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Infos
Description
The school 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.
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.
The school is part of a campus which also has a Care Home for the elderly, a cow shed, mineral water plant, a beautiful temple and a fruit and vegetable garden.
There are currently around 650 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 so worth planning your visit so that it does not coincide with exam time table.
Best time to visit the school as a volunteer is from early September to the following March as the weather is much comfortable and there are a number of other activities in the campus including the school annual function, kite festival, Republic day, mass marriage, eye camp. Howeve, the school is happy to have volunteers throughout the year except during their summer vacation.Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Pratique d’une langue
Enseignement
Aide informatique / avec Internet
Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
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 part of Gujarat.
Projets impliquant des enfants
Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.
Aide
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, Europe, Africa, Mideast, New Zealand, South America and Australia.
Ideally you should be educated to a degree level AND hold a TEFL/CELTA/EAL/PGCE/NQT OR an equivalent teaching qualification AND classroom teaching experience in your country.
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 be fluent in speaking, listening and understanding in English Language.
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.
• Conduct seminars for teachers & students.
• Facilitate debates on various topics to build confidence and improve communication skills in English
. Add value to lesson plans, especially in English language skills
On site, there is a computer room with broadband access, a basic 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" programme 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.
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.Langues
Langues parlées
Gujarati: Courant
Hindi: Courant
Anglais: IntermédiaireCet hôte propose un échange linguistique
The school children are very eager to learn and practice English language, and you can learn Hindi or Gujarati in the school.Hébergement
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, 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 rural 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.Autres infos...
You will get a feel for the real India as the campus is not in a tourist area but a very rural 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, bars or any of the tourist attractions for westerners.
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, or a newly qualified teacher seeking teaching experience abroad, whilst helping the children and 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 and security until you are familiar with the local area. 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 Skype or what's app video call before a placement is offered and confirmed.
Our volunteer co-ordinator (who is also a volunteer is based in London) will provide you with further details. However, if you would prefer to have a chat over the what's app to ensure this is the right volunteering opportunity for you, then this can be arranged. 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 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A TEACHING QUALIFICATION OR EXPERIENCE OF DELIVERING TRAINING AND ARE SERIOUS ABOUT TEACHING IN A VERY RURAL AND PEACEFUL PART OF INDIA WITH A MINIMUM 4 WEEKS COMMITMENT.
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 CAN BE EMAILED TO YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU
NAMASTEInformations complémentaires
Accès Internet
Accès Internet limité
Nous avons des animaux
Nous sommes fumeurs
Familles bienvenues
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Plus de 2
Nombre d'heures attendues
Maximum 5 hours per day, 5 days a week
Feedback (27)
I stayed teaching for 2 weeks.
The first thing to say is that it was my first volunteering in India, so I do not have a comparison in my mind which would be more relevant. However I have volunteered extensively in Europe and in the usa, either fully immersed… read more
My work on campus was primarily focused on teaching English and Environment to Standard 3rd and 4th together with Rita… read more
Feedback
Ce sont des évaluations supplémentaires en option lorsque les membres laissent un feedback. La note moyenne pour chaque option est affichée.
Exactitude du profil:
(5.0)
Échange culturel:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I stayed teaching for 2 weeks.
The first thing to say is that it was my first volunteering in India, so I do not have a comparison in my mind which would be more relevant. However I have volunteered extensively in Europe and in the usa, either fully immersed… read more
My work on campus was primarily focused on teaching English and Environment to Standard 3rd and 4th together with Rita… read more
The accommodation in the guest house is very good and the meals are very tasteful.
The school is well organized with dedicated and friendly staff.
Above all, I enjoyed the interactions with the students. During the school… read more
Mita, thank you so much for making this possible!
So I arrived to Ahmedabad in the evening. I was picked up from the airport by one of the teachers. Arrived at the campus late and was welcomed by the principal Manish.
Next day I was given time to rest… read more
The children, teachers, elders in the care home and the hostel boys will surely miss you very much. All the school… read more
My experience was exemplary .The conscientious attitude of each and every one here is laudable. The general staff here are hospitable and accommodating.The teachers and the Principal were equally generous with their time table and classes .This enabled me to have interactive sessions with the students .I am sure the children enjoyed the… read more
Collin showed a lot of… read more
Above all, I have met countless wonderful people. Firstly, I would like to mention Pravin, who is practically in charge of having everything under control within the campus, and is usually one of the first people you meet. It's hard to meet anyone with Pravin's… read more
Thank you very much for giving you time, dedication, commitment and enthusiasm to the children in our school and campus staff. We are please to hear that you had a great time teaching the children, learning about the Hindu culture and visiting local rural sites and visits to the teachers villages. We hope that you will visit us… read more
It was inspiring to have young volunteers like yourself with such enthusiasm. Hope you will visit us again sometime in the… read more
Before arriving to the school, the first person you will probably hear from is Mita, who (from my understanding) conducts the communication with all international volunteers. She is very effective in… read more
I am sure the children and teachers valued your commitment and enthusiasm in choosing to volunteer in the school. The elders… read more
The children, teachers, swami's and all the campus staff will certainly miss you. We wish you all the best in your future career and hope… read more
From the beginning I got stunned, Gujarat is quite different to any European city I had been. People dress different, they hold a rural way of life (you can see a lot of free animals around), there are a lot of religious stuff, ...
but here what is really going to captive you are… read more
Thank you for your hard word, dedicated and enthusiasm which has been… read more
The living conditions, the food and the tranquil environment have also contributed to an… read more
We hope you enjoyed your stay with us, the children, teachers and the campus staff will miss you. We hope to see you again sometime in the future.
Best wishes.
I had no extensive prior teaching experience yet found it very easy to help… read more
The site is run under… read more
Brianna, thank you very much for your hard work and commitment during your stay with us. A very dedicated, kind and committed individual in the classroom and with teachers all the time. We are pleased to hear that this was not just a volunteer experience but an adventure. The teachers and children will really miss you Brianna, and we hope that… read more
The sessions and topics you chose to deliver to the teachers were also… read more