Join our school for girls from disadvantaged families and help teach them English and art in Piali, near Kolkata, India

Details

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  Description

  Mojca, a Slovenian and Anup a local, started the school back in 2008, with the wish of helping the underprivileged girls here in Piali, outskirts of Kolkata.
  “Piali Ashar Alo” the name means “Piali Light of Hope” symbolically chosen to put light on the lives without it.
  The girls come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The school tries to provide them their basic rights of education, games, arts.
  
  We currently have approximately 180 students, aged from 4 to 16 years.
  There are currently 8 full time teachers and 2 part time teachers. We also have a person at office, one doorman during the school hours, 4 ladies for kitchen (kids above 12 and all the staff eat lunch at school) and cleaning of the premises also a gardener is there too.
  
  If sharing your skills with underprivileged children is a thing that inspires you then this would be very much suited for you.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Gardening

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Learn the Bengali and Slovenian language, discover a new culture, new food, and the "city of joy" connected by railway. When you exchange with the kids, the school workers and teachers you learn about their local life styles. you get to know about their food choices (Kolkata is one of the places known for it appeal to tourists for the food it has to offer). Mojca being a Slovenian here you get to know about the language and culture of Slovenia. A music teacher comes to the school on weekly schedule, you can join the classes if you are interested. There are Indian music instruments like tabla, harmonium here.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Help

  We are looking for helpers with a good level of English and able to teach some activities like music, visual arts, dance etc during the week (Monday-Friday). (There are approximatively 20 kids per class.).
  You will be involved in the planning of the week and teach every day at least four hour in a classroom. Some time as full teacher, some time as an assistant for a teacher.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Bengali (Bangla): Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Hindi: Fluent
  Slovenian: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  In the school we have two large private guest bedrooms with bathrooms, as well as a kitchen area available.
  (fridge, cooking gas)
  Free lunch available from Monday to Saturday (except holidays). There are supplies in the kitchen store as well vegetables in the garden available to make a meal for your self.

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  What else ...

  You can visit the largest mangrove forest Sunderbans, you can go to the city Kolkata, or/and you can go the sea for the week-end outings. For holidays you can go to the himalayas (darjeeling, sikkim).
  Please do note that we are located in a rural place and outings need to be planned in advance.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week