Boomers Abroad

Description

A land of sensory overload, cultural extremes, and extraordinary beauty and mystery, India has become one of the most desirable destinations to travel and volunteer. Its sheer size and dynamic, complex population combines with fascinating wildlife and a mystical and pervasive heritage filled with tales of ancient gods, kings and queens to make it a place that will transform your perspectives and realign your priorities. You'll work on a project of your choice, selecting from organic farming, herbiculture, anthropology, education, agriculture, environment, social sciences, and village administration, as you help to create a better life for the local Kumaon people. Travel to this magical destination that will draw you in, whilst giving you totally unforgettable memories!

What Will I Be Doing?

Your working hours will depend on the season you are there and the work that needs to be done, so you should definitely be prepared for some hard but rewarding work. You'll teach alongside other international volunteers and local teachers offering a variety of subjects, or you can help with eco-farming, water and sanitation projects, or with activities assisting women's workgroups and co-operatives. With so many different types of work needed you will be able to choose a selection of interesting and rewarding activities. Here's an indication of some of the projects you can get involved with:

* Organic Farming
Farming work can vary greatly, depending on the time of the year. In March to July, you can help to plant rice. Rice is harvested in September and October. Wheat is planted in September and harvested from April to May. The quiet farming months are December, January and February. There is also a greenhouse where tomatoes, coriander, peppers and cucumbers are cultivated, among other vegetables.

* Construction
You will have a chance to work on a variety of projects. These may include anything from developing bio-gas and efficient waste disposal and recycling systems, maintaining cultivation terraces, improving irrigation systems, creating waste-water infrastructure, building composting toilets, cattle sheds, digging wells, laying pipes or clearing paths. You will always work under the supervision of skilled local craftsmen who will guide you through simple, yet valuable, building tasks.

* Tree Planting
At times when the ground is soft enough, many volunteers are needed to help plant trees in order to counteract the damage done by deforestation for agricultural and mining. This has led to massive soil erosion, collapse of terraces, and reduction in soil fertility and devastating droughts. Along with tree planting you will build awareness of the importance of afforestation and reforestation and help with the regeneration of landscapes degraded by mining.

* Social Awareness & Teaching
You will help raise awareness amongst local people about the importance of sanitation and hygiene in promoting good health in disease control; you will also raise awareness of environmental issues and develop their understanding of social justice. This will not be your typical classroom based experience as local community members are not used to traditional learning methods. You may like to focus more on interactive teaching through dance, songs, a bit of improvisation and some visual aids. The idea is to make learning a recreational activity and to promote local culture and participation.