun and enjoy the lovely beaches of Goa.
Goa is one of India’s most cherished places and has been a renowned travelers paradise. It’s beautiful green lushy landscape, dense palm groves, Portuguese style white washed churches, rich culture, sandy beaches, white washed churches, and colorful festivals all make up the Goa Experience.
The Goan beaches possess a charming and soothing effect that acts like a balm on the soul, while the wind whispers through rustling palm fronds on swaying palm trees. The cool breeze wafting over you as you relax and imbibe the goodness of sunshine on the beach as you sunbathe is an amazing feeling.
The Beach week is at the end of the month so that you can enjoy the other side of the country, which you came to know so well in the past few weeks. This is also the time for you to be together with the other participants in evaluating your cultural experience.
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Sample Beach Week and Activity
Monday (Arrival)
We will arrive at the location on one of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. We will have breakfast by the beach, and then its free time to relax and enjoy the surroundings. You can stroll on the streets, rent a bicycle and explore the landscape or check out the shops or simply just relax on the beach which is an idyllic location surrounded by palm trees.
Tuesday (Local Cuisine)
After breakfast we will take a cool walk around the beach and spend time near the beach. We will have all our meals near the beach and will try some local Cuisine, so that we can continue to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Wednesday (Dolphin Ride)
We will get up early in the morning and take the boat out to sea for a view of dolphins and, if we are lucky, we can see other types of fish, which can be found in this part of the sea.
Thursday & Friday (Free day)
Free time to relax and sunbathe on the beach.
Saturday
Free during the day, and we will leave after an early dinner to the bus station, where we will take a sleeper evening bus to Bangalore.
Sunday
We will arrive in the latter part of the morning in Bangalore, where we will have our last lunch together, after which you will be taken by one of our coordinators to your project.
Beach Week Food and Accommodation:
The volunteers will be staying together in comfortable beach huts situated on the beach and will partake all three meals together. The food is generally continental and Indian food. So you can decide from the menu of the day, which the team leader would have. The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don’t forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.
There are no laundry facilities, so expect to wash your own clothes by hand. All participants are expected to be environmentally responsible and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and tidy. Our Program Coordinators will take care of all activities and sessions for the entire orientation week.
*** Note: Southern India has a tropical climate with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.
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Program Extension: Participants who decide to extend their program up to a maximum of 6 months, will spend the extended time at one of the options outlined above. Due to our strong social commitment, we send volunteers to “active projects” where they will play a meaningful role in the local community. Several projects are run by our partner organization and we also co-operate with a variety of local NGO’s across the country.
Participants may choose to extend this program up to a maximum of 6 months for an additional fee of $200.00 USD per week.
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Other Important Information
Things to bring:
- Backpack (it is very important that you bring your back pack as you will be traveling to many places and it is the easiest way to travel.)
- A sleeping bag and/or bed sheets (depending on your placement project). You may require warm clothes or blankets based on the time of year you visit.
- Mosquito or insect repellent
- Suntan lotion or sunscreen
- Camera (waterproof is helpful but not necessary)
- Flash light with extra batteries (electricity cuts are frequent!)
- First aid kit
- Swimming Suit
- Raincoat
- Photos, music, snacks and crafts from home – you may want to share with the locals and talk about these things and your culture.
- Clothes; both casual and formal
- Medicines you may require: if you have to take specific medicines on a regular basis, bring them along. Otherwise, be aware that most basic medicines and even antibiotics are available in India (for a much cheaper price!).
Money: The national currency of India is the Rupee. All moneychangers in India accept US Dollars, Euros, G.B. Pounds. Please be aware that some of them take a commission for the service.
Most major cities and tourist centers accept credit cards, with MasterCard, American Express and Visa being the most widely accepted.
Money Transfers may be done in no time via Thomas Cook’s money gram service or at Western Union, both of which have branches throughout India. To collect your cash from a transaction, bring your passport and the name and reference number of the person who sent the funds.
Working Hours: Expected working hours differ from 5-7 hours/day in schools through 8 hours in other projects. In some projects there may be more than one volunteer, but this cannot be guaranteed, because you can be the only one to sign up for a certain project at that time.
Passport & Visa: Your passport should be valid at least a minimum of 6 months after the return date for issuing a Visa. Regular Tourist Visas are given for either 3 or 6 months at the nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate. Your purpose of visit should be TOURISTIC, nothing else. The visa is given from the date of issue and note from the dates you mention in the application. Extension of this visa in India is not possible. This can only be done in Indian Embassies that are located outside India. All visitors must have a return ticket. For visas longer than 6 months, we will provide you with an invitation letter.
Upon arrival, please give your program coordinator a copy of your passport and airline ticket. These will be kept safely in their office in the event the originals are lost or stolen.
Vaccinations: All updated information about vaccinations is available at www.who.org. There is no compulsory vaccination to enter India, however, it is recommended to undertake the following: Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid. | | | | | |
