Come and help us around our School & Farm in Kochi Kerala, India

  • Favourited 537 times
  • Last activity: 16 Feb 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    ---**** Village, Idukki ****---

    We are in the beginning stages to develop our mountain top land, and there are few projects we have in mind. We are interesting in natural building and setting up the place. We usually live in Kochi, but we plan to spend more time at the land for the building projects. We are a family of 5, with 3 children under 10 years old.

    We are part of learning community in Kochi, and a few of the community members also come up to the mountain occasionally to do some small projects.

    The location is in Idukki mountains, Kerala, South India. The land is around 7 acres, with a few mountain tops for beautiful views. The closest town is Puthedu, and the site is 2 hours away from Cochin.

    We do a lot of local trips around Idukki to connect with others regarding eco building and permaculture, we do walks and hikes around the mountain, meet with the locals, or just relax and spend time at the streams.


    ---- Learning Community, Kochi -------

    We run an self-directed education learning center that focuses on creating an environment of learning for children ages 3 to 11. The center is open from 9:30am - 3pm. Our children are involved in activities all through the day like playing, clay work, cooking, painting , handwork etc.
    - Our Kindergarten environment is inspired by the Waldorf - Steiner system of education.
    - For children ages 6+ we follow a open and self-directed learning environment that incorporates aspects of Democractic system/Sudbury valley/ Agile Learning Center & Steiner approach.

    We want volunteers to take up specific projects of your interest when you volunteer here. This is how everyone in our community learn, by getting exposed and getting a chance to participate in volunteer projects. Some of the past projects were:
    - building a tree house
    - setting up a sensory walkway
    - theatre Improvisation & games for adults
    - making bag holders
    - introduce new games to children

    You will be hosted at our home, we are a family of 5, we have three children - two daughters 7 and 2yo, and a son, 5yo. We welcome families with children, married couples or singles!

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Help around the house
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    ---**** Village, Idukki ****---
    We do a lot of local trips around Idukki to connect with others regarding eco building and permaculture, we do walks and hikes around the mountain, meet with the locals, or just relax and spend time at the streams.

    Workawayers would learn about natural building, permaculture, developing a site, and many other things. We will be cooking Indian, Indonesian and other cuisines. We love to learn other cuisines too.

    -- Learning Community, Kochi ----
    You will learn about the local culture when you stay with us. You will be part of the routine at the Kindergarten/Learning community. We also do local farm visits/local outings every month, if trip happens during your visit, you can join us for visit.

    While staying with our family, you'll also get a chance to join us on our local outings, temples, eat local food etc.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

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

  • Help

    Help

    ---**** Village, Idukki ****---
    This is the work that is planned for the next 3 months
    March - April 2021 - Wattle & Daub Cottage
    April 2021 - Make a series of ponds
    May 2021 - Tree planting

    From what we've learned so far, we usually work for 4-5 hours between 9 am and 3:30 pm, take a break for meals and we are free from 3:30 pm.
    We are expecting volunteers to stay from 2 - 3 weeks. The project will require much physical labor.

    AND we're also looking for help with cooking family meals and to be with the children while we work.

    Workawayer activities:
    Building
    Digging, Weaving Walls and Daubing
    Permaculture design
    Cooking family/community meals
    Be around the children and explore the area with them

    ---- Learning Community, Kochi -------

    To help out with the learning community, we've found it to be important for you to have some alternative education background (homeschooling, unschooling, Sudbury, Waldorf etc). That was you'll be able to better integrate and support what we're doing.

    - We would love to host a Waldorf/Steiner teachers, or Sudbury/Democratic schooling facilitators for the obvious reasons :)

    - We would love to host experienced permaculturist to set up our garden area in an optimum way.

    - We need immediate help (January 2020) in setting up chicken coop area and general backyard chicken maintenance practice.

    - We love to host people with skills such as pottery, carpentry, handwork (knitting, crochet, sewing etc), arts, painting, musical instruments and so on. We always have small projects to be done around the school (small stools, small gates etc).

    - We love to host people who've started or is running an alternative schools, to share experiences and so forth.

    - We're open to hosting chiropractors as there are none in Kochi :)

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Indonesian: Fluent
    Malayalam: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    ---**** Village, Idukki ****---
    Covered Shed without Walls
    Tent and basic bedding
    Compost toilet
    Shower with fresh mountains spring water

    -- Learning Community, Kochi ----
    You will be staying with our family in our guest room. The room has private shower, and a bunk bed (queen and single size)

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    ---**** Village, Idukki ****---
    Lot of hikes to do in the area.
    Some nearby attractions
    1. Illikal Kallu - 5 km difficult hike
    2. Vagamon - 20 km drive
    3. Idukki - 90 mins drive
    4. Kumily - 2 hrs drive

    -- Learning Community, Kochi ---
    There a lot to see in and around our area including beaches, churches, local shopping streets and much more.
    Close by is the biggest shopping mall in India (Lulu Mall) which might be interesting to see. Fort Kochi is also a nice place to go to for the day which is accessible by local transport. Volunteers might also want to go to Alleppy for the quintessential Kerala houseboat ride experience, which is only 1.5 hours away by bus.

  • 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?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    5 hours a day, Monday - Friday

Host ref number: 246763542625

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