Culture Week in Darjeeling, India

This week is perfect as an add-on to a volunteer program, to meet new people, learn about the culture and get accustomed before your program!

• Accommodation
• 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
• Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
• Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
• 1 day orientation
• Daily transportation to project
• In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
• Fundraising support
• University course credits (where applicable)
• Certificate of Completion

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Tours, Souvenirs & spending money

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Siliguri Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB). You must arrive between the hours 08:00 to 14:00 on Sunday.

If arriving outside the pickup times, we charge an additional fee for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and an extra fee for a private transfer.

Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).

From Bagdogra airport to the accommodation it’s around 4+ hours by road.     

Monday

• Breakfast at the Center
• Welcoming ritual – Puja to the Gods and goddesses and name giving ceremony with Ice breaking activities
• Review the schedule. Social behaviors and norms do’s & don’ts in Darjeeling. Cross culture seminar on eating, drinking, clothing, bathing, and toileting customs in Darjeeling.
• Lunch Break
• Talk about safety and security during the program, sign up for the Code of Conduct, Child Protection Policy, Release and Waiver of Liability, and Media Consent. Collect passport copies, photos, and clean chit.
• Orientation tour of the neighborhood, getting personal accessories
• Headed Back to the Accommodation Center.
• Dinner

Tuesday

• Breakfast at the Center
• Nuts and Bolts (check-in) Impressions, health, emotions/feelings, needs, X-factor (special moments in your life)
• Nepali Language!!!
• Scavenger Hunt at Local Market, Chowk Bazar
•  Explore the local markets, Chowrasta,Mahankal Temple, and Mall road
• Headed Back to the Accommodation Center.
• Dinner
• Movie Night!!

Wednesday

• Morning Walk (Mall road)
• Breakfast at the Center
• Presentation of the scavenger hunt
• Cooking class!!
• Lunch Break
• Tour to Bhalu Dhunga, rock climbing (optional), Happy Tea Garden
• Headed Back to the Accommodation Center.
• Dinner

Thursday

• Breakfast
• Talk about placement sites.
• Add on language class
• Lunch Break
• Historical as well as cultural orientation tour to Japanese Peace Pagoda
• Head Back to the Accommodation Center.
• Dinner
• Cultural Night

Friday

• Breakfast
• Hiking (Tiger Hill – Sinchel) – day trip, take Enough water
• Feedback sharing sessions over the culture week
• Head Back to the Accommodation Center.
• Dinner

***The schedule & timings can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances***

Weekends are always free for relaxing or sightseeing of your choice. Our ground operators will help you organise additional trips with special (non tourist) rates which can be paid directly in local currency. As a volunteer you will gain access to local knowledge, opportunities and value you simply would not find if staying as a standard tourist.

There are many sights you can explore and trips you can do in Darjeeling. Some of the attractions are as follows:

• Singalila National Park
• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
• Observatory Hill
• Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
• Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre
• Japanese Peace Pagoda
• Yiga Choeling Gompa
• Himalayan Tibet Museum
• Sunrise over mount Kanchenjunga, Tiger Hill
• Tiger Hill
• Happy Valley Tea Estate

Additional Requirements

• Older participants or those over 65 years old are required to have a medical clearance, while participants below 18 might need signed parental consent.
• Due to the length and active nature of this program and the fact that there are lots of outdoor activities in the heat of the sun, a decent level of fitness is required.
• Excellent time management and self – organizing and strong desire to take on new challenges and learn as much as possible.
• It is recommended that you obtain a COVID – 19 Vaccination and purchase travel insurance, medical insurance, and Covid – 19  insurance prior to your arrival.
• Have completed or recommended the following vaccines: Polio, Hepatitis A, Diphtheria/Tetanus, Typhoid, Malaria, Hepatitis B, and tuberculosis.

Additional Equipment

Dress Code

• Cover up as much as possible in the spirit of the local culture to avoid embarrassment.
• Your clothes must not be too short, too tight, or too revealing. Kindly make sure your shoulders and legs are covered.
• It is completely fine to wear western clothes as long as they fit the local standards
• Be thoughtful of the graphics, symbols, or text printed on your clothing and avoid wearing clothing styles that might be inappropriate.
• Be thoughtful to poor communities by not displaying expensive items and clothes.
• Wearing local clothes could help you build a good working relationship with the community.

Others:

• An environmentally friendly sunscreen or lotion is also advised to protect you from the heat of the sun, and please carry with you preventive agents, such as mosquito repellents, as well as other medicines for headaches and stomach aches.
• Moreover, bring Medicines with you, especially if you have to take specific medicines on a regular basis
• Reusable or refillable water or rehydration containers. 

India is an eclectic and intoxicating cultural experience like no other! Home of the famous Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, the sacred Ganges river, and over 1 billion people of varying languages, cultures and beleifs, India is sure to push you to the boundaries of your comfort zone.

IVI is focused on establishing sustainable employment and education through volunteering efforts in India. Children in some of the regions we service have not had basic nutritional background. Over 950,000 newborns per year in India die from infections. Education about health for families provides a strong foundation for self-care in the communities we service in India.

India’s climte ranges from tropical down south to alpine up in the northern mountain regions. 

From April until the start of October is summer, and in most places in India, is very hot. In June the monsoon rains start in Kerala down south, and move inland. Further north and in the rural areas of Rajasthan, it can get pretty cold from December to January- sometimes as low at minus 5 degrees!

Be prepared for some hot temperatures but if in the Sikkim region, bring along some warmer clothing as it can get cold in the mountains. 

India is a country FULL of culture! From the beautiful colours, different religions, ancient traditions and the smells of spices- India is a country like no other.  It’s the the second most populous nation after China, with over 1.2 billion people. 

The most prominant religions are Hinduism and Buddhism and around 13% of the popualrtion are Muslim. Because there are so many religions, India celebrates a large number of festivals throughout the year. Some of these include Diwali, Holi, Eid and Good Friday. 

In India, the cow is considered to be a Holy animal and you will see cars either driving around, or simply waiting if a cow is in the road holding up traffic! In some parts of India it is forbidden to eat meat or drink alcohol. 

You will see many temples in India, as well as colourful clothing, particually the sari’s that the local women wear, and many cultural dance shows and activities. 

30 Years Non Profit Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.

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