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► Volunteer Abroad
If you’re interested in helping disadvantaged children in the spicy, exotic and vibrant India, then we may have the perfect opportunity for you! Teaming up with Project Why, Initi8 are taking a team of 8 NTU volunteers to New Delhi this August, to support the education and life enhancement of slum children and their families. Keep reading to find out more and see whether this is the experience you have been looking for...
For the first time ever, your Union is offering you the chance to volunteer abroad! All we ask is that you fundraise £1200 to cover the costs of the month-long placement (including a minimum donation of £200 per person to Project Why), commit to fundraising £150 on your return and attend pre-departure planning meetings. Click here for an application pack.
Have a read below and find out more at one of our information events:
Monday 13th February – City Campus (Newton LT1) – 6-7pm
Thursday 16th February – Clifton Campus (George Eliot 241) – 6-7pm
Tuesday 21st February – City Campus (Newton 25) – 4-5pm
Monday 27th February – Clifton Campus (Ada Byron King 010) – 4-5pm
Tuesday 28th February – City Campus (Newton 38) – 4-5pm
What’s included?
What’s not included?
Cost of the trip
Dates of the project
More information on Project Why
A volunteer’s role at Project Why
Where will I stay?
What support will I get?
Pre-departure meetings and training
In your spare time...
How much spending money will I need?
After the project...
Criminal Records Check
Will I need a visa?
How many spaces are available?
Who can apply?
How can I apply?
What is the application process?
Application deadline
Can I speak to someone in person about it?
Contact Us
What’s included?
As part of your sponsorship, the following costs are included:
• Return flight from UK to New Delhi
• All transfers (from Nottingham to airport, and from New Delhi airport to Project Why)
• Meals and Accommodation (3 meals a day in the centre, laundry, internet and board)
• Donation to the organisation (minimum £200)
What’s not included?
• Spending money and personal expenses
• Trips and activities (including in-country travel)
• Vaccinations and anti-malarial pills/mosquito nets
• Any meals/food not eaten at the Project Why centre
• Any item on the pre-departure kit list
• Travel insurance
• Visas
Cost of the trip
It is up to you how you fund the opportunity, but we would encourage you to fundraise. You will get support with ideas etc from Laura and Louise - the Volunteer Coordinators.
Fundraising deadlines are as follows:
£500 - 1st May 2012
£300 - 1st June 2012
£200 - 13th July 2012
Dates of the project
Pre-departure meetings: The pre-departure meetings will be agreed with the team, but we expect there will be about 4-5 meetings, including some pre-departure training
Departure date: 1st August – 31st August 2012
More information about Project Why
Project Why is a non-profit organisation engaged in education support and life skill enhancement of slum children and their families. They opened their first education centre in 2000 and have now expanded their activities to include;
Education Centers, teaching more than 700 children in 4 locations in New Delhi.
Special Education, day care centre for 20 special need children and young adults with disabilities
Heart Fix Hotel, sponsoring heart surgeries for those most in need.
Women Center, nurturing and supporting 60 disadvantaged local women.
Cyber Why, a place where all can make 'friends" with computers!
We hope that volunteers will be able to support all these activities but mainly you will be working with children within Project Whys’ education centres. If you have any skills or experience in a particular area e.g. working with children with special needs, sports coaching, painting/arts etc., it is likely you will be able to plan activities can help out Project Why whilst you are there.
More information about Project Why, including pictures, blogs and volunteer experiences, can be found at www.projectwhy.org
A Volunteer's Role at Project Why
You will be working with children within Project Whys’ education centres, Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm. The schools are also open on Saturdays, so if you don't want to take part on the organised trips, there is the option to volunteer at school too. If you have any skills or experience in a particular area e.g. working with children with special needs, sports coaching, painting/arts etc., it is likely you will be able to plan activities can help out Project Why whilst you are there.
A typical day at would include;
8am - Breakfast
8.30am – Make the short trip to one of the Project Why centres
9am – School starts. You’ll be helping out with classes and delivering a few of your pre-planned activities too.
12pm – Lunch
12.45pm onwards – Assisting with lessons again.
4pm – Finish school, travel back to the Guest House
6pm – Dinner and free time.
More information about Project Why, including pictures, blogs and volunteer experiences, can be found at www.projectwhy.org
Where will I stay?
Included in the price of the trip is on-site accommodation, which includes three meals a day, laundry and internet. This is a dormitory, so you should be prepared to share a room with the other volunteers (mixed gender) and staff on the trip.
Should you become ill at any point on the trip, there is a residential doctor.
What support will I get?
In the run up to the project and throughout the four weeks in India, you will be supported by two NTSU Volunteer Coordinators. If you have any questions or concerns, or you’re feeling a bit homesick, we’ll be on hand 24/7 to help you out.
Not only that; we’ll be helping you to make the most of your time in India by arranging evening and weekend activities and trips.
Pre-departure meetings and training
You will be expected to attend pre-departure meetings to plan fun and interactive sessions to deliver in-school. This will give you a chance to meet the other people you will be doing the project with. We will also be providing best practice in working with children training to prepare you for the role.
In your spare time...
We’ve no intention of chaining you to the walls of the centre...we want you to experience India and all the sights, sounds and tastes it has to offer. Throughout the month, we’ll be offering evening and weekend trips to the local markets and bazaars, and further afield to visit the Taj Mahal, the Indian countryside and various other places.
How much spending money will I need?
As your accommodation, meals, internet and laundry is covered in the cost of the trip, you should only need funds for the optional trips, souvenirs and transport. India is significantly cheaper than Britain, although it is difficult to set a budget, we would suggest around £100-150 a week, depending on how much you expect to spend. You may even find this much difficult to spend! Please note, this is to be self-funded and should not be fundraised.
The current exchange rate is £1 = 77.77 India Rupees.
After the project...
After the project, we ask you to commit to fundraising £150 for Project Why. It’s up to you whether you want to collect within the University, amongst your family and friends, or through another activity – we want you to spread the word about this fantastic project, and help to support Project Why.
Criminal Records Check
All volunteers will need to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check to ensure that they are suitable for working with children. You will not need to pay for this.
Before the project, we will also run Good Practice in Working with Children training.
Will I need a visa?
Yes – to visit India everyone participating in the project will need a visa. If your application is successful, we will give more details about how you can get a visa. Please note – India has certain restrictions which means that not everyone will be able to obtain one.
How many spaces are available?
There are 8 spaces available on the project.
Who can apply?
If you’re a current Nottingham Trent University student, then you can apply! Please be aware that certain visa restrictions apply, so not everyone may be granted a visa. Click here for an application pack
How can I apply?
Download one of our application forms here and get it back to us by 2nd March 2012.
What is the application process?
The application process will take part in two stages: application and interview. Application forms can be downloaded here and need to be returned to us by 12 noon on 2nd March 2012.
If your application is successful, you will be interviewed by the Volunteer Coordinators (x2) and VP Welfare and Involvement on either the 8/9th March. We aim to inform all applicants – whether successful or otherwise – by 8th March 2012.
Application deadline
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 2nd March 2012. Any applications received after this point will not be considered.
Delhi profile
Although diverse and multicultural, Delhi is often viewed by Westerners as dirty and overcrowded and can really test your capabilities, which is something to be aware of before applying for the project. It’s a lively city and you will never be short of something to do, and this is a great chance to experience another culture and life in a developing country, however, we advise you do your homework in advance to see if this opportunity is for you.
• Delhi is India’s capital city, with a population of 17 million people
• The city is divided into two parts: Old Delhi and New Delhi – the project will be taking place in New Delhi
• Hindi is the official language of Delhi, but Urdu, Punjabi and English are commonly used
• Temperatures in August can reach 35 degrees, with lows of 26 degrees
• On average, there are 11 rainy days in Delhi in August
• Delhi’s transport is the best in India – with air conditioned buses and trains, as well as the usual taxis and rickshaws
• The city’s top attractions include spectacular mosques, forts and monuments left over from the Mughal rulers that once occupied the city.
• Delhi has some of the best markets in India, as well as one of the country’s award-winning spas, Amatrra Spa
• Food in India is traditionally spicy, however food in Delhi is not limited to curry
• Unfortunately, Delhi is India’s crime capital – women should be aware that sexual harassment and molestation are common occurrences
More information about Delhi can be found here: http://goindia.about.com/od/cityprofiles/p/delhi-profile.htm
Safety in India
On the whole, you will find people friendly, but some places in India have a bad reputation which is something to be aware of before applying for the project. Delhi is unfortunately India’s crime capital and is rated as the most unsafe city for women; sexual harassment and molestation are common occurrences. Scams and pick-pocketing is also widespread. We appreciate that crime is never completely preventable, but we will make every effort to ensure your safety whilst on the project and will be travelling to places in groups.
In India it is important not to drink the water, and to buy bottled water to stay healthy. Before travel, we expect you to take all the necessary immunisations and equip yourself with anti-malarial tablets (we’ll be checking!) – ask your GP for advice. Should you become ill during the trip, there is a residential doctor based at the Project Why centre.
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Can I speak to someone in person about it?
If you want to find out more, you can speak to us either by attending an information event on the following dates:
Monday 13th February – City Campus (Newton LT1) – 6-7pm
Thursday 16th February – Clifton Campus (George Eliot 241) – 6-7pm
Tuesday 21st February – City Campus (Newton 25) – 4-5pm
Monday 27th February – Clifton Campus (Ada Byron King 010) – 4-5pm
Tuesday 28th February – City Campus (Newton 38) – 4-5pm
Contact Us
If you want any further information on the project, please contact either Laura or Louise:
laura.buckland@su.ntu.ac.uk // 0115 848 6211
louise.robinson@su.ntu.ac.uk // 0115 848 6219
