Experience authentic & indigenous life in Sylhet, Bangladesh

Infos

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  Description

  Hello everyone, my name is Sawon, a community-based tourism advocate and founder of Bangladesh's first community-based homestay, based in Juri, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Bangladesh. This is where I was born, raised, and shaped my career.
  
  My area is full of diversity. We have two indigenous communities living here, known as Manipuri and Khasi, who are famous for their unique traditions, culture, and food. Our area is also surrounded by tea estates and hills, and we work closely with tea garden workers too. So there are so many things we can offer our guests here.
  
  Together with local people and with support from the Bangladesh Tourism Board, we started the homestay to bring these communities together and offer travelers a real experience of our area. Our goal is to share authentic culture, preserve our heritage, and let guests live our daily life exactly as we do - not a performance, just real village life.
  
  I live in a joint Hindu family of about 11 members, and my family and I are always present to welcome and host volunteers. We have our own ponds, cows, small fisheries, fruit trees, and farmland. Three of my family members are strict vegetarians, but we also cook non-veg food depending on what our guest prefers. Most of my family cannot speak fluent English, but they are always happy to welcome new people, and we believe kindness does not need a language.
  
  This is my kind of dream project. We are growing day by day. There is no luxury here, just pure village life, and we hope that through volunteers, we can grow this project further and share it with more people around the world.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Jardinage d'entretien

  Projets DIY créatifs

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Accueil / tourisme
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Films et télé

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  Culture

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Histoire

  

  Musique

  

  Auto-stop

  

  Jardinage

  

  Blogs

  

  Livres

  

  Sports nautiques

  

  Nature

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée

  

  Cyclisme

  

  Camping

  

  Sports d'aventure
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  There is something to learn here - how a community-based business operates from the grassroots level, and how it can become a role model in terms of community tourism.
  You will learn how to communicate and engage with communities like family members, how simply people live with nature, and the daily way of life of rural Bangladesh.
  You will also learn about family connection, love, emotion, and struggle, and how diverse communities can be, even within one village; every community has its own language, culture, tradition, and food habits. You will also learn how a community business operates, and how you can create an impact on your own people.

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  Aide

  We are currently building our community-based homestay project, and as a volunteer, you can help us in many ways. You can help with village and farm life - light gardening, growing vegetables, small farm tasks, fishing, or helping keep our shared spaces clean and organized.
  
  You can help us grow the project itself- giving us ideas on how we can do better, helping with marketing, helping create the itinerary for guests, or making a documentary about our village and homestay.
  
  You can help with culture and community by spending time with the nearby Manipuri and Khasi communities, helping us document local crafts and village stories, teaching basic English or your own language to children and elders, and helping the community learn hospitality.
  
  You can also share your own skills with us - cooking, music, art, storytelling, photography, social media, digital skills, or anything else useful you would like to bring. We often work side by side, so you will learn village skills from us while also sharing yours. Everything here is relaxed; there are no strict schedules or pressure. Some days you may help more, and some days you may explore the village or join a family activity.
  
  This is what we prefer from volunteers: kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to share and learn together.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Bengali (Bangla): Courant
  Anglais: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  I speak Bangla (native), English (fluent), and have a good command of Hindi. I’m currently learning Japanese and enjoy practicing with others. I’m very open to language exchange. Workawayers can learn Bangla from me, and I’m happy to practice English or learn Japanese or any new language you’d like to share. My family also enjoys cultural and language exchange, even if they don’t speak English; they communicate warmly through gestures, smiles, and kindness.
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  Hébergement

  We are a traditional Hindu joint family with around 11 members, living together, and we are happy to live this way. We prefer simplicity. Our home has 6 bedrooms with shared washrooms. Most of the time, we offer volunteers a private bedroom, so you have your own space and privacy, but sometimes we are also flexible if you prefer; there is an option for a tent, since we have plenty of open space.
  
  The rooms are simple, clean, and comfortable not hotel-style, but warm and homely. Our house area includes ponds, cows, small fisheries, fruit trees, and open spaces, giving you a peaceful rural environment. Power cuts can happen often in village areas, so please be prepared for that. Despite the simplicity, our family is very welcoming, and you will feel at home here.

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  Autres infos...

  In your free time, there's plenty to explore. Hakaluki Haor, Bangladesh's largest wetland, is nearby and wonderful for boating, birdwatching, and watching village life unfold on the water. Madobkundo Waterfall, the country's largest, is a short trip away and a favorite spot for a day out. You can also visit the nearby Manipuri and Khasi communities to see traditional weaving, dance, or simply spend time with people whose way of life is very different from city life. The surrounding tea gardens make for beautiful walks, especially in the early morning or at sunset.
  Getting around locally is mostly on foot, with rickshaws, traditional vans, and CNG auto-rickshaws available for longer trips. Sreemangal, a well-known tea town with its own charm, is about an hour and a half away a good day-trip option if you'd like to explore a bit further afield. Sylhet city is roughly 61 km from the project, so it's reachable if you want a taste of urban Bangladesh or need to catch onward transport.
  Evenings here are usually quiet and slow, a good time for conversation, card games, watching the sunset by the pond, or simply relaxing after a day of exploring. Life moves at its own pace, and we're always happy to help you plan a day trip or point you toward something worth seeing nearby.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We do have Wi‑Fi at home, but because of frequent village power cuts, the connection cannot always be guaranteed. Digital nomads are welcome, but it’s better to keep an alternative data option for important work.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Our house has plenty of open space, including a private garage area, so campers or motorhomes can park comfortably if needed.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  We are also pet‑friendly; cats and dogs are completely okay, as long as they are gentle and comfortable around a family environment.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

  Krishna

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