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Qualified teachers or healthcare professionals welcomed in a peaceful part of Gujarat, India

  • Favourited 687 times
  • Last activity: 28 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    The organisation is a registered charity in India, UK and USA, It is situated in the outskirts of a village called Nar in a very peaceful part of Gujarat. This is a very peaceful and spiritual place with a beautiful huge temple in the middle of the campus with lots of greenery including fruit and vegetable garden.

    In the morning you will wake up to the singing parrots on the trees ready to take flight for the day, peacocks running through the fields in the morning and monkeys swinging from the trees.

    We have a school which provides education to children from the age of 4yrs to 16yrs.
    We also have a mobile "Hospital at your door service" which provides primary healthcare to surrounding 32 villages.

    We welcome volunteers for both our community services in Education and Healthcare.

    We welcome: -
    • Primary and Secondary school teachers
    • All Health Care and medical professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacist)
    • Teaching and Learning Assistants
    • College or University Professors and lecturers
    • Retired Professionals from all Occupations and Skills set
    • Self-employed professionals
    • Professionals e.g. Lawyers, Accountants, Engineers, Artist, musicians, photographers, Graphic designers, IT sector,
    Engineers, Administrators, writers, Sports etc. who can make a contribution to Occupational/skills based learning
    and extra curriculum activities with the children.

    ABOUT OUR SCHOOL:-

    The school is part of a campus which also has a Care Home for the elderly, a cow shed, mineral water plant, hostel for children, a beautiful temple and a fruit and vegetable garden.

    There are currently around 850 students, drawn from 40 surrounding villages. The school caters for children from 3 years old in the nursery, through to standard 10 (14/15 years old). The school is expanding rapidly due to its high standard of teaching, learning, innovation and international links as children and teachers are encouraged to work in collaboration with other schools locally and internationally.

    The school day runs from 07.45 in the morning to 13.30 Monday to Saturday. The academic year has two terms, from mid June to October and November to April. Students take exams towards the end of both terms. We welcome Volunteers throughout the year except during Diwali vacation and summer vacation when the school is closed (So please check vacation dates with us).

    ABOUT OUR HOSPITAL AT YOUR DOOR SERVICE:-

    We provide a mobile primary care service to 32 surrounding villages, where locals can consult with a qualified medical practitioner and nursing staff, and receive medicines at the flat token cost of just 10rupees .

    • Four full-time employees (doctor, nurse, assistant and driver) travel with the fully equipped mobile hospital and dispensary to fixed locations daily.
    • The service is open to everyone regardless of any differentiating factor (age, gender, religion, caste, background)
    • Our employees remain essential to the efficient management and maintenance of this service, graciously dedicating their time and expertise in the service of others.
    • We aim to maintain continuity in the relationship between the patients and doctors, ensuring uninterrupted progress on symptoms, advice and general care.

    This service has benefitted over 98,342 people in total (and approx. 70 people each day) in our community with timely, affordable and localised healthcare.

    Every day the team goes to 5 different villages in every village there is a small office, or a temple, or even some people allows the team to use their houses in order to be used as a pop up clinic, the team stays around one or two hours in every village depending on the size of the village and need, during the teams stay in the village patients arrive and are diagnosed and provided with a medical assistance. The program has a stock of basic medications which is provided to the patients. All this work is under the supervision of a lead program Doctor.

    The Hospital at your Door Service leaves the Campus at 08.30am and returns back to campus around 12.30 for lunch and rest. Then leaves again around 2.00pm and returns back at 5.30 pm. This mobile service is from Monday to Saturday. However, a detailed time table can be worked out on your arrival to suit the number of hours and days.

    If you want to also experience cultural events and festivals, which take place in the campus e.g. Kite festival, Republic day celebrations, Navratri celebrations , mass marriage, eye camp, tricycle distribution for disabled, tiffin service to local hospitals and other health initiatives in surrounding villages then some of these activates and initiatives take place through out the year and some annually in January and February of each year.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Elderly Companionship
    Teaching
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    This is an opportunity for volunteers to be able to stay and experience a rural way of living in a small village. Learn about the Swaminarayan Hindu culture as well as be able to contribute to children's education in a school and Hostel situated in a very rural and peaceful part of Gujarat.

    As a healthcare/Medical professional you will be able to provide a community service and also learn about rural areas and villages.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    FOR THE SCHOOL:-

    As a volunteer you would support the children and teachers in the school and hostel. We would particularly welcome volunteers who have some experience and interest of teaching English or other subjects and are also native English speakers from U.S.A, U.K, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and India. OR Fluent English speakers from other countries.

    You must be educated to a degree level AND hold a TEFL/CELTA/EAL/PGCE/NQT/NVQ OR an equivalent teaching qualification from your home country AND classroom teaching experience.

    We also welcome volunteers from a Professional background and experience e.g. Lawler, Doctors, Accountants, IT Professionals, Health care professions, Photographers, Dance and music therapist, Speech and Language therapist, self employed professionals etc.... However, you must have experience of working with children and be fluent in speaking, listening and understanding in English Language and have experience of working with children.

    We welcome volunteers to:-

    • Provide support to the children and teachers improve their speaking, listening, reading
    and writing skills in English and contribute to other subjects
    • One to one support to those with special educational needs/disability
    • Contribute to the teaching and learning experience by fun, creative and innovative methods
    and prepare joint lesson plans with our teachers.
    . Plan and deliver lessons jointly or independently with the classroom teachers.
    • Help with creating educational games, sports and craft activities
    . Sing and play a musical instrument
    • contribute to activities, seminars, meetings, parent’s day, festivals, sports and school trips/picnics and assembly
    • Play games, puzzles, music, reading, storytelling, give ICT and library support
    • Extra-curricular activities with hostel/boarding students in the campus in the afternoon
    . Help children with homework and one to one support in the Hostel/Boarding
    • help create activities for developing listening & speaking skills.
    • Deliver presentations about your home country/town, e.g. Places of Interest, food, festivals, culture etc.
    • Facilitate debates on various topics to build confidence and improve communication skills in English
    . Add value to lesson plans, especially in English language skills
    . Cover for absent teachers where there might be a need

    On site, there is a computer room with broadband access, a music room, a library and an Interactive classroom with Smart board facilities which is used by the children, teachers and volunteers.

    Your main role would be to volunteer in the school, which is in the campus. however, there is also a fruit garden, cow shed, temple and a care home for the elderly so volunteers have plenty of opportunities to interact and be involved with a range of activities in the campus during out of school hours. So this is your opportunity to learn about other areas of our charitable work, make a positive contribution in other areas, learn about the schools ethos and culture whilst making your stay with us more interesting and variable.

    The campus also runs "a mobile hospital at your door Service" which covers surrounding villages by providing healthcare services and medication. Volunteers can get involved in this should they wish to during out of school hours and this would be a opportunity to visit surrounding villages if they wish to gain an insight into this programme.


    FOR THE HOSPITAL AT YOUR DOOR SERVICE:-

    We welcome volunteers from all medical and healthcare professions e.g. Doctors, Paramedics, health emergency professionals, nurses, pharmacist, physiotherapist including any other primary healthcare professionals.

    You will also have opportunity to be involved in the school's annual function, other community projects e.g. mass marriage, eye camp, health checks. But this depends on the duration of your stay with us and time of your visit to the campus.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Gujarati: Fluent
    Hindi: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    The school children are very eager to learn and practice English language, and you can learn Hindi or Gujarati in the school.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    The nearest airport is Ahmedabad International airport, in Gujarat. The school campus is about 2 hours’ drive from the airport. All teachers/volunteers/gap year students would be picked up from the airport to ensure a safe journey to the campus.

    Free facilities provided during your entire stay as a volunteer is safe/secure en-suite accommodation with bedding/linen, laundry service, all meals, Internet access, mineral water, tea/coffee in the school campus. The rooms are well-equipped, with fans, en-suite bathrooms.

    During your stay in the campus you will feel part of the Indian community experiencing the local cultural and way of life in a very peaceful part of India.

    Meals are vegetarian only and are served in the communal dining hall with the other residents of the campus. Each meal is freshly prepared daily in our kitchen and is typical of traditional Gujarati Swaminarayan (no onion and garlic) vegetarian food. There is a mineral water plant within the campus so environmentally friendly, fresh mineral water is freely available throughout your stay.

    The dress code is smart during your entire stay with us and you must follow the cultural norms by dressing modestly at all times. Females teachers must wear Salwar Khameez and male teachers to wear smart shirt and trousers.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    You will get a feel for the real India as the campus is not in a tourist area but a very rural peaceful area with lots of peacocks, monkeys bouncing in the fields and green/yellow parakeets in their thousands on tress . Therefore volunteers need to be comfortable with green peaceful environment where there are no clubs or bars.

    The nearest city is “Anand” which is about 30 minutes drive. Anand has railway connection to other parts of India should you wish to travel to other parts of India either before or after your volunteering period with us.

    This volunteering opportunity in the school and hostel is for those volunteers who are seeking a peaceful green environment away from the crowded, noisy and polluted cities but in a very rural part of India. Volunteers must have an interest in teaching and helping the children whilst learning about the rural life, language, customs and culture of the local Swaminarayan community in Gujarat.

    Past volunteers have told us that they would recommend ideally volunteering with a companion/friend rather than on their own if they are visiting a rural part of India for the first time, unless of course you are someone who is well travelled, confident and comfortable with volunteering alone in a very rural area. Where possible we try to buddy you up with other volunteers if you are volunteering alone.

    When leaving the school campus we do where possible provide a buddy to help you with your local shopping, travels to farms, villages, temples and for your own safety, security until you are familiar with the local area. This is also to help you navigate through the local language, so hope this is seen in a positive and non-intrusive spirit.

    If you are interested in volunteering with us, have the appropriate qualification, skills, knowledge, experience and a four week minimum commitment then a detailed list of Frequently Asked Questions and an application form will be sent to you by the volunteer coordinator. Once you have completed and returned your application form, in all cases an interview/chat will be conducted via Zoom or what's app video call before a placement is offered and specific dates finalised and confirmed.

    Our volunteer co-ordinator (who is also a volunteer is based in London) will provide you with further details. This is a free service to ensure we get the right volunteers and also the volunteers receive a personalized information and tips to prepare for their volunteering opportunity with us. Hopefully this way expectations are managed well from someone who understands both East and West cultures.


    This Volunteering Opportunity in the school is for:-
    1) Those who are Fluent in English Language;
    2) Have experience of working with children and/or a teaching qualification;
    3) Serious about teaching in a school in a rural and peaceful part of India;
    4) Be able to commit of a minimum of 4 weeks in our school. However, we very much welcome volunteers who wish to stay for a longer period.


    If you are a Healthcare/Medical Professionals than this volunteering Opportunity is for:-
    1) Those who are Fluent in English Language;
    2) Is a Health Care/medical professional with the right qualifications, skills knowledge and experience
    3) Be able to commit of a minimum of 4 weeks in a rural part of Gujarat. However, we very much welcome volunteers who wish to stay for a longer period.


    IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU INCLUDE YOUR DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE MESSAGE SO THAT WE CAN SEND YOU AN APPLICATION FORM, VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTION AND A LIST OF FAQS WHICH GIVES MORE DETAILS.

    WE HAVE A VERY STRICT NO SMOKING, NO ALCOHOL AND NO DRUGS POLICY FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS DURING THEIR ENTIRE STAY WITH US. THIS INCLUDES IN AND OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL AND CAMPUS.

    IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, THEN PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR DIRECT EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN CONTACTING US SO THAT AN APPLICATION FORM AND A LIST OF FAQS WHICH GIVES YOU MORE DETAILS CAN BE EMAILED TO YOU.


    WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

    NAMASTE

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 5 hours per day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 887258236899

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