Info

ISPiiCE organises a variety of educational and confidence building activities for the benefit of adolescent girls and women of the local community.

About iSPiiCE

iSPiiCE Volunteer Programs have been set up to assist local schools, children's Day Care Centres and Women's Empowerment groups. We endeavor to directly contribute to genuine community development in the project areas we operate and offer after school English lessons and IT skills training to teenagers.

iSPiiCE Volunteer Programs provide you with the chance to combine your volunteering activities with travel in India. We offer excursions to world famous sites, including a Himalayan trek, the Taj Mahal Experience and a trip to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, all of which are included in the program fee.

Volunteer Activities
The activities done by volunteers in our programs primarily relate to education, social work, care and empowerment, carried out in various partner institutions identified as appropriate for iSPiiCE intervention. We constantly seek expansion of our programs by developing new initiatives and volunteer activities which meet the needs of the local population. While the requirements of each community group differ there are some common activities that we offer in the areas of education, childcare, women's empowerment and health care.

Women's Empowerment
With the introduction of the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women in 2001 the Indian Government has said ‘Our vision in the new century of a nation where women are equal partners with men’ but in reality Indian women struggle to gain empowerment through society. Education is the most influential tool to raise the status of women and at iSPiiCE we run a variety of educational and confidence building activities to benefit women and adolescent girls in the local community. English teaching and computer classes impart much needed skills to the ladies, increase their self worth and offer a platform for social interaction, ultimately increasing their social status and employability prospects. One good technique for building rapport and empowering the local women is to ask them to teach you basic Hindi at the same time as you are teaching them. You’ll come back with fond memories of an unforgettable experience.

Education Related
Education volunteers play an important role in raising awareness about the need for regular schooling and offer much needed support to local teachers. Working in local schools gives volunteers a chance to meet regularly with local children and their families and for those volunteers with a professional interest in education, teaching gives them a chance to hone their skills in a very different environment. The most commonly requested subject of teaching is English, however you are also invited to teach math, science, geography or other subjects covered by the curriculum. We encourage volunteers to create their own lesson plans and teaching materials are available for this purpose. You may also bring your own teaching materials such as reading and picture books and flash cards. For teaching English it is not necessary for volunteers to have past experience and in-depth knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. The children having experience working with fluent English speakers is invaluable on its own. This is a brilliant opportunity to teach school children in Himachal Pradesh and children in shelter homes and orphanages. Interacting with them is extremely valuable for children’s confidence and also for your learning of the local culture.

Childcare Related
The concept of "preschool" childcare is new in India, where the joint family system has long provided ample childcare providers. Unlike western countries, where child care facilities exist primarily to free woman to work, the Indian Day Care Center's main purpose is to provide a safe, healthy and hygienic space for young children who would not be able to receive proper care at home. Day Care Centres also serve pregnant women. While often extremely effective at improving the health of the children and mothers they serve, these Centres suffer from under funding and miss management, thus making the contributions of the volunteers extremely important. Child care volunteers share the workload with regular staff and help bring a level of professionalism and dedication by meeting regularly with children and their families and ensuring maximum attendance by awareness building in the community. Childcare volunteers introduce the children to the English alphabet and create a colorful and enjoyable environment for the children by playing games, and developing arts activities to enhance their motor skills and encourage creativity.
You will provide personal care to the children each day and assist the local worker in the maintenance of healthcare records including vaccinations, growth and nutritional status


Volunteer With Street Children in India
India is home to the world’s largest population of street children, estimated at around 11 million, according to conservative estimates by UNICEF. Relying on fragile survival strategies and with no opportunities for play or school, these are a particularly vulnerable group open to exploitation and extreme poverty.
iSPiiCE emphasize education and care initiatives to help integrate street children into mainstream society understanding that the key to their development and academic achievement is improved health and a secure environment. Street children volunteers work at various shelter homes and contact points providing care, affection, meals, basic literacy, and a safe environment for the children to learn and recreate, away from the reality of life on the streets. Improve the physical and emotional well being of street children and bring a smile back to their faces by showing you care.

Extra-Curricular Activities
Whatever extra-curricular activity you may do with the kids- be it, playing games, story telling, singing or giving knowledge about your own culture, it involves talking in English and provides practice for the students. Most of the children are at a very basic require learning more about things in their daily life like body parts ,names of birds and animals ,opposites etc. and some conversation used in their daily life.

Community Visit
We recommend that all iSPiiCE volunteers participate in a visit to the local community, to gain an insight into how the local families live and to give feedback to the families of the children being taught. This is an invaluable experience for all volunteers and enhances the relationship between the communities and the volunteers. Through your positive contribution intercultural understanding and tolerance develops.

Community Involvements
Volunteer life involves daily exposure to Indian Cultural rules, customs and traditions. In order to gain the support and trust of the local people, volunteers will do well to make every possible effort to understand and abide by local sensitivities. Indian hospitality is legendary, and the fact you are coming to offer assistance only improves your chances of being welcomed warmly. At the same time, volunteers that fail to follow the appropriate codes of conduct risk giving unintended offense that undermines their own good standing.

iSPiiCE volunteers participate in a visit to the local community, to gain an insight into how the local families live and to give feedback to the families of the children being taught. This is an invaluable experience for all volunteers and enhances the relationship between the communities and the volunteers.

Program Fee Includes

Your iSPiiCE programme includes:
• Airport pick up and transfer to hotel
• Pre Departure Info Kit
• All excursion/trips are included in a programme fee -Himalaya trek and McLeod Ganj, Visit Taj Mahal, Visit the Golden Temple at Amritsar, all transportations are included in a programme fee
• Volunteer work with community in rural areas
• Emergency support, all meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• All accommodation for the duration of your placement
• English speaking Guides for the duration of your placement
• Basic teaching materials and use of Computer/Internet
• Workshops Programme to include Hindi class, Indian cooking and decorative Henna
• Delhi airport drop at the end of your project

What the program fee does not cover:
• Application fee
• Airfare, Insurance, Visa
• Any personal expenses.
• Laundry, telephone, immunisations

Duration

2-12 weeks. Longer placements can also be arranged

Start Dates

Programs are offered throughout the year. Visit http://www.ispiice.com/bookdates.html for specific booking dates.

Requirements

There are no educational requirements for this project; anyone with a heart to help is welcome on this project! Patience, commitment and a willingness to learn is essential. There is no maximum age restriction for our volunteer placements, but the minimum age requirement is 18 years unless accompanied by an adult.