Location
Palampur is a fascinating green hill station and a municipal council in the Kangra Valley in the nothern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests before they merge with the Dhauladhar ranges. Palampur is the tea capital of northwest India but tea is just one aspect that makes Palampur a special interest place. Abundance of water and proximity to the mountains has endowed it with mild climate. Thirty-five kilometers away is Dharamsala, a town with a heavy Tibettan Buddist roots that is home to the Dalai Lama.
About the project
There are two project options that the participant can choose from in Palampur. The first is a childcare program that take place in childcare centers that are in need of volunteers to assist the professional care-takers. The second options gives volunteers the opportunity to work in both primary (elementary) and secondary schools (high school) teaching english, math, computers, and more to students.
Volunteer work and contribution
At the childcare program volunteers help the staff in their daily work of cleaning, feeding, and engaging the children in various activities. The age of the children is from infant babies to four years old. Daily work (3-4 hours, 5 days/week) and responsibilities include:
- Spending time and playing with chilldren
- Teaching basic English and elementary math
- Maintaing and decorating the day care centers
- Making educational toys
- Helping professional caretakers with general tasks
In the primary and secondary schools of the teaching program volunteers help heach subjects like English, math, computers, and more. Participants are encouraged to bring their own skills, such as sports, arts, and music to broaden the education of the children. The age of the students is between 5 and 15 years old. Daily work (4-5 hours, 5 days/week)and responsibilites include:
- Assisting the teachers in and out of the classrooms
- Carrying out administrative responsibilites given by management and teachers
Accommodation and food
Volunteers are accommodated in either of two volunteer house accommodations in Palampur. In both the accommodations, there is separate kitchen for the volunteers and a cook for cooking the volunteers meals. Volunteers are placed in the accommodations depending upon the distance from the project and the type of program they are doing. Living is comfortable and volunteer houses have electricity and running water and hot water heaters. In the volunteer house, volunteers are provided with basic bed, mattress, pillow, bed sheet and blanket and a quilt depending on the temperature of the area. Volunteers can expect to share a room with other volunteers. The accommodations are within walking distance of most of the projects and internet is available at the local office. Transporation to Dharamsala is just 30 minutes by local bus.
Project includes
- Accommodations
- Three meals per day (vegetarian)
- 24-hour in-country staff support
- Internet access(at local project office)
- Guided half-day tour
- Yoga class once a week
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
Minimum Requirements
- Motivation to work with children and experience new cultures
- Good level of English
- Full travel & medical insurance
- Immunizations (consult your doctor)
- CV / Resume
- Must be 18 years old and up
Program Schedule
Schools (and therefore the teaching program) in Palampur are closed during the following periods:
- 20th of July until mid-August
- Last week of December until the 3rd week of January
- March for examinations
Childcare programs continue to run all year