Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in India
- India is one of the poorest countires in the world, with 2 thirds living in poverty.
- According to UNICEF, about 25% of children in India have no access to education, with higher rates of girls not attending school.
- 43% of childen under five years are underweight and around 61 million children are stunted due to malnutrition.
- Even though there is a law about no child labour under age 14, it's estimated by aid agencies, that there could be up to 65 million children aged 6-14 working.
HOW can you help?
- You will be working at local schools, nurseries and childcare centres.
- Staff at childcare centres and schools are often over worked so your assistence can be a big relief to them.
- Work as a teachers assistant and create engaging lessons to teach the children yourself!
- Teach children English, improve their speaking abilites and increase their confidence.
WHAT you can do?
- Create daily lesson plans for fun, educational and interactive classes
- Teach other subjects like math, history, geography and envirnmental awareness
- Increase their cultural awareness by showing them unique objects from your home and teaching them about other countries
- Have fun with playground games, painting, drawing, singing and dancing!
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: ENGLISH TEACHING
LOCATION: SIKKIM
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 18+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A
*Mid June to 1st week of July, December & January are winter vacations in Sikkim, thus this project will not function during this part of the year.
Overview
For our teaching English project in Sikkim, India, you have the choice between teaching older children or working in kindergartens.
Teaching
This program can help the local children to learn more awareness on the English language, as well as on their environment and health and safety. The focus is to provide the children with an all-round experience, where they can learn a new language which may provide future opportunities, as well as creating a cultural exchange where they can meet people from around the world.
By volunteers coming into the school, the children are exposed to many different cultures and backgrounds, enabling them to increase their social interaction skills and awareness of other cultures. It can also allow the local teachers a chance to learn different teaching methods and techniques.
On this project you will teach basic conversational English and other subjects of your choice to children from different age groups (from 5 years to 16 years). The children may all have different learning capacities, to be prepared to teach a lesson where the students have a range of skills. The project takes place either at regular government, private or community schools for children or at the school in the rehabilitation centre.
You will teach around five classes a day (each class would is about 40 minutes). The school’s tend to have a somewhat limited or dull curriculum, so out of the box activities and creative experiences such as sports, art or games are more than welcome and really appreciated by the children!
You will mainly assist the local teacher and so do not need to have any teaching background, as you will learn a lot from them. You are free to use different methods to teach but you can use the course book as a reference or educate children through conversational and spoken English.
You are welcome to teach other subjects such as mathematics, history, science, geography, computer, technologies, music and other subjects, arts and crafts, different educational games, spoken and conversational English, personal development, environmental awareness, general health and safety and so on. All higher education in India is in English, so it is vitally important that children must learn English to continue further higher education. Helping the children grow in confidence and learn better English can help serve them in many ways.
Classes are from Nursery to Grade 10, it is categorized into four different levels as Pre-primary (kindergarten), Primary (1-5), Lower secondary (6-8) and Secondary (9 to 10). Average numbers in a class are about 25 students.
Kindergarten Teaching
If you choose a kindergarten, you will work as an assistant teacher at one of the many local kindergarten schools. This program helps children in the villages improve their English language. You will primarily teach children English, Mathematics, Arts and Crafts, and games in an informal way.
You may be called upon to help teach drama, music and foreign languages. You will assist other teachers and staff and may have to create teaching plans.
Location
The landscape of Sikkim is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks. Sikkim is a small state in northwest India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. Spectacular scenery coupled with Buddhist monasteries are the highlight of this fascinating region.
Project Tasks
- Primarily teach English (spoken and written), but also drama, music, arts, crafts and foreign languages
- Encourage children in academics and promote all round development of the child
- Assist teachers and other staff
- Create teaching plans
- Mind building and physical strengthening games
Food & Accommodation
You will stay in a local volunteer centre, where there is a mini library, a dining room, and lounge area where you can relax with the other volunteers. There is also a lovely garden to relax in your free time.
You will stay in shared rooms of 2-4 people per room, with a fan, hot shower, bed linen and mosquito protection included. There is a refrigerator in the house to store food and beverages you may purchase. Water, Coffee, Tea, and Milk are provided at the house also. ATMS and a supermarket are located a 15-minute walk from the volunteer house.
You will be provided with 3 meals per day during weekdays and 2 per day on weekends. Food will be a mix of Western and Indian food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice per week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Darjeeling Projects
- Cultural Orientation Week, Darjeeling
- English Teaching, Darjeeling
- *Buddhist Monastery Teaching, Darjeeling
- Kindergarten Teaching, Darjeeling
- *Community Construction, Darjeeling
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1 Week - $395
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2 Weeks - $555
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3 Weeks - $815
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1 Month - $1075
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2 Months - $2195
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3 Months - $3295
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
Monday to Friday
Teaching
- School runs from 10:00 to 16:00
- The duration of each subject is 40 minutes.
- Lunch break is normally from 12:30 to 13:30
Kindergarten Teaching
- 9:30 to 12:00 – Start your day at the kindergarten school
- 12:00 to 13:30 – Lunch
- 13:30 to 15:30 -Continue at the kindergarten
If you love kids, and either have experience or an inspiring teacher, this is a great project for you. You will be able to gain valuable skills and cultural insight and an informal way.
- 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 Pakyong Airport, Sikkim (PYG). You must arrive between the hours 08:00 to 20:00 on Sunday.
We can also collect you from Siliguri Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB), between 08:00 to 14:00 on Sunday, but this is not included in the fee, so will incur an additional cost.
If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer for US$50.
If arriving during the week, or on Saturday, we charge US$50 for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and another US$50 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 Pakyong airport to accommodation, it takes approx. 45 minutes by road. From Bagdogra airport, it’s around 5-6+ hours.
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.
- Participants above the age of 65 should have medical clearance.
Additional Equipment
It’s a good idea to bring posters, pictures, music CDs, storybooks, flash cards and so on to brighten up lessons.
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.
Dress professionally since you will be working in a professional environment while teaching the children.
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
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.
Affordable Volunteer Travel
Safe & Responsible Projects
Work Experience & University Credits
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