Volunteering Solutions offers an exciting opportunity to do a 2 week volunteer trip along with weekend excursions during the winter vacations for the volunteers with a combination of volunteer programs and weekend excursions to Agra and tour to one of the most historic and cultural sites in the capital city of Delhi.

This program is especially suitable for volunteers who do not have time to commit to a month or more of volunteering abroad but would like to make some contribution and also travel along with other volunteers on the weekends to one of the most spectacular places in northern India.

The program is based in the capital city of Delhi. The city is a fusion of ancient and modern culture and is home to ancient monuments, magnificent museums and offers plenty of shopping opportunities for travelers.

Although the city is witnessing fast progress and change there are many people who live in low income areas and slums without access to even basic amenities such as clean water.

There are also millions of street kids in the city who are either orphans or have run away from their home in the villages to make a better living for themselves. These kids often fall prey to drug peddlers and child traffickers. They are rescued by different NGO’s working towards the cause of these kids and are provided shelter and refuge in shelter homes where they are given informal education and counseling.


Volunteer Program Schedule
Duration: 2 weeks
Dates: Monday – 20^th December 2010 – 02^nd January 2011 (2 weeks)
Working Days: Monday – Friday – 5 days a week , 5-6 hours in a day
Weekends: Travel / Sightseeing included in Cost

Volunteers in this program work in the street kids shelter homes in Delhi. Volunteers can bring smile on the faces of these disadvantaged street children by helping to create an environment conducive for their holistic development in order to enable them become a part of mainstream society.

Volunteer Work in India Street Children Program consists of taking informal education classes with the children, playing games with the children and introducing them to different new activities.

Volunteers work at the various contact points or shelter homes, being run by various organizations, which serve as day care centers for these street children. They can assist in providing love, care, basic literacy, recreation and most importantly spend time and shower affection on them.

Typical volunteer activities include:

 » Teaching basic English as well as any other subject such as Maths and Geography to the children.
 » Help, prepare and, serve nutritious meals for the children every day with the help of local workers.
 » Create a fun, colorful, “Play Way” environment for the children through songs, stories and       other creative activities.
 » Decorating and painting the shelter homes with charts, colors, papers to make it look attractive and clean.

Program Itinerary

Sunday (Day before Program start date) – Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. 

Day 1: –Orientation Session- Welcome to India, introduction to the program in Delhi, safety issues and basic culture of India. Also learn about your program schedule and tour program to follow.

Day 2: –Volunteer starts the work in field. Daily schedule will be as follows:-

Breakfast: - 08:30am
Departure to work area: 9:30am
Return from Work area – 4:30- 5pm
Internet / Free time – 5-7pm
Dinner: - 7:00pm

A) Trip to Taj Mahal ( Golden Temple) – Weekend One
On the first weekend, volunteers will be going to Agra to visit the world famous Taj Mahal which is also among the Seven Wonders of the World.The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the finest examples of ancient Mughal architecture. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in India and is also visited by almost all the volunteers who join our programs in Delhi.

 

 

Volunteers will also be taken to the following sights in and around Agra:-

Agra Fort Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located at a short distance from the Taj Mahal.The fort is built by red sandstone and can be described as a walled palatial city. 
 


Fatehpur Sikri

  Built during the second half of the 16th century by the Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style, includes one of the largest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid.




c) Delhi Sightseeing Trip – (Weekend Two)

Volunteer will discover Delhi and go on a tour to one of the famous spots of cultural and historical significance.
 
India Gate -At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. 


Lotus Temple -South East of Delhi, this temple is built in the shape of a lotus flower and is the last of seven Major Bahai's temples built around the world. Completed in 1986 it is set among the lust landscaped gardens. The structure is made up of pure white marble The architect Furiburz Sabha chose the lotus as the symbol common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. Adherents of any faith are free to visit the temple and pray or meditate. 


Humayun's Tomb -This magnificent garden tomb is the first substantial example of Mughal architecture in India. It was built in 1565 A.D.nine years after the death of Humayun, by his senior widow Bega Begam. Inside the walled enclosure the most notable feature are the garden squares (chaharbagh) with pathways water channels, centrally located well proportional mausoleum topped by double dome. It has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
   

Qutab Minar-is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak immediately after the defeat of Delhi's last Hindu kingdom. The tower has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony and tapers from a 15 m diameter at the base to just 2.5 m at the top. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone; the fourth and fifth storeys are of marble and sandstone. At the foot of the tower is the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque to be built in India. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the mosque. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled. 

   

Red Fort- The red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33-m above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors. The walls, built in 1638, were designed to keep out invaders, now they mainly keep out the noise and confusion of the city.
 It has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   
Akshardham Temple - The temple is one of the largest Hindu temples in the world. Opened in 2005, the temple complex displays displays centuries of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The Akshardham experience is an enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind  

Accommodation & Food

Volunteers will be staying in the volunteer house during the program. During the weekend trip to Agra accommodation will be provided in 3 star hotel accommodation with all meals included. The volunteer house in Delhi is located in a safe and secure surrounding with good shopping markets in the neighborhood. Volunteers will be provided with two meals a day during the days of work.

Program Fee for a single person – USD 599 per person  

Please note: An application fee of $200/£140 is charged over and above the program fee.

Special Discounts are available for Groups of Four or more people travelling together.

What are you Paying For ?
» 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
» Hotel accommodation during tours
» Transfers during tours
» Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
» Airport / Bus Station Pickup
» Orientation
» Food
» Accommodation
» Medical Insurance 

What's NOT Included ?
» Drinks during tour
» Airfare
» Visa and Vaccinations
» Airport drop
» Local transportation
» Any personal expenses (You would need around $40 per week for your personal expenses