Einsatzstellen Indien: FSL
Requested knowledge of language in all projects: English
School holidays in India are in April/May and in October.
FSL-01: Higher Primary School Teacher in U.2.P.M.H.P. School Brahmavar
1. Project-host: U.2.P.M.H.P. School Brahmavar Place: Brahmavar Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
In the area of Kundapur, on the west coast of Karnataka (South India), near Mangalore, FSL is supporting several schools through the placement of volunteers who assist the teachers. In most cases, these schools are very poor and do not have enough teachers and enough resources to provide an appropriate education to the children.
Furthermore, the English skills of the children are very low and even the teachers do not speak English well. However, all teachers are very friendly and will help you, when possible. Two also speak English fluently. By placing international volunteers in these schools, FSL-India hopes to trigger more interest for the children to learn a foreign language. The children are very curious about foreigners, as it is sometimes the first time that they are meeting anyone from abroad, and they suddenly find more interest in learning a foreign language to be able to communicate with the volunteers.
A wide spread problem is also the competition between private and governmental schools. English is very important at the labour market. For that reason parents try to send their children to a private school, whose lessons are often taught in English. Therefore the number of students at governmental schools sank in last years.
The U.2.P.M.H.P School is a governmental primary school, located in a small town between Kundapur and Udupi, called Brahmavar (45 minutes by bus from Kundapur and 30 minutes from Udupi). The classes are from the 1st to the 7th standard (ages 6-12 years old). The school has about 240 pupils and 9 teachers. There is a DVD-Player, audio speakers, 4 computers and a small library. The building has seven classrooms, a (simple) auditorium and a stage, a kitchen, computer room, library, staff room and a sport equipment storage room. However material for teaching English is very limited and need to be brought by the volunteer. The school beginns at 09:45 until 12:40 and from 1:45 until 4:30.
4. Field of work: Education
5. Special qualifications required
This project is available for unqualified applicants. Volunteers need to have a good level of English and be College or University graduates. Volunteers should be aware that a good motivation for independant work is needed.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is challenging and you need to be very dedicated to your tasks. Language might be a barrier since few people in your project will speak English, therefore creative methods of communication would be helpful and some preparation about the local language- Kannada. Although, you will receive training in the local language on arrival. Feel free to bring some things from home to be able to make a country presentation to the children to tell them about your country and/or Europe. You may bring some material that is important for your lessons, like pencils, chalk, books, copys (Vorschlag ehemaliger Freiwilliger: Lückentexte und Hörspielkassetten da dort häufig verwendet, Memory, DVDs) The volunteer needs to enjoy working with children, have good communication skills, a lot of patience and creative ideas. If you bring teaching material (recommended), please make sure that it is simple and playful.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer: The volunteer’s main task there will be to prepare and give English lessons to the children. The classes will consist of between 20 - 50 children. They can organise some activities, drawing and crafts for example. This is a challenging project that really needs help since the English skills of the pupils are very low. Most of the people there speak very little English (even the teachers) and the volunteer will have to find simple and creative ways to communicate with them. Their detailed daily schedule will be fixed after an introduction talk. The schedule can be set by the volunteer. Generally, the work will be teaching Basic English through games, songs, activities, role play, quizzes and competitions and building upon development and progress of the students. Also lessons for arts/crafts, sports or computer classes (in the afternoon) are welcome. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
Brahmavar
Brahmavar is a small town 30mins outside of Kundapur. Within the town is a weekly food market, small shops, laundry service, internet café, beauty salons, several tailors and cloth shops. You also get shampoo, washing powder and things for daily use.
FSL-02: Support worker for students with physical and learning disabilities within Chaitanya Special School in Kundapur
Dieses Projekt ist als ADIA- Einsatzstelle (Andere Dienste im Ausland für Zivildienstleistende) anerkannt.
1. Project-host: Chaitanya Special School
Place: Kundapur Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
Chaitanya Special School is based in Kundapur, Karnataka state, South India. It provides handicapped children (mainly mentally disabled) with an education, recreational activities, and medical care. To say children is a generalisation for the students are between 6 and 30 years old and there are about 30 of them attending the school. The school was set up in 1997 and is a privately run school surviving on donations from mainly the local Rotary and Lions Clubs. The range of disabilities is very varied from Down Syndrome to Deafness to Cerebral Palsy. The main activities consist of physiotherapy sessions, regular teaching (depending on the levels of the children), yoga lessons and recreational activities such as arts and crafts. The school is run by Headmistress Mrs. Leela, 3 teachers, 2 helpers and 1 driver. Project infrastructure: New building with good facilities,3 classroom (all with blackboard), desks in 2 classrooms. Material include: wooden blocks, lego, bead counter boards, a few stuffed toys, physiotherapy ball and walking bars. In the garden there is a swing and seesaw. This project is a great opportunity for volunteers to get to learn about the problems of disabled children in India.
4. Field of work: Education (Health, Sports, Craftwork)
5. Special qualifications required
This project is available for qualified and unqualified applicants. Previous experience with disabled children and knowledge of physiotherapy is most desirable.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is a very challenging one that needs really dedicated Volunteers, mainly to interact with the children. Only a few people will speak English there so be prepared to learn some words of the local language: Kannada. Furthermore it would be helpful for you to bring some material (and ideas!) for teaching and playing (e.g. music, cd’s, casette’s, tennis balls, puzzles, colouring books, pens, stickers, collection cards, face paint etc.). The children do not understand complex rules, but they love games. Games for hand-eye coordination would be most helpful. Also, please acquaint yourselves with different types of disabilities – use the internet to find out: (For: Cerebral Palsy; Down Syndrome; Autism; Blindness; Infantile Paralysis; Deafness; Physical disability/ handicapped)
1) What is the disability?
2) How does it affect someone?
3) What exercises/ activities can help stimulate someone suffering with such a disability? Needless to say, volunteers should enjoy working with children and have many creative ideas and a lot of patience.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
Project aims: - Interact with the children, take care of their daily needs, teach basic crafts and games, aid the physiotherapy sessions. Volunteers will be assisting the staff members with the daily coordination and organization of the school, along with another volunteer from FSL or sometimes alone. Volunteers will be taking care of the special individual skills of the children and their daily needs, as well as teaching. They will also prepare and organize creative free time basic activities for the children, such as crafts and games. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
-> Hier gehts zum Erfahrungsbericht 2009/10
FSL-03: Assistance to Higher Primary School Teacher in Hosadu Higher Primary School
1. Project-host: Greater Higher Primary School Hosadu (G.H.P.S. Hosadu)
Place: Hosadu, Kundapur Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
In the area around Kundapur, FSL is supporting several schools through the placement of volunteers who assist the teachers. In most cases, these schools are very poor and do not have enough teachers or enough resources to provide an appropriate education to the children. Furthermore, the English skills of the children are very low and even the teachers do not speak English well. By placing international volunteers in these schools, FSL-India hopes to trigger more interest for the children to learn a foreign language. The children are very curious about foreigners, as it is sometimes the first time that they are meeting anyone from abroad, and they suddenly find more interest in learning a foreign language to be able to communicate with the volunteers.
Hosadu Higher Primary School has children who come from a poor background. It is a government run school with classes consisting of between 5 - 25 children. There are 5 classrooms and one large room split into 3 classes by partition boards. By placing international volunteers there the school expect to improve the children’s English and it also gives the children time to spend with the volunteers.
Total teachers: 7 Total students: 110-120 Total classes: 1st standard to 8th standard (5Years to 14 year old children) school hours monday to friday 10am -4pm.
Hosadu is about 10 Km from Kundapur and can be reached by local bus in around 25 minutes
4. Field of work: Education
5. Special qualifications required:
This project is available for unqualified applicants. Volunteers need to have a good level of English and be College or University graduates.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is challenging and you need to be very dedicated to your tasks. Language might be a barrier since few people in your project will speak English, therefore creative methods of communication would be helpful and some preparation about the local language- Kannada. Although, you will receive training in the local language on arrival. Feel free to bring some things from home to be able to make a country presentation to the children to tell them about your country and/or Europe. The volunteer needs to enjoy working with children, have good communication skills, a lot of patience and creative ideas.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
The volunteer’s main task there will be to prepare and give English lessons to the children. The classes will consist of between 5 - 25 children. They can organise some activities, drawing and crafts for example. This is a challenging project that really needs help since the school is very poor and the English skills of the pupils are very low. Most of the people there speak very little English (even the teachers) and the volunteer will have to find simple and creative ways to communicate with them. Their detailed daily schedule will be fixed after an introduction talk. You can also get involved in the computer class as well as physical education.
Generally, the work will be teaching Basic English through games, songs, activities, role play, quizzes and competitions and building upon development and progress of the students. However the headmaster of the school is very open minded on what the volunteer is teaching and own ideas are much likely appreciated. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
-> Hier gehts zum Erfahrungsbericht 2010/11
FSL-04: Assistance to Higher Primary School Teacher in
Kanchugodu Higher Primary School
Dieses Projekt ist als ADIA- Einsatzstelle (Andere Dienste im Ausland für Zivildienstleistende) anerkannt.
1. Project-host: Kanchugodu Higher Primary School
Place: Kanchugodu Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
In the area around Kundapur, FSL is supporting several schools through the placement of volunteers who assist the teachers. In most cases, these schools are very poor and do not have enough teachers or enough resources to provide an appropriate education to the children. Furthermore, the English skills of the children are very low and even the teachers do not speak English well. By placing international volunteers in these schools, FSL-India hopes to trigger more interest for the children to learn a foreign language. The children are very curious about foreigners, as it is sometimes the first time that they are meeting anyone from abroad, and they suddenly find more interest in learning a foreign language to be able to communicate with the volunteers.
UZP Higher Primary School Kanchugodu has children who come from a poor background. Kanchugodu is a small village mainly inhabited by fishermen. That´s why most of the children have a poor and uneducated background. Nonetheless, they are very lively and interested. It is a government run school started in 1948. Since it is a governmental school, the students don´t pay any fees, they get one simple meal per day and books and uniforms are supplied for free. The level of education, however, is fairly low. Classes consist of between 20-40 children. There are 5 classrooms and one large room split into 2 classes by partition boards. Two new buildings have been built and there is an open stage used as a classroom also. By placing international volunteers there the school expect to improve the children’s English and it also gives the children time to spend with the volunteers, the attention which the students receive from the volunteers is at least as important as the subject matter.
Total of students: about 150 (from 1st to 7th Standards), Total of teachers: 4 permanent and 3 temporary teachers
4. Field of work: Education
5. Special qualifications required:
This project is available for unqualified applicants. Volunteers need to have a good level of English and be Highschool or College graduates.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is challenging and you need to be very dedicated to your tasks. Language might be a barrier since few people in your project will speak English, therefore creative methods of communication would be helpful and some preparation about the local language- Kannada. Although, you will receive training in the local language on arrival. Feel free to bring some things from home to be able to make a country presentation to the children to tell them about your country and/or Europe. The volunteer needs to enjoy working with children, have good communication skills, a lot of patience and creative ideas.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
The volunteer’s main taskwill be to prepare and give English lessons to the children. The classes will consist of between 20 -40 children. You can organize some activities, drawing and crafts for example. This is a challenging project that really needs help since the school is very poor and the English skills of the pupils are very low. Most of the people there speak very little English (even the teachers) and you will have to find simple and creative ways to communicate with them. Since there are regular English lessons, but the pupils learn only little useful English there, you have to try to make them use their English and to speak. This is done best by games and songs. You need lots of patience since the pupils are hard to control, especially in the first weeks, but they are always happy when somebody gives them some attention. You will teach about 4-5 lessons a day, the rest of your time you spend in the teachers´ office preparing new activities and lessons. You can organize a sports day once a week. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2009/10
FSL-05: Support worker for students with physical and learning disabilities within Manasa Rehabilition and Training Centre in Pamboor, Udupi
1. Project-host: Manasa Rehabilition and Training Centre
Place: Pamboor Region: Udupi, Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
A project by the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh for the benefit of the intellectually challenged, speech/ hearing Impaired and disabled children with allied handicaps. This is a Catholic Centre managed by Nuns. The building is divided between the school and the hostel where the children and staff sleep. The hostel includes several dormitories for the girls and several for the boys. A big hall is used for meal times. The principal aim of the centre is to teach daily life activities so that the students become more autonomous. There are 150 students between 7 to 20 years old in the school. Not all the children live in the centre, only 82 children sleep in the hostel. The others take the school bus everyday and go back to their homes. The students have varied handicaps. Some children can understand and communicate easily with staff, but for others it is more difficult. The students are divided in different classes according to their IQ or activities for the vocational classroom. There are a maximum of 8 students to a class because each child needs particular attention. The school is composed of several classrooms. There are the primary, secondary, vocational class and the speech and hearing classes. In the primary and secondary class, the students learn to count, read, write and Basic English. Other classes like the vocational class, do manual activities. The students learn to make Phynol Candles, Envelopes, Greeting Cards, Decorative Craft items and notebooks. These products are sold afterwards in several markets. Also, some students learn tailoring. Thus, they practice with the torn clothes of the children.They also learn how to make flowers from fabric. In the hearing and speach classes the students learn grammar, mathematics and geography. The teacher communicates with them through sign language. They use Indian sign language. But in India, sign language changes according to the different states.
All morning there are yoga classes. The children execute the yoga movements under the attentive professor. Between 3 pm and 4 pm, the teachers perform many activities. The students can go to computer classes or go in the Hall for Singing. Others students prefer to go and play in general. Their favourite game is Cricket. The smaller children try/ like to imitate the bigger ones. Other children, especially the girls prefer to play “ Lagori”. For the Independence Day the students prepared Costumes, Decorations, Choreography, Songs and a parade in the playground. Some children performed a play about the claim for the Independence of India.
The daily life of the children:
6.30 get up
7.30 breakfast
7.30 - 9 brushing teeth, brushing hair, dressing,washing clothes.
9.30 school (Prayer)
10.10-45 YOGA
10.45 to 12.30 in classroom
12.30 lunch
1.30 pm school classes
3.4 games activities
4.30 snack,tea
4.45 to 5.30 to wash/ bath
6 Tv - Tom & Jerry and watching other programs
7.00prayer
7.30 dinner
8.30 in the bedroom
The Children help with the daily tasks. They help prepare lunch and dinner, they wash their clothes, and clean the floor after each meal. These activities allow the children to become more independent and self sufficient. There’s real solidarity between the children. The most automous help the others to wash their hands, to cut their nails, to go to the toilet etc. Also they act as authoritative figures to the others. In fact, they make sure that the children don’t exit the centre (sometimes with violence).
For the breakfast, the snack and the dinner the girls and the boys are divided. They don’t eat at the same time. The exception is lunchtime. After each meal, the children wash the plates.
4. Field of work: Education, Health
5. Special qualifications required:
This project is available for qualified and unqualified applicants. Previous experience with disabled children and knowledge of physiotherapy is most desirable.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is a very challenging one that needs really dedicated Volunteers, mainly to interact with the children. Only a few people will speak English there so be prepared to learn some words of the local language: Kannada. Furthermore it would be helpful for you to bring some material (and ideas!) for teaching and playing (e.g. music, cd’s, casette’s, guitar, songs, tennis balls, puzzles, colouring books, pens, stickers, collection cards, face paint etc.). The children do not understand complex rules, but they love games. esp. any kind of run and catch and ball games.
Also, please acquaint yourselves with different types of disabilities – use the internet to find out: (For: Cerebral Palsy; Down Syndrome; Autism; Blindness; Deafness; Physical disability/ handicapped)
4) What is the disability?
5) How does it affect someone?
6) What exercises/ activities can help stimulate someone suffering with such a disability? Needless to say, volunteers should enjoy working with children and have many creative ideas and a lot of patience.
The expected results are increased stability and routine for the children, improved physical movement, mental stimulation and creativity of the children.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
Volunteers work will be in the school and in the hostel. They will be assisting the staff members with the daily coordination and organization of the school, along with another volunteer from FSL or sometimes alone. Volunteers will be taking care of the special individual skills of the children and their daily needs, as well as teaching. They will also prepare and organize creative free time basic activities for the children, such as crafts and games. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative. Sometimes some support is also needed at the office since very few teachers have basic computer skills.
In the hostel: The Children help with the daily tasks. They help prepare lunch and dinner; they wash their clothes, and clean the floor after each meal. These activities allow the children to become more independent and self-sufficient. There’s real solidarity between the children. The most autonomous/ able children help the others to wash their hands, to cut their nails, to go to the toilet etc. Also they act as authoritative figures to the others. In fact, they make sure that the children don’t exit the centre. All children eat together at the same time. After each meal, the children wash the plates.
The volunteers room is upstairs with an attached bathroom. You will have food together with the staff in the hall, mostly after the children had their meal.
This project needs volunteers to work there to keep the spirit going and keep improving the place. With goodwill and enthusiasm the volunteers can make the children’s life more cheerful. The smiles they give you make your day…everyday.
This project is a great opportunity for volunteers to get to learn about the problems of disabled children in India.
Accomodation:
You will be staying in the project. Basic Indian food and drinking water will be provided, 3 meals per day. Any extra food, such as chocolates, soft drinks and cookies will have to be purchase by the volunteer
Udupi:
Udupi is a situated about 60 kms from Mangalore, it is a fairly large and upcoming town that was sanctum of Madhvacharya, the great Sanskrit Philosopher. The famous temple here has a fascinating idol of Lord Krishna that is richly adorned with jewels. It is the centre for Education, social and religious activities in the district of South Canara. It is known for the famous Sri Krishna temple. There are three temples in Udupi; Chandreshwara, Anantheshwara and Sri Krishna temple. Chandreshwara and Anatheshwara are the most ancient temples of Udupi.
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2009/10
FSL-07: Support worker for students who are hearing and speech impaired and have learning disabilities within Vag Jyothi School
1. Project-host: Vag Jyothi School
Place: Kundapur Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
The Vag Jyothi school is a residental school for deaf, dumb and mentally disabled children. Dr.Kodlady Surendra Shetty, president of an NGO, founded it in 2000. The Vag Jyothi School is not a governmental school; because of the support from the NGO there is no school fee. Admission to the school is free; parents don’t have to pay anything. Most of the children stay in school during the week. There are about 40 children, 20 of them are hearing impaired (h.i.), and about 15 "mentally retarded" (m.r). They are 8 to 21 years old. The classes are divided into 1st to 8th stand, but some standards are put together because of the limited place and teacher capacity. The children stay (learn,sleep and eat) in school during the week. Most of the children go home only during holidays; this is a special time for them (two times a year). Some older children go home at the weekends or also during the week. The school is located in a rural area in Moodubage, 50 minutes from Kundapur by bus. The students are very interested in meeting foreigners and you can see this as a good opportunity for broadening their minds because most of the time they stay in the school. Volunteers can find their tasks individually in the school accoridng to their interests. They have a lot of liberty, will work self-contained and will create their own schedule. The volunteers task might be teaching English to the hearing impaired and doing different kinds of activities with the mentally disabled children. It is possible to teach them English and maths and in addition do activities as singing, dancing, crafts and sports with them. Since the mentally disabled children often are not taught by the teachers but need a lot of support and attention, the volunteer should spend most of the time at the school with them (Vorschlag einer weltwärts-Rückkkehrerin) The mentally disabled children have very varied handicaps. Some are quite intelligent and can even speak and learn English. Others are severely disabled. Some of them are also deaf or have hearing problems. Most of the children speak in sign language.
The students:
Now there are 7 different classes, which consist of children with different (dis-)ablities and age:
- 1st and 2nd: 4 h.i children
- 3rd and 4th standard: 4 students: one girl can't see proper and is dumb, one girl has a learning disability and is hearing impaired, one girl has a severe learning disability, but can speak, and one boy who is deaf and dump and can learn normally.
- 5th standard: 2 h.i. students
- 6th standard: 2 h.i. and 1 mentally challenged student
- 7th standard: 3 h.i students
- 8th standard: 8 h.i students
- mentally retarded (m.r.) class: about 14 children with (severe) mental disabilities
(Dis-) Abilities:
The abilities differ a lot, be it a deaf and/or dumb or/and a mentally challenge student.
“Deaf and dumb” or “hearing impaired” means they have hearing and speaking problems, but are “normally” intelligent. There are different levels of deafness/dumbness. Some of the h.i. and some of the m.r. students understand the local sign and body language, some can read Kannada (the local language) from the lips, or can even hear and “speak” a little.
The mentally disabled children have very different handicaps, which are often not yet classified. Some just have more or less severe learning disabilities but still are quite intelligent and can learn and speak English. Others are severally (mentally) disabled. Some “known” disabilities are:
- learning and speaking disabilities
- concentration deficit, attention deficit
- Down-Syndrome, Fragile-X-Syndrom, Fetal alcohol Syndrom
- autism
- slight spastics
- (severe) mental disabilities, probably traumatized
- partial blindness, dumbness, deafness
4. Field of work: Education, Health
5. Special qualifications required:
This project is available for qualified and unqualified applicants. Previous experience with disabled children and knowledge of physiotherapy and sign language is most desirable.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is a very challenging one that needs really dedicated Volunteers, mainly to interact with the children. Only a few people will speak English there so be prepared to learn some words of the local language: Kannada. Furthermore it would be helpful for you to bring some material (and ideas!) for teaching and playing (e.g. tennis balls, puzzles, colouring books, pens, stickers, collection cards, face paint etc.). Communication will be the largest barrier, so familiarise yourself with types of open body language and a few sign language actions or prepare some cards with pictures to open communication channels. Also, please acquaint yourselves with different types of disabilities – use the internet to find out: (For: Down Syndrome; Autism; Deafness; Dumbness)
10) What is the disability?
11) How does it affect someone?
12) What exercises/ activities can help stimulate someone suffering with such a disability?
Needless to say, volunteers should enjoy working with children and have many creative ideas and a lot of patience.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer:
Volunteers will be assisting the staff members with the daily coordination and organization of the school, along with another volunteer from FSL or sometimes alone. Volunteers will be taking care of the special individual skills of the children and their daily needs, as well as teaching. They will also prepare and organize creative free time basic activities for the children, such as crafts and games. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
Volunteers are basically free in choosing what they want to do, depending on their interests, talents and what they think is useful. The headmaster will create an own schedule for you depending on your interests, which you should follow.
You can:
- teach basic English to the h.i. students and also to some m.r. students
- teach some (basic) Kannada words to the m.r. students with speaking problems
- teach the m.r. students easy english and kannada songs with movements
- play any kind of learning games with the m.r. Students
- learn to count with some m.r. Students or even teach maths
- teach crafts and drawing
- do sport-games and teach dances
- do outside-activities and have a walk with the m.r. Children
- ... since you have so many opportunities, you need to involve yourself with creative ideas!
Communication with the children is very difficult because they don't understand english, so you have to find your own creative way of communication!
The project is very challenging and really needs help.
FSL-08: Environmental educator in higher primary schools and colleges within the Udupi district
Dieses Projekt ist als ADIA- Einsatzstelle (Andere Dienste im Ausland für Zivildienstleistende) anerkannt.
1. Project-host: FSL
Place: Kundapur Region: Udupi, Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 2
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
• Raise awareness of environmental issues amongst school children
• Motivate and mobilise youth groups to get actively involved with their surrounding environments
• Create and build upon an environmental handbook for future volunteers
• Expand environmental awareness amongst residents within Kundapur
• Create and develop environmental awareness sessions for schools
• To begin the change in attitude towards the environment • Approaching community to participate in environmental issues
4. Field of work: Education, Environment
5. Special qualifications required:
This placement is suitable for unqualified volunteers, however, any previous experience in environmental/ geographical sciences, history, and/ or cultural studies is deeply desirable.
Special qualifications recommended
The project is a very challenging one and you need to be very dedicated to your tasks. You will need to be an open and friendly person as there will be a language barrier because only a few staff in schools will speak English. The children may not understand English, so it is useful to learn some basic Kannada (attention: there are also some children who speak Konkani or Hindi!). When you communicate with the children you can use Kannada, English and hand gestures. You need to enjoy working with children and the environment to be part of this project. We advise that you research/ have a sound knowledge of environmental issues such as recycling, waste management, river pollution and such like so that you have some pre-existing knowledge when you get here. Volunteers need to be able to work independently and be interested in the environment. Any previous experience in environmental/ geographical sciences, history, and/ or cultural studies is desirable.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer:
The volunteer will visit 6-7th grade classes within the Udupi district. The classes are mainly in Kannada speaking medium schools. The volunteer will give sessions in each school to build up awareness of environmental issues. Alongside this the volunteer will also be involved in two other elements: the eco-friendly street and eco-clubs.
Eco-friendly Street
1) We have taken one street in Kundapur and are raising awareness about recycling and composting amongst the locals. We get the residents to separate their garbage and the volunteer will regularly visit to ensure locals understand the need of this activity and carry it out.
2) This street is a small scale model to trial this scheme and in future and with a BMZ LTV they could expand this street to a larger scale outside of Kundapur.
3) Research the recycling system within India and write proposals for municipal improvements.
4) Investigate and research the local recycling/ waste system (e.g. Gujiri - recycling scrap shop, Municipality’s dumping of garbage)
5) Volunteers will lead monthly awareness sessions in the schools on issues facing the environment e.g. human impact, river pollution, garbage management; and will mobilise the students to think about possible solutions.
Environmental Handbook
We all love “How to” guides and the Handbook will be just that - a running commentary of the volunteer’s activities and sessions so that future volunteers can use it to aid their own work. The volunteers are encouraged to bring their own suggestions and creativity to the project. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative. There aren’t any limitations to this project in so far as development, but the fixed work (school sessions, eco-friendly street) is set, but new ideas are always welcome. It would be useful if the volunteer brings his or her own laptop.
FSL-09: Supervisor of the Sea Turtle Conservation Program along the Western Ghats coastline within Udupi district, Karnataka (6 months); develop the Eco Tourism theme and set up Eco Tourism projects in and around the area of Kundapur (5 months subsequently)
Dieses Projekt ist als ADIA- Einsatzstelle (Andere Dienste im Ausland für Zivildienstleistende) anerkannt.
1. Project-host: FSL
Place: Udupi-District Region: Karnataka
2. Number of volunteers: 2
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project: As sea turtles have become in danger of extinction through human impact in the last 50 years and their survival depends largely on their chances to reproduce and nest in a safe environment (namely undisturbed beaches), the main objective of the FSL Sea Turtle Conservation Program is to make a 60 km stretch of coastline above and below Kundapura (coastal town in Udupi district) a safe haven for the Sea Turtles which come every year to nest in these beaches. The project is devided into 5 sections:
1. creating awareness about sea turtles and the importance of a clean and natural environment for:
- schools
- fishermen living at the beach and working on harbours
- inhabitants of Kundapur
2. lead workcamps (once every month) during which volunteers build hatcheries and information huts at the beach
3. find local contact people for the project to look after the hatcheries and information huts & and to interlink the project with the local community
4. collect data about the development of sea turtle/ hatchling numbers, location of nests, beach situation etc. and write reports about the ongoing work done in the project
5. connect other turtle conservation projects in Karnataka/India with FSL's one
Through these activities the project hopes to contribute to save sea turtles from extinction and to provide more knowledge about the importance of a sound eco system and biodiversity to the local population, enabling them to improve their living conditions by keeping their environment more clean and natural.
4. Field of work: Environment, Education/ Social Work, Data Collection, PR
5. Special qualifications required: The placement is suitable for qualified volunteers with previous experience in environmental sciences. Good computer skills are needed. The project suits best for volunteers with a background in marine biology, community development/social work . Volunteers should have knowledge about data collection/processing and the biology of sea turtles. Experience in leading workcamps and/or former participation in other conservation programs is a plus.
Special qualifications recommended
You should apply for the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Kundapur if you are interested in environmetal issues and if you are creative and flexible. This project will provide you with a good frame to set you up for the work, as it has been running for already 4 years but with the assistance of a coordinator and project facilitator you should be able to set up your own aims and work independantly and in cooperation with a group of fellow volunteers on them. For this you have to be focused, organzied and dependable.You should have basic computer skills to write reports and fill in data into excel sheets and it is recommended to bring your own laptop as there is wireless internet connection in the office and a big share of your time will be spent planning or reviewing the project on the computer. Openness and interest to work with the local population (esp. school children and fishermen) and good English language skills are a neccessity. On top you should be willing and determined to learn the local language Kannada as most people in Kundapur only have basic English skills. In order to lead a group of around 10 workcamp volunteers successfully you should be self confident and sociable. Patience and again flexibilty are indispensable to work efficiantly in an emerging country like India.
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
As a BMZ volunteer you will be part of a team that consists of volunteers that might not stay as long as you do. So your aim will be to keep track of all the activities that need to be done and divide the work between you so that all goals can be met.
- In the first month of your stay in India you will have to learn about the biology of sea turtles and read the reports about the activities done in the previous years.
- You will also meet the old, search and possibly train new contact people for the project who look after hatcheries and information huts and have to be the link between the local community and FSL.
- Before the main nesting season starts in October/November the fishermen population that lives along the beach around Kundapur has to be informed about the new year's project and the focus will be put on raising awareness also in schools and colleges. This is done by doing a beach survey where you ask questions but also give information to the people. Furthermore there is a wide range of awareness raising activities which reauires your creativity. Previously volunteers have been leafletting in schools and beach communites, wrote newspaper articles, painted murals, made educational films, played theatre, organized beach partys, created a puppet show for children or conducted drawing competitions.
- From October there will be a two week workcamp held in Kundapur each month until January that will assist the project in raising awareness and building information huts at beaches and hatcheries. - Alongside with these ongoing activities, during the nesting season, turtle eggs have to be relocated from unsave nests to hatcheries, the authorities have to be kept informed, reports have to be written about every step done in the project and public relations as well as cooperation with other sea turtle projects are all tasks to be balanced and handled by the long term volunteers. The actual tasks can vary according to the projects current needs and depend on the volunteers own initiative.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a more responsible alternative form of tourism; it takes into account two major themes: Nature and Culture. Its aims are to conserve the environment, preserve local cultures and improve the well being of local people. It creates environmentally conscious travellers and provides unique experiences which are not available from mass tourism.
Ecotourism minimises the negative impacts of tourists on the environment and local community, whilst maximising the economic, environmental, and social benefits of tourism on the community. In ecotourism there is a cultural exchange for both the ecotourist and the local community. There is also a direct financial benefit for the conservation, empowerment of indigenous people and sustainable resource usage, for the profits remain within the local community.
In India, the ecotourism movement is growing and FSL India works to promote and develop further the concept of ecotourism in India. The Program’s ultimate aim is to work towards the development of ecotourism in India, focusing on Kundapur and Karnataka. And since Kundapur is right in the middle of two of the mass tourism hot spots in south India. In the south is Kerala and in the north is Goa. That is why FSL has taken this initiation to introduce Eco tourism so as to bring awareness among local people and to bring in alternative ways of tourism. Information has been gathered since 2005 by volunteers, so now is the time to implement ideas and put them into practice. In order to develop ecotourism we will be working in three parts, A, B, and C:
Part A: Research and Information
1. Following up previous volunteers’ work and compiling the information into a report.
Part B: Establishing Ecotourism
1. Re-establishing contact with locals and resource people.
2. Creating a calendar of cultural events.
Part C: Promotion
1. Promoting to eco-tourists via website, travel agencies, and seminars etc
2. Further developing the project with other possible tourist activities
3. Help run Eco Tourism: organise and lead boattrips, organise homestays, set up a farmers committe on one of the eco-islands, organise training sessions for farmers
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2008/09
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2009/10
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2010/11
FSL-11: Primary School Teacher in Tent School in Udupi District
1. Project-host: Tent School
Place: Kundapur Region: Udupi District
2. Number of volunteers: 1
Starting-date: May or September
3. Description of the local project:
In the area of Kundapur, on the west coast of Karnataka (South India), near Mangalore, FSL is supporting several Tent Communitues, currently in Kundapur and Mullikatte. The people of these communities live in self-made tents at the side of the street. They were forced to leave their homelands, because they have faced a draught for many years. It is common for these displaced people coming from the North East of the state to join construction work with salaries below minimum wages or work as fishers. This makes them move around a lot, tents being their homes. Most of their children can not visit a regular school, because they have to help their parents, work to earn some money or just because they are moving around too often. Some children spend their days alone, doing nothing except begging and hanging around on the streets. To provide these children with a minimum of education, FSL sends volunteers to the communities, where they teach the children in the Tent Schools. The project is only for children who have discontinued school or never joined one before.
Tent School Project is aimed towards these children, who are prepared to integrate in to a “real school”.
4. Field of work: Education
5. Special qualifications required:
This project is available for unqualified applicants. Volunteers need to have a good level of English and be willing to learn the local language (Kannada).
Special qualifications recommended
The project is challenging and you need to be very dedicated to your tasks. Language might be a barrier since few people in your project will speak English, therefore creative methods of communication would be helpful and some preparation about the local language- Kannada. Although, you will receive training in the local language on arrival. Feel free to bring some things from home to be able to make a country presentation to the children to tell them about your country and/or Europe. The volunteer needs to enjoy working with children, have good communication skills, a lot of patience and creative ideas.
Aims and expected results of the voluntary work
• To teach basic English
• To teach basic Maths
• To interact with the children
• To use creative teaching methods to encourage and develop learning
• To inspire children to learn new languages and learn about new cultures
• To teach the children about your own country
• To learn about the educational system in India
• Encourage the children to attend school
• Visit the parents and promote the school
• Visit the tents and encourage the community to support the school
• Give awareness to the families on how important education is
6. Description of the tasks of the volunteer
The work:
FSL is running Tent Schools in different communities. One of them is in Kundapur. The volunteers will work in this place between 10.00 am and 12.00 am everyday. After the rainy season the number of children here are few, but as the dry season sets in there are normally around I5 children (between the age of 1- I6) to work with. There is a possibility to get more children. So, the volunteers may even have to go to the tents where the children are staying and do activities with them so as to encourage them to go to the school. School will run at a separate tent nearby the residential tents.
In the afternoon the volunteers will have to go to two different places. From monday to thursday they are going to Mullikatte, a place that is easily reachable by bus. The travel will take around 20 minutes. In Mullikatte the number of children is changing very often. There are mostly around 10 children. During governmental school holidays in April, May and September there are much more children. You can also teach the women, because they are very interested in volunteers and learning English.
The third place is Tallur, where the volunteers are working on Friday. There are almost no children anymore, because most of them attend real school right now. But FSL is running a self-help group with the adults and there is one small disabled boy who needs medical help and physiotherapy. The volunteers have to go with him to a hospital once in a month and should provide him with little massage and gymnastics.
In all these places volunteers are working with one Indian teacher, who is called Geetha. She is working in this project for already some years, know the people very well and speaks english. There are normally one or two volunteers placed in this project.
The volunteers are working together with a local teacher named Geetha who can help you by translating. During rainy season the number of children are few, but as the dry season sets in there are normally around I5 children (between the age of 1 - 14) to work with. There is a possibility to get more children. So, the volunteers may even have to go to the tents (ask Geetha for help) where the children are staying and do activities with them so as to encourage them to go to the school. School will run in a separate hut nearby the residential tents. Despite teaching it is also important to build up a good relationship to the parents (they will be also really interested in you!).
Special note: FSL is running two tent schools in different places namely Kundapur and Mullikatte. Volunteers need to work on shift basis. Fom 10.00 am to 12.00 am as morning shift at Kundapur and from 2.15 to 4.00 pm as afternoon shift at Mullikatte. The volunteers and the local teacher are visiting the Tallur community on Friday afternoons.
Your main tasks will be:
Basic English to the children
Basic mathematics to the children
Creative activities.I.e. Drawing, handicraft, dance, songs etc.
Meeting with the parents
Visiting the tents
Motivation to join regular school
Training on life skills
Training on personal hygiene.
Time commitment:
School starts at 10.00 AM and ends at 4.00 PM. (12.00 to 2.00 will be lunch break)
Monday to Friday, at least 3 hours per day of teaching but other work includes preparation, visiting tents and above mentioned special activities. etc. It’s possible to combine this project with another teaching project when there aren’t so many children.
Accommodation
You will be staying in a host family, in shared rooms with other long term volunteers. Basic Indian food and drinking water will be provided, 3 meals per day. Any extra food, such as chocolates, soft drinks and cookies will have to be purchase by the volunteer.
Dress Code:
You need to be adaptable to a new Culture. Your appearance should be presentable at the project. You should wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees completely! No showing of the navel! Most appropriate clothes are sari or chudidar, which every woman in rural area like it is here wears. You can buy them in Kundapur for about 300Rs
-> Zum Erfahrungsbericht 2010/11
About the Area of Kundapur (where most of the weltwaerts host projects with FSL India are located):
Kundapur
Kundapur, a town in the district of Udupi, on the west coast of Karnataka State, is the base of many projects FSL is running. One of our homebase is situated there and allows us to coordinate the different projects that are spread in and around Kundapur. It is situated 450 Km from Bangalore.
Places of Interest in Kundapur:
A few kilometers away from Kundapur is the Maravanthe Beach.
Satupurnika River.
Very close to the Western Ghats.
Around 50kms from Kundapur is situated the famous Kollur Temple. It's believed that Kollur is one of the seven pilgrimages, which were created by Parashurama.
The beautiful beach of Gokarna is two hours away.
The Jog falls are also near Kundapur. These are magnificent falls, set in the wild and unspoilt surroundings.
Travel description:
Nearest Airport: Mangalore airport (100 Km from Kundapur)
Accommodation in general in projects with FSL India: In most cases you will be staying in a host family, maybe with another volunteer in a shared bedroom. The family lives not far from the project place. Basic Indian food and drinking water will be provided, 3 meals per day. In some cases you will be staying at the project.