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Build Rural Volunteer Program
Himachal or Rajasthan, India
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Comments from our Volunteers |
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Volunteer Activities |
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Repair and revamp day care centers and rural elementary schools |
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Renovate the houses of impoverished local people |
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Help villagers modernize local community centers |
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Motivate and organize teams of village children to clean local parks and streets |
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Promote hygiene and health care |
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Educate local people on HIV/AIDS prevention |
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| Volunteer Program at a Glance |
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Start Dates:
March 11th, April 8th, May 6th, June 3rd , July 1st and 29th, August 26th, Sep 23rd , Oct 21st , Nov 18th, and Dec 16th
Program Length:
Minimum: 2 weeks, Maximum: 3 weeks |
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Program Cost:
2 Weeks:
US $1,595
3 Weeks:
US $1,895
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Cost includes:
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Airport pickup and drop-off |
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On-site orientation and program training |
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All daily transportation to and from the program |
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Accommodations at shared dorm style rooms |
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Three meals per day |
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In-country support and program coordination |
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24-hour local emergency support |
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Morning yoga sessions |
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Visit to Taj Mahal |
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Weekend excursions |
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Volunteer donation |
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Schedule:
Volunteers will typically work 6 to 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. The exact details of your day will be decided during your volunteer orientation. Schedules vary depending on program needs. Volunteers should remain flexible. Evenings are typically free. |
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What Volunteers Can Do: |
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Make essential contributions to isolated Indian villages when you volunteer with our Build Rural India Program. Over the course of two to three weeks, volunteers in India will work hand-in-hand with local residents to advance community development and social awareness. You will volunteer in impoverished villages that have been largely cut off from mainstream development and are in much need of economic and social aid. The villages are dependent on agriculture and their residents remain poor—the per capita income is around $300 a year. |
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Why Volunteer in India? |
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Despite India's recent economic growth, the country's rural villages remain much as they were two decades ago. Rural schools lack qualified teachers, and health care is not adequate. Telephone service is rare, and electricity is a precious commodity. While one side of India is advancing into the future, another side is stuck in the past.
Many villages in both Rajasthan and Himachal have been cut off from mainstream development. They are dependent on agriculture for much of their livelihood, but drought is a common occurrence, causing villagers to remain chronically poor. Per capita income is around $300 a year. |
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India Build Rural Program Goals: |
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As a volunteer with our Build Rural India Program, you will help villagers by working with them to repair and beautify long-neglected but essential buildings, such as day care centers, primary schools, and the homes of poverty-stricken families. Depending on the needs of the program you could also paint school interiors, plant flowers and trees at school campuses, prepare local facilities for sports activities, and assist with cleaning and repairs throughout the buildings and homes.
Volunteers may also participate in one of several public-awareness campaigns. These will focus on hygiene and health care, nutrition and balanced diet, HIV/AIDS prevention, the importance of breastfeeding, and how to avoid IDD (Iodine Deficiency Disorders). Regardless of what specific programs you participate in, you will surely make vital contributions to otherwise neglected villages during your time in India. Your influence and service will be felt for years to come. |
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Airport Pickup and Orientation: |
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After arriving in New Delhi, you will be picked up by a volunteer coordinator and taken to a hotel. The following day, you will be transported to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal. The next day, you will arrive in the village where you will spend the duration of your stay. |
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Transportation: |
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Airport pickup and drop-off |
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All transfers required by the program |
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All train journeys and other local transportation at program locations |
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Accommodations: |
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Volunteers will stay in shared, dorm-style rooms (2 to 3 people per room). You will be provided with shared toilets and showers, as well as access to the kitchen and dining areas. |
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Meals: |
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Three meals a day are included in this program. During excursions, you will be served breakfast. |
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In-Country Support: |
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You can expect help from program coordinators, field guides, and fellow volunteers. We also provide a 24-hour cell phone number for emergencies. |
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India Excursions: |
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2-day, 1-night trip to Ranthambore National Tiger Reserve, including 2 tiger safaris. |
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2-day, 1-night trip to the Hindu religious town of Pushkar, including a desert camel ride (for 3-week participants only). |
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2-day, 1-night visit to Amritsar, the holiest town of the Sikh religion. You will also visit the Golden Temple and witness a border closing ceremony at Wagah. |
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2-day, 1-night trip to McLeod Ganj, home of the Dalai Lama (for 3-week participants only). |
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Insurance for Volunteers: |
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BridgeVolunteers provides emergency travel insurance for participants. For more information, please read our Insurance page. |
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