Insights Abroad-India (Immersion Travel/ Experiential Learning and Volunteering Programs)

  India

Jaipur,  Udaipur

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Program Details:

For individuals and families- We offer tailor-made experiential learning, total immersion and volunteer work opportunities wherein the participants stay with Indian host families, both, in urban and rural areas.

For groups of 10-24 participants- We offer our Insights Abroad-India program for cultural immersion and volunteering work opportunities. This is a structured program specially designed for a group as per the following details:

This program is designed as a three-weeks experiential learning activity (can be extended up to six weeks) focused on the rich cultural heritage of the greater Jaipur region of India. Specific cultural items to be explored include:

* Arts and crafts including puppet-making, block printing, blue pottery, miniature painting, Tie & Dye Textiles, Batik Painting workshop etc.
* Visual and performing arts including dance, drama, puppet shows, storytelling, visit to local folk artists colony etc.
* Architecture and design including field-trips to local palaces, gardens, historic buildings, and other sites of architectural interest.

A second component of the program is aimed at exposing these participants to some of the rural communities in South Rajasthan. Incorporating a short rural home-stay component would allow these individuals to join host families in their daily chores of life, do some volunteer work at different sites and gain some vital insights into the development issues that face certain Indigenous communities in this area.

The Volunteer work opportunities may include the following:

* Teaching English/ sports/play-way method of learning in local community school to the children from indigenous communities.
* To help in construction/ repair work in local village schools.
* Help in building Check dams and gully plugs for irrigation and repair of hand pumps etc.
* Interactive sessions with subsistence farmers in recently opened Farmer schools to promote innovative and eco-friendly agrarian practices. The participants could be attached with these schools and they can interact and exchange knowledge with local farmers.
* During harvesting season, the participants can join their host families and help them at their farms.
* We will encourage the participants, in general, to join daily chores of life with their host families during the village stay.

The Program Schedule

This would be a three-week program spread across two different regions and themes within Rajasthan. The program begins in the greater Jaipur environs, and focuses on the first component of art, crafts, and architecture. In the second half of the program, the participants will travel to Udaipur, where they will explore and experience village life through a rural home-stay. The focus in the second half will be on rural development, subsistence agriculture, and environmental issues.

Days - Location - Highlights

- Day 1 New DelhiGroup arrival and welcome at the Airport. Checking-in to the guest house.
- Day 2 Delhi/JaipurIntroductions, Orientation Activities, health-orientation, visit to Lodi gardens, Bus to Jaipur. (about 6 hour's journey). Check-in to the guest house in Jaipur, welcome/folk Dance.         
- Day 3- 9 JaipurHome stay, morning yoga, basic Hindi lessons, lectures on the history and archeology of Rajasthan, temple architecture, Theatre, women's issues, lect. /demo. on tie & dye textile, blue pottery, Dhrupad music And Jaipuri Kathak Dance, excursions to main Archaeological sites, museums, temples, Sufi shrines.
- Day 10 Free day, evening train to Udaipur
- Day 11-13 Udaipur      
Workshop on Batik Paining, Lectures on voluntary sector, development Issues followed by visits to NGOs.
- Day 14-18 Ogna Village Village home stay with indigenous Families, volunteer work, learning about Subsistence farming, Adivasi village Life, development issues, Organic Farming initiatives.
- Day 19 Udaipur/Jaipur Free day, Evening train to Jaipur.
- Day 20 Jaipur Program evaluation, Farewell dinner With host Families.
- Day 21 Jaipur Program ends. Delhi/Airport Drop-off.

Highlights: The Challenges
Since this program is designed to be an intensive cultural immersion, certain aspects of it may be both physically and emotionally challenging. India is currently emerging as a global economic power, which has triggered massive changes in both urban and rural societies. For India, it is a time of complicated self-reflection and questioning, as an ancient and traditional society confronts modern economic and social challenges. The participants in this program may find some of their preconceived notions about both urban and rural India challenged and tested during these demanding three weeks. In addition, the climate of Rajasthan is hot and dry, and the rural excursions may involve traveling in mountainous or harsh terrain. The rural home stay with poor subsistence farmer families will be particularly challenging the comfort levels of the participants. However, those coming with an open mind and a healthy attitude to learn and experience from this rich and stimulating environment, will be well situated to enjoy personal growth and development.

Qualifications: Open for all who wish to Travel, immerse culturally and experience India at the grass root level.

Cost in US$: US $ 1000 per person (please see attached detailed

Note:- Our program will charge only the program fee at US $ 1000 per person. The budget figures given below are just suggestions to help the participants plan their individual budgets.

- The program fee covers all Tuitions, Full room & board, all program linked excursions, field trips, Workshops, Music and Dance Concerts and other direct program expenses.
- The program fee does not covers the estimated personal cost which may include Visa application fee, International air fare, pocket expenses/incidental, Medical expanses, books and supplies, personal local transportation etc.
- In addition to the costs and fee listed below, the participants may wish to budget for things like immunization, discretionary travel undertaken before, during or after the program.
- These are the projected budget estimates for a group of 15.

India: Insights Abroad (Three weeks)
Program NameTazurba Program FeesInternational AirfareEst. Personal CostsTotal
India: Insights Abroad$1000 $1800 $500 $3300
Estimated Program Costs
India : Insights Abroad
Tuition & Program Fee:$525
Room & Board:$475
Program Costs Subtotal$1000
Airfare:
International Airfare: Billed by Participants$1800
Estimated Additional Personal Costs: Billed by Participants
Visa Expenses:$100
Books & Supplies:$50
Personal Expenses:$300
Local Transportation:$50
Personal Costs Subtotal$500
Participants Total Program Budget$3,300

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: The objective is to facilitate a unique experience for people across the globe that will stimulate a stronger connection with India, its cultural roots and heritage. Our ultimate goal in this program is to give participants an opportunity to step outside of their "comfort zone" and learn about life in India by really living it themselves for at least a short time.(Also, to hopefully learn much about themselves, and who they are, or more importantly who they can be. This, in relation to a broader understanding of the world and alternate ways of thinking) At the same time we want to give them an opportunity to give something of themselves back by doing volunteering work to the communities that they visit. In brief, that is our focus as a program.

Age Range: 18 to 60 years

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to India Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 10-24 participants

Application Process Involves:

• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume

Tazurba International's Mission Statement: The proposed program is the result of a creative collaboration of dedicated educators, artists, and intellectuals in Jaipur. The objective is to facilitate a unique experience for people across the globe that will stimulate a stronger connection with India, its cultural roots and heritage. Our ultimate goal in this program is to give participants an opportunity to step outside of their "comfort zone" and learn about life in India by really living it themselves for at least a short time. It is our hope that by crafting a total immersion program through volunteering, open for people across the globe, we can help provide these individuals with greater awareness of their own origins, and also acquaint them with India's situation today.

Year Founded: 2007