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Community Development and Social Empowerment in Jaipur

Volunteer abroad community work Jaipur India gap year

Location India
Start Date Various Tuesdays throughout the month
Duration
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The Project

Volunteer in India and start to understand how a surge in the country’s population numbers are leaving families stretched to the limit with increasing numbers of malnourished, underprivileged and orphaned children as a result. India is struggling as a nation to deliver adequate education and care to thousands of needy children leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition, neglect and in some cases abuse. The key to India’s development is to look at educational and care practices and raise levels of literacy throughout the country. With a negative standpoint on having female children, there is also a raising need for women empowerment initiatives to help equalize the power in Indian society. Although the number of literate children and adults has been on the steady increase over the past few years, too many are still suffering from the inability to fund schooling so Kaya are helping to inspire better education and a better care system for the children of Jaipur.
Why the project needs you

Jaipur’s literacy rate currently stands at 82.80% however this drops dramatically to 55% when we focus upon the young girls of Jaipur, highlighting the need to focus in on children to address these real and pertinent issues. With 65 children out of 1,000 failing to reach their 3rd birthday, volunteers are needed in the fight to lower this statistic.

If we can help to increase literacy, help to provide additional care and support to children and women in need, we can help India on its way to becoming a more peaceful and educated nation. Increasing the children of Jaipur’s ability to receive quality education and care is an essential tool to helping India ensure peace, social justice and equality within its society.

Project Location

Jaipur is located within the area of Rajasthan. Known internationally as the Pink City, Jaipur was the stronghold of a clan of rulers whose hill forts and palaces still hold importance today. The Pink City, so called because of the beautiful colour of the stone used exclusively to build the walled city, is now known as one of India’s most exciting destinations due to its unique blend of modern and authentic Indian culture.
Project Facts

• Duration: 2 – 12 weeks
• Cost: £795 ($1391) for 2 weeks and £125 ($219) for every extra week
• Requirements: age 16+
• Location: Jaipur, India
• Project activities: Volunteers will be allocated to specific duties upon arrival to the project and will be fully briefed before carrying out their volunteer placement
• Working hours: Monday – Friday 9:00-5:00
• Project Availability: 2 Tuesday start dates throughout the month
What is included

• Accommodation: Shared room in volunteer accommodation
• Food: 3 meals a day
• Airport pick up
• Training: Pre-departure information pack and onsite orientation provided
• Support: 24 hour support
• Excursion Planning: staff will help organise activities and excursions
What is not included

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas
• Transport to and from project
• Airport drop off

Role of the volunteer

Volunteers are needed to work on a number of child and youth development projects within Jaipur, including: increasing the development and awareness of street children in regards to their health, education and social awareness; rescue, rehabilitate and educate saved child labourers; increasing education and health awareness within the child rag picking community; providing education to children of the slums; teaching and educational support in primary schools lacking in facilities; working with mentally and physically challenged children; supporting orphaned children and working to develop women empowerment. Allocations are made on arrival, following visits to all the sites. For those staying longer than 4 weeks, there may be the chance to switch projects at the 4-week mark.

Volunteer duties will depend on the exact project that you will be assisting with, but all focus around care and support for children and young adults with various backgrounds, but all who are in need of extra attention and support. You could be conducting surveys or monitoring the skills of children by playing various skilled games with them, you may be assisting in English classes or tutorials, providing care to orphaned children, helping with homework, going on community visits to ensure child attendance to school, helping in the beautification of various schools and centres around Jaipur, going on educational family visits creating awareness about child labour and rag picking, taking the kids on day trips, helping in sporting, art and film activities and more.

Jaipur has a large and willing community ready for your time, attention and love. As a volunteer, you will be instrumental in making a social change to the vulnerable children of Jaipur, working as and where the need for assistance arises. This ensures that you are working on meaningful and committed volunteer projects while you are in India, and constantly involved in activities where you are giving back to the children the whole time.
Skills Required

As a volunteer, your activities will vary depending on your skills and the needs in Jaipur at your particular time of volunteering. Duties will be fully assigned to you when you arrive on the project. If you have a particular area of interest, please do make this known on your application form to us, and we will try to place you within this area if possible. For all teaching projects, we provide detailed workbooks and guidelines to ensure that those participants that have no formal education or practical experience in teaching can also carry out this activity comfortably.

Your life outside the project

Jaipur has become one of the fastest growing urban centres in India, with a booming population of over 2.7 million people. It is located close to both the Capital of India, New Dehli and the business centre Gurgaon leading to fast and growing developments.

On your free afternoons and evenings after your volunteer project, you can spend time exploring Jaipur’s attractions. Some famous places to visit include:

Fort of Nahagarh - Beyond the hills of Jaigarh stand the Fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful city. Much of the original structures are now in ruins, but the lovely building added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II still survive.

Janta Mantar - Jantar mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Constructed with stone and marble its complex instruments whose settings and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high points of Medieval Indian astronomy.

Hawa Mahal - Built by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal is the most strikingly designed monument in Jaipur. It was conceived to provide adequate vantage position to the palace women for watching the royal processions passing through the bazaar below.

Albert Hall - Situated in the beautiful garden of Jaipur city, Ram Niwas Bagh, Albert Hall was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh in the year 1886. Presently the hall is used for museum purpose. Its dynamic architecture and vivid design light up the city around.

If you fancy a day trip to somewhere a little further afield, there are a host of opportunities for you located within a 5 hour drive from Jaipur. These include:
Taj Mahal in Agra - Only around a 5 hour bus/train ride from Jaiupr, the wonder of the Taj Mahal can be accessible on an easy weekend excursion. A trip to the Taj Mahal is an opportunity for foreign visitors to glimpse into the magnitude and exquisiteness of India’s history and culture.

Pushkar - Only around 2 hour ride from Jaipur, this sacred town is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus, built around a holy lake and many ancient religious temples. In the surrounding area, the streets are full of charming bazaars selling Rajasthan’s finest textiles and handicrafts. Overnight camel safaris are easily available throughout the desert regions beyond the town.

Ranthambore Tiger Safari - A 5 hour journey will take you from the hustling Jaipur streets to the calmness of Ranthambore park’s vast array of wildlife diversity, thousand-year-old abandoned fortresses, and shining turquoise lakes. The tigers are readily observed during the daylight, hunting or lazing abound.
Ideas for Independent Travel

Gir National Park

Gir is the only place left on the planet where the Asiatic Lion can be found. It is on the critically endangered animals list as there are only around 300 left. It is a fantastic opportunity to see these lions in their natural habitat.

Himalayan Trekking

The most famous mountain range in the world contains the two tallest mountains on Earth, Everest and K2. Trek the Himalayas and see dramatic ice-capped summits and breathtaking scenery. Other activities include mountaineering, skiing and rafting.

Desert Camel Safaris

Camel Safaris take place in Rajasthan. It's a fantastic way to travel across the open desert sands, whilst visiting remote traditional villages, seeing wildlife and experiencing the harsh conditions of a desert. This truly is exciting adventure travel!

Project Quality

Kaya evaluates every project we offer to ensure that we only commit to programmes with genuine need for volunteer aid, not just financial assistance. We develop relationships with the projects and help shape initiatives to ensure in the long run that we do not encourage dependence on outside help, but rather establish foundations on which the people can build and develop themselves. We also ensure that the members of those communities are open and eager to learn and discover our culture, as we become a part of theirs. The quality and sustainability of our programmes are very important to us. We want you to have the most fulfilling and memorable time as possible, and be part of something that is going to last into future generations.

Accommodation & Meals

Volunteers stay in a volunteer house, where they share their room with other volunteers. Shared rooms are single-sex. Three meals a day are provided, all included in the placement fees.

In-Country Coordinators

Each country coordinator is there to make sure your time in your programme runs smoothly. They will pick you up from the airport and take you on your orientation. All in-country coordinators are English speaking and are there to ensure you have all the information and resources for the best placement.

24/7 Emergency Support

As well as support from your in-country coordinators, you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line managed by Kaya staff, in case any problem should arise while you're overseas.

Kaya Help-desk

Each member of Kaya staff have worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and many staff have visited and volunteered in our projects knowing firsthand the country and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your international placement.

Briefing Pack & Materials

Once you have booked a programme, an information pack will be sent out detailing everything you need to know - from specific project details and vaccinations required to the visa application process.

Airport Pickup

When you arrive at your destination a member of Kaya staff will meet you with a warm welcome at the airport and take you to your accommodation to get you set up for your stay.

Cultural Excursions

Kaya staff are at hand to help organise weekend excursions and activities, which can include visiting cultural places of significance and visiting various projects around the area. This way you can learn firsthand about each project and take part in local cultural and adventure activities.

Arrival Orientation

Shortly after you arrive you will be given your orientation by one of our in-country coordinators. They will show you your placement, local transport, take you into the local town, and show you things you can do in your spare time. Information regarding safety and security will be given along with some much needed lingo when moving and travelling around the area.

Local Community Benefits

Not only is your participation on your project of great help to the local communities, but so is the boost to the local economy that volunteers create while they are visiting.