Gap Year Expeditions, Global Volunteering & Conservation Projects – Greenforce

Highlights

•Explore Southern India and learn about Indian culture and customs

•To work closely with underprivileged children where help is most needed

•Work on community outreach programs related to health and hygiene problems

•To Spread awareness on Women rights issues, social welfare and environmental issues

•Explore the Mysore District, a popular tourist destination, offering several attractions ranging from the royal splendor of Mysore City and its fabulous Dasara Festival to exquisite temples, pilgrimage centres

and scenic spots.

What will I be doing?

Once you have arrived at Bangalore Airport, you will be transferred to Mysore for your Introduction week, after which you will move on to your community project.

Introduction Week:

Monday (Intro/ Welcome Day)

After a delicious Southern Indian breakfast, there will be an introduction on our Active In Asia Program followed by a calm walk through the town, where we will have lunch. After that, we will have our afternoon session back at the centre. You will learn about the cultural adn social do's and don'ts. The day will end with a warm traditional welcome party, followed by dinner.

Tuesday (Yoga/ Projects/ Cooking/ Language)

An early morning wake-up call for a rejuvenating and relaxing Yoga lesson, followed by a healthy local breakfast. In the morning we will have a discussion regarding our volunteer projects. The next step will be a cooking lesson where you will learn to cook your first “own Indian meal”, which you can cook back home and guaranteed to wow your family and friends! We will begin the afternoon with a Kannada Lesson, after which you can relax until dinner time.

Wednesday (Yoga/ Sessions/ Indian History/ Language)

An early morning wake-up call for a rejuvenating and relaxing Yoga lesson, followed by a healthy local breakfast. The morning session will be about the theme ‘Women Traveler’. And the afternoon session will start with an Indian history session, followed by a Kannada lesson. We will end the day with a tasty Indian dinner.

Thursday (Yoga/ Mysore City Tour)

The day will start with a rejuvenating Yoga lesson. After breakfast, there will be time to explore the Mysore Palace, which was the home of the Wodeyars (local Kings), followed by a visit to the museum. After lunch, we will head towards the Jaganmohan Art Gallery and dinner back at the center.

Friday (Day Visit-Shravanabelagola)

After an early breakfast, we will take the bus to the cultural heritage site called Shravanabelogola, where you can see the tallest monolithic statue in the world! This site is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India. We will have the entire day to explore the area before we take the bus back to Mysore later in the evening.

Saturday (Day Visit-Chamundi Hills)

Another day, another exciting trip! This time we will visit the Chamundi hills where there is a temple and the statue of a bull that is worshipped! Here you will get time to enjoy the amazing surroundings and have dinner, before returning to the center.

Sunday (Free Time & Shopping Day)

We kept our Sundays free to do some local shopping and to relax and have sometime on your own, after a busy week.

*** Note: Southern India has a tropical climate with occasional violent storms, heavy rains and floods. During such times, the above schedule may be subject to change.

Community Work Program:

The kind of schedule and the focus of the project will be adapted to the season and the current needs of the program. We have a strong social commitment in India and aim to send volunteers to active projects where they would play a meaningful role in the local community. We run several projects ourselves and we also co-operate with several local NGOs all across the country. Remember: Even though you may only work for a few weeks, your contribution will make a large and very positive impact!

Volunteers will have the opportunity to work closely with young children which may involve teaching basic English, playing games or arts and crafts. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to get involved in community outreach programs to help educate the local communities on issues such as health and hygiene and environmental awareness campaigns.

Where will I live?

Accommodation will vary depending on the project, but will be in shared bedrooms. The food is generally traditional Indian, which at times can be spicy. The breakfast varies from rice to Indian breads. For lunch and dinner you will have a variety of dishes, made of rice with Indian sauces and some vegetables.

The doors and windows are not mosquito-proofed; so don’t forget to bring mosquito nets or repellents.

There are no laundry facilities so get ready to go back to basics and wash your own clothes by hand!

Local Area:

Mysore is a pleasant city with a very rich historical and cultural background. Mysore today, retains an old world charm, contributed by its broad shady avenues, well laid out gardens, fine buildings and a salubrious climate. It is quickly getting a place on the world IT map as well. It was the capital of Mysore State before the state of Karnataka came into existence

From ancient times, this district has played a significant role in the history of South India. The Mysore District is a popular tourist destination, offering several attractions ranging from the royal splendor of Mysore City and its fabulous Dasara Festival (September-October) to exquisite temples, pilgrimage centres and scenic spots. Mysore city is at 770m above sea level and 140 kms from Bangalore. Also known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint charm that never fails to enchant.

Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, who declared their independence in the 16th century and ruled in Mysore until independence, barring three decades when Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan wrested power from them. Srirangapatna nearby is where Tipu Sultan made his last stand against the might of the British Empire Located in the tropics, the Mysore has a moderate climate. If you are visiting Mysore during the summer months then you will see that the temperature varies from 20° Celsius to 35° Celsius while the winter temperature of Mysore remains in the range of 12° Celsius to 30° Celsius. Travel to Mysore and explore the different facets of the cultural capital of Karnataka state!

Money

• The currency is Rupees. The best way to carry your money is to split it between separate payment methods, e.g. cash, card and traveller’s cheques. Never carry a lot of cash as you can always get more out at a cash point or exchange money in all the major banks and hotels and large towns.
• Most credit cards are accepted in India.
• Your money will be spent covering your ground costs e.g. food and accommodation. Any money left over will be put back into Greenforce Projects.

• The Nearest ATM is 500 mts from the center. The other ATMs are located in the main city of Mysore.

Country facts

• Population/Area – 1.3 Billion / 3.2 Million Square Kilometres.
• India is home to several hundred languages, of which 17 are official with Hindi and English being most widely spoken.
• India is the largest democracy in the world.
• ‘Hello’ in Hindi is Namaste

Eligibility

• The trip is open to all nationalities.
• The minimum age for this trip is 17; there is no maximum. Expedition teams consist of individuals from a diverse range of ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Everyone is welcome!

What's included?

• A Meet Your Team briefing day and BBQ in central London.
• Being met at the airport by a Greenforce staff member then dropped off to your hotel.
• Comprehensive orientation period
• All transfers/ transport to project locations and overnight journeys.
• All accommodation and meals.
• Assistance in setting up local support for the volunteers’ activities in coordination with the local NGOs.
• On site assistance and all materials for the activities.
• Cultural Workshops during your on a variety of subjects like Indian dressing, Yoga and Indian cooking.

Points to note:
• On receipt of deposit, you’ll receive a Welcome e-mail with access to your personal page.
• We provide helpful advice on flights, insurance and more.
• A staff member is in India all year round.

Itinerary

Day 1     - Arrival in Bangalore and transfer to Mysore District
Day 2-8  - Introduction weeks
Day 9-13 - Community Project
Day 14    - Transfer back to the airport

This project can be extended for £280 per week

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