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25 Sep 2024
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Description
(E3 - Volunteer Visa Recommended)
We hope this message finds you in good spirits and brimming with enthusiasm. We're reaching out to individuals like yourself who share our passion for making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. Your skills and dedication are invaluable assets in supporting holistic education in the idyllic villages of Kerala. Holistic education transcends conventional teaching methods by integrating diverse educational philosophies and emphasising activity-based learning. In our quest to enrich the educational journey, we believe in fostering a deep connection with nature and everyday life to create a more meaningful and engaging learning environment for the children in Kerala's villages.
Your Role as a Volunteer: As a volunteer with us, you'll play a pivotal role in the holistic development of children by:
- Implementing activity-based teaching methods.
- Cultivating a strong link between education and daily life.
- Engaging with the local community to discern their needs.
- Creating an inclusive and supportive learning atmosphere.
Requirements: We seek individuals who embody the following qualities:
- A passion for education and community development.
- Proficiency in English communication.
- Willingness to collaborate and adapt to local customs.
- Ability to commit to a flexible volunteer schedule.
Join us as a volunteer at a dynamic new holistic school nestled in a village in Kerala, South India! This school places a special emphasis on ecology, given Kerala's forefront experience of severe climate change. We follow a distinctive teaching approach inspired by the educational philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Maria Montessori, and Rudolf Steiner, amalgamating these ideas into a cohesive framework. Since 2017, we've been based in Kuravilanghad, and now we're transitioning to a new location called Thuruthikkara, recognised as Kerala's first green village. We prefer to refer to it as an Agro-Edu-Well-being-Hub, departing from conventional norms.
We're seeking volunteers in various fields such as arts and crafts, music and dance, yoga, mathematics, science, communicative English, graphic design, web development, DIY projects, and curriculum development. While our primary target students range from 3 to 12 years old, individuals of all ages who seek an alternative to traditional education are welcome.
Additionally, we collaborate with client schools to promote holistic and activity-based teaching and learning. Volunteers may also be assigned to these schools while maintaining our integrated and experiential approach.
Please note that the minimum volunteer commitment is 30 days (Monday to Friday, excluding government holidays) to ensure a fruitful exchange in this holistic endeavour. You'll find a supportive and open-minded staff and management team dedicated to enhancing your volunteer experience. Our village community is warm and welcoming, ensuring you'll feel at home right away. As it's a village setting, we kindly request dressing respectfully.
At the HUB, we envision a collaborative learning environment where students and teachers grow together in a flat structure. Our goal is to foster a future education system that emphasises cooperation, mutual growth, and holistic learning over competition and grades. We prioritise real-life, outdoor, and hands-on learning experiences, emphasising multiple intelligences and integrated learning instead of rote memorisation.
Kindly ensure you have an updated resume to share, as it will help us understand how your educational background and experiences align with our holistic philosophy. Feel free to browse our Facebook page and programs, and come up with suggestions on how you can contribute actively as a volunteer. We can assist with the E3 Volunteer Visa documentation process if needed, allowing you to legally engage in volunteer work for a minimum of one month (30 days) as we operate only Monday to Friday (excluding government holidays).
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You'll be fully immersed in an authentic South Indian community, where foreigners are scarce. This presents ample opportunities to connect with and befriend locals, and we'll ensure you feel welcomed and integrated from the start. Your presence will make a significant impact on our small school!
We advocate for VEGAN South Indian cuisine and offer private accommodation. To support local farmers, we procure fresh seasonal produce from their shops, so slight variations may occur based on availability. Occasional field trips showcasing the beauty of Kerala are also organized.
We provide comprehensive support before, during, and after your volunteering experience. For visa arrangements, early contact is advised. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Upon request, certificates are provided to volunteers.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
In this post-pandemic era, we're relocating our project to a new site and seeking dedicated volunteers for our emerging educational hub. We need assistance with various tasks, including:
- Prioritizing Art, Music & Yoga in Education.
- Engaging in Photography and Short Video Creation.
- Tending to gardening tasks such as watering crops, along with supporting Creative Arts, Eco Building, and Organic Farming.
- Contributing to Teaching and Education.
- Participating in Marketing and Communication efforts.
- Leading Community Outreach Initiatives.
- Organizing Workshops on health, climate change, environment, etc.
- Providing expertise in Graphic design for website design/modification, and flyer/brochure creation.
- Engaging in DIY activities.
- Crafting Content such as articles and blogs.
We value international perspectives and encourage volunteers to bring their ideas and interests to the table.
The institution observes holidays every second Saturday and Sunday, as well as public strikes/protests (which will be communicated as necessary).
Given the educational setting, we adhere to certain dress codes, recommending modest attire.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Give us the taste of your mother tongue and you can get back the taste and essence of our regional language in return.
Accommodation
Adjacent to our school, there's a dedicated area for volunteers. It's spacious, equipped with its kitchen, and offers three rooms with both single and double beds, along with a shared shower and toilet. All essential amenities are provided, so you only need to bring your personal belongings. Additionally, if you desire, we're happy to offer weekend home hospitality.
For meals, you're responsible for your Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. We're delighted to provide groceries adhering to the VEGAN diet for your use. However, there are restaurants nearby if you prefer. While we respect all dietary choices, our school promotes a VEGAN lifestyle and supports local farmers for fresh, locally sourced produce.
Furthermore, bicycles are available for your convenience, and our staff is ready to assist with transportation as needed. A bus stop is conveniently situated near the accommodation, and India offers affordable and frequent public transit options.
What else ...
Kerala, renowned for its natural beauty, offers a plethora of captivating attractions. From stunning beaches and a tiger reserve to cascading waterfalls and picturesque mountains, the region boasts diverse landscapes. It is also home to lush coffee, tea, and spice plantations, historic backwaters, and a blend of modern city life and traditional villages. The rich culture and unique people, with a remarkable 97% literacy rate, add to Kerala's allure. With extensive public transport networks, exploring the region is convenient, and we'll assist you with transportation whenever possible.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Virtually Support need to create posters, short videos, content writers, white board videos, small animated videos...
Space for parking camper vans
We can support with parking slots.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (25)
During my month there, apart from regular teaching, I had the opportunity to help design a… read more
Silvia actively contributed in two main capacities: as a facilitator in our summer camp and in our regular classes. In both roles, she excelled at… read more
In… read more
Throughout your time with us, you demonstrated a remarkable commitment to sharing your scientific knowledge and… read more
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.8)
During my month there, apart from regular teaching, I had the opportunity to help design a… read more
Silvia actively contributed in two main capacities: as a facilitator in our summer camp and in our regular classes. In both roles, she excelled at… read more
In… read more
Throughout your time with us, you demonstrated a remarkable commitment to sharing your scientific knowledge and… read more
Special thanks to Dr. Anish and Maya for always supporting me and help me through every small steps that I made.
They are also up for any kind of ideas, during my stay we gave done a few complicated activities like cooking, wall painting, origami which it… read more
As our first guest from Korea, you brought a unique perspective and energy… read more
India finally came true and volunteering was an excellent way to dive into the local culture. I spent 5 months mostly volunteering at the school but took three trips to visit ashrams and weekend nature trips to nearby areas, like Munnar, during my stay. My experience at the school was amazing because my hosts and… read more
The students are always smiling, curious and eager to learn new things. They love meeting new people and participate in any activities.
The teachers and staff are very friendly, helpful and very open-minded.
I spent 2,5 months there and gave several activities, mainly in… read more
So if you like luxury… read more
It took me some time to figure out my role in the school, and Anish gave me quite a lot of freedom to do that.
What I really love about this place is that I met some of the most amazing people from around the world. Even though it was just a month long, we shared a lot of thing together. I know this kind… read more
(2020-01-25 03:24:04)
I spent three wonderful weeks here! There I was living with the entire team of teachers, directors, children, staff and other volunteers, so i was able to learn, elaborate and put into practice significant actions for the school's holistic education project. The teachers 'commitment to this project does not… read more
The school gives you liberty to implement your ideas with teachers and students. Everything was spot on from day 1 and… read more
It was nice to feel part of this… read more
The location is breathtaking also the people working there. I met volunteers from many parts over the world. The kids are respectful and kind.
Here work with the heart and It makes my feel such as in a dream.
This workaway offered us a way to build strong connections with local people, an insite into South Indian culture, a way to build our CVs, be creative and most of all to have a lot of fun.
From the moment we arrived all of the staff were extremely welcoming and we felt… read more
All the teachers and staff are fantastic, very genuine and passionate about what they do. I had a lovely time working with them all… read more
