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We are a NGO based in Wayanad, Kerala. Our organisation was established in 1987 and since then it has focused its work on empowering tribes, Dalits and women that are economically and socially disadvantaged, along with marginalised farmers with less than two acres of land within the Wayanad Region.
More recently our aim is to develop accommodation facilities, to provide an International Yoga and Ayurvedic Centre, residential training courses in several areas in line with our work and aims, and guest / holiday / backpacker accommodation. The money generated from these new areas will be used to support our primary aims of empowering the socially and economically disadvantaged people.
Past key intervention areas have included Micro Finance Programmes for Livelihood Improvement, Organic Agriculture, Natural Resource Management and Environment Protection, Women's Empowerment, Development and Diffusion of Appropriate Technology, Networking Collaboration with other Organisations and Government Departments.
Gardening
Building
Cooking / shopping
General Maintenance
Farming
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Helping with Tourists
Charity work
Art project
Other
Help with Computers / internet
Teaching
We are currently going through a transition period and due to cuts in funding, we are finding much difficulty in continuing our services to the community. Our current short-term goal is to generate funding independently here on site. We seek to renovate and decorate a number of buildings for using them as guest rooms. From here our guests could explore the beautiful Wayanad region, take part in daily yoga and/or meditation classes, Ayurveda and massage therapy or simply just enjoy relaxing amongst the tranquility that nature offers here.
Volunteering needs
Volunteers with good marketing and advertisement skills for our clay jewelry shop.
Film makers for assisting in our projects such as solar home lighting systems, etc.
Yoga/meditation trainers to provide classes in our center.
We are humbly requesting help from website makers to host the website.
We are seeking long-term volunteers for a period of .1 - 6+ months to help with our construction/renovation projects/guest management projects:
*We would most welcome skilled construction workers/teams and carpenters to help finish constructing a building situated on the site. We have plans drawn up by an architect to construct this space into seven guest rooms with bathrooms and a communal area. This will require a lot of help to complete. Therefore, we have a preference for those that can commit to a longer stay. The building is currently partially constructed consisting of outer walls and inner support posts only. We need to finish the structural construction and install electrics, windows and plumbing.
*Painters, decorators or furniture makers to renovate the dormitories’ walls and furniture and to decorate the on-site Ayurveda centre.
*Volunteers with skills in gardening and/or landscaping to help us develop a small fruit and vegetable garden. We plan to turn some unused land into a vegetable garden which volunteers can maintain throughout the year.
*Volunteers to manage and help grow our internet presence: We need help in advertising and marketing our holiday accommodation and ayurvedic packages.
We need someone with good written English and IT skills to help managing emails, accommodation requests from our listed websites, creating publications, Facebook updates and possibly a blog.
Another future project includes the construction of a number of tree houses around the grounds that will offer a unique stay experience. We ask for anybody with experience in tree house design that can offer their knowledge and ideas on how to bring this plan into fruition to get in touch.
We also very much welcome short-term volunteers to help with more general, ongoing jobs and lighter tasks such as maintenance of the grounds, small painting and gardening jobs, photography, Facebook/blog support and building/arranging a library, shop, lounge and communal area. Unfortunately at this time, we cannot provide short-term volunteers with free accommodation and food but can offer them at a discounted rate.
If you have any skills that are not listed above but you feel you might help us, bring our plans into fruition, please don’t hesitate to contact us, as there might be something that can be arranged for you.
English
Accommodation is available as follows:
- 2x Dormitories (sleeping up to 10 in each); and
- 1x Guesthouse (sleeping up to 8 people in 4 rooms)
The accommodation is very flexible and we are able to cater for large groups. Dormitories are spacious and all rooms have access to shared bathrooms with reliable hot water.
Guests have the option of including 3 traditional home cooked meals with their stay (ingredients are organic local).
We are family-friendly with plenty of activities for people of all ages to enjoy. For example, guests can participate in daily yoga or enjoy a hassle-free Ayurvedic massage / treatment.
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Important Note: The cost of our accommodation will vary depending on whether you choose to volunteer or not. And how long you plan to stay.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
5 hours max
