Street children welfare project for group volunteer:–
Country: India
State: West Bengal
City: Kolkata
Area:185 sq.km
Population:4,58,0544 [ as per 2001]
Density:24,760/sq.km.
Coordinates : 22.33 N 88.20 E
Climate: Tropical climate with Minimum 8 C to maximum 40 C temp but humidity is always high in this part of the country. Main monsoon time during July -August period.
Education: 70% [approx] literacy.
Religion:Hindu,Muslim,Christian,Sikh,Budhist,Jain etc.
Male Femal ratio: 1000:826; Language: Bengali/Hindi ; Dress: For women Sari/Salwar/ jeans/t-shirt and for men Trousers/shirt/t-shirt. Due to cultural reason Shorts/ sleeveless/ bikinis/vests are not allowed outside of your own room.
Food: You will get 3 times local food from host family as per available on arrival. Please remember that the fees you are paying goes fully to the service providers for their services for your living arrangement (food/accommodation). The service providers are the people/agency who organizes living arrangement for our volunteers. Please do not expect any kind of special dishes (veg/non veg) or cold drinks or special living room or air conditioned room during your term. You are requested to get ready for a simple and challenging life.
Duration : 2 wks
Living cost: Euro 150 /head for 2 weeks(group from partners ) Euro 200/head for 2 weeks ( any other group), accommodate in host family,shared as group living,on floor with matress , local available public transport ( 20km from accommodation to project) .
OR
Euro 225/head ( group from partners) for 2 wks ; Euro 250/head ( any other group), accommodation in hotel ( walking distance from project) ,shared living ( 2/4 volunteers in a room).
It is your non refundable living cost which goes to our service providers for their services to provide food , accommodation and other facilities for volunteers. Service providers also helps financially directly in our different construction projects, advertising, medical supplies, food supplies, cloth for the kids etc. Please do not compare our service providers with any outsiders’ because the profit which they make from our volunteer, most of it returns back to our kids in various ways through out the year. Indirectly your kindparticipation helps our service providers to support in our year long activities. Without your kind presence it might never been possible for us to run our projects. We are very thankful to you as well. In the past we noticed that there were few volunteers who had misunderstood us and created problems about money and which caused lot of problem for us to run our projects but it is our humble request to all of our volunteers that SMILE’ s kids’ from different projects receives lots of direct supports through out the year from these service providers and it was actually made us possible to continue our activities in different remote project sites. We do not want any unwanted misunderstandings with our volunteer. You are requested to pay preferably in any currencies by cash to our representative on your arrival for your full duration. Please exchange your money from the airport. You can also withdraw money from the ATM machine with your visa /master etc. cards. If you wish you are most welcome to check more details from our homepage faq & living cost section. Please remember that SMILE receives no financial help from local government or any international agencies. Our service providers, volunteers and members are the only people who help the organization to run it’s activities around the country. By joining SMILE you became the part of this movement. You are requested to exchange your money soon after you arrive ( in any currency )and pay it to the representative on your arrival .
Laundry: Please use nearby laundry to wash your cloth. In house washing are not allowed. Please cooperate with the local members.
Medical : All volunteers are requested to look after their own medical expenses and other personal expenses(transportation, medical cost, medicine cost, communicational cost, gift, toilet papers, laundry, drinks or anything that are not mentioned in the living cost section will be volunteers’ own responsibility) . Volunteers are also requested to carry your own medical and travel insurances.
Water: In accommodation drinking water need to be arranged by volunteers only. Please do not waste water / electricity.
Weekends : Free, You are welcome to travel nearby places but you are requested to join the Monday morning project on time. If you required us to organize weekend city trip that also can be organized against extra fees.
Weekends attraction: Darjeeling, Bodh gaya, Puri, Sundarban, Digha etc.
We have our projects also in Nepal if you wish can take part there as well.
Hospitals: There are many good hospitals available near center kolkata ie: Woodlands [24567075-89]; Bell vue Nursing Home[Ph: 2472321].
Tourist Information centre: 22289898.
Railway Booking centre: Foreigner Reservation Counter at Fairlie place near BBD Bag,very near from Esplanade area,Ph: 22206811 ; Airport : Netaji Suvash Chandra International Airport ,Kolkata[ 6 km away from SMILE office and 15 k.m from your accommodation].
Weekend Trip: There are many weekend trips organized (against extra cost) by our travel partners. For more details please contact your camp In charge Ms. Kamala.
Head Office location: It is located at Madhyamgram ,which is around 20 k.m away from the centre kolkata but just 4 km away from the Airport.
Nearest Rail Station: Madhyamgram
Nearest Bus stand: Madhyamgram
Nearest Market : Just 1.5 km away from the accommodation. There are some western type of markets also available ie: A.C Market, Forum, city centre , New Market around Esplanade and park street etc.
Tourist places: Museum, Victoria Memorial Hall, Kali ghat [ Goddess kali temple],Maidan, Howrah Bridge, Ganges River[ Most pious river among Hindus] etc.
Internet & Phone : There are many internet café and phone booth in city center.
Introduction: When you are volunteering with SMILE, you are joining a family of fellow volunteers and NGO staff. Everyone is considered equal, and we are all committed to helping each other and most importantly, helping children.
Meeting Point: as per your flight arrival date and time.
Transportation : You will have to use the local available public transportation during your term.
Orientation: Soon after the Volunteer arrive , they will be taken to our service provider place for orientation and to get refresh and take bit of rest before the orientation meeting take place. After the Orientation meeting volunteer will be transferred to their accommodation.
Accommodation: Dormitory basis in host family as per available on arrival ( on cot with mattress/on floor with mattress, 4-8 volunteers in one room) shared accommodation . You will get accommodation for.You are requested to meet our representative at the meeting place on exact time given above. If you arrive early then you can have your stay in any of the different hotels available nearby Airport, within 2 -3 km .on the road popularly called as V.I.P road. You are requested to take any cab to check in any of these hotels. If you arrive at earlier night then you are requested to stay inside the airport terminal and meet at the next morning.
Important Points:–
Please be careful about money and do not carry lots of money while going outside.
Please take the permission before taking any picture, respect all the given time schedule carefully and cooperate others in their work. Keep your luggage locked.
Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in the accommodation
Be careful about your camera, phone, valuables .Do not show your money and valuables.
Volunteers need to help the local members and respect local culture and tradition.
Giving gifts to any individual kid or any single family are not allowed, if you are interested to give any gift please contact with the project in charge and organize enough for all the kids /families . Please do not bring your camera while working in our projects. Photography in project area are not allowed.
All kids are equal to us , please do not give any special attention to any particular kid.
Volunteers are requested to pay their living cost soon after they arrive our place, during the orientation meeting .
During orientation all volunteers will go through all the points and explain all the details.
Please bargain a lot before purchasing anything from the local market. Please do not bring outsider at your accommodation or show your whereabouts to any unknown people. It is important for your safety and security.
Volunteers are requested to not to involve in any sexual relationship or hugging or kissing in their accommodation with their co volunteers or in work place with any girls or boys (above 6 yrs) .
Please do not make quick friendship with unknown people that can be unsafe for you and always maintain the organization rules ,system and the atmosphere of family during your stay with us. Please do not show your whereabouts to any unknown people. Volunteers are always welcome to inform the camp in charge about their problem if they found any , It is very important for us to know if any volunteer face any kind of problem ,as early as we know about it , would be easier for us to solve it. We expect all volunteers’ kind cooperation during their stay in SMILE. Please be ready to adjust and flexible while staying in India.
All volunteers are requested to follow strictly the given time schedule for their projects ,breakfast, lunch, diner and returning time to the accommodation (if they go out ) should be before 9 p.m if they do not need diner or before 7 p.m if they need diner. Entrance door will be closed at 9 p.m on every night.
Try to bring SMILE among all kids. While going out please always carry the accommodation address and organization contact number with you. Please remember that there will be no guide from the organization during your free hour. In emergency you are requested to contact our contact number.
You are requested to bring required docs like passport copies, visa copies, 2 copies of your recent photos etc. which you requested to submit on your arrival to our representative.
Services that will be offered to all volunteers :—
1. 3 times local veg food (organized by the local service providers).
2. Shared /dormitory accommodation ,non Air cond. (simple type living standard in host family as per available on arrival organized through the local service providers).
3. Airport pickup (volunteers are requested to meet our rep at the meeting point on time .Meeting details would be given through this info sheet. Train station pickup or hotel pickup are not available. Pickup service and accommodation are not available in case of early arrival. If any volunteer comes late then he/she should contact our office (email preferred) in advance and wait for our next available pickup service. Sometimes pickup service may not available on the same day if anyone miss their meeting time and in these cases volunteers are requested to wait for the next day pickup service. Volunteers are requested to stay at the airport lounge if they arrive at night. If any volunteer wish they can stay at any nearby hotel also. (There are plenty of hotels available on the road called V.I.P road ,within 2 k.m from the airport gate).Any cab driver can easily drop the volunteer at any nearby hotel. In these cases volunteers are requested to purchase pre paid taxi from the airport inside only.
4.Local staff will be available at every project site.
5.Emergency telephonic assistance are available.
6.Emergency personal assistance available (in case of major medical emergency cases only).
7.Normal available public transportation (to and fro to project site from accommodation only) would be only be available.
Services that will not be offered to volunteers:—–
1. Volunteers should not expect any special food ,fruits or drinks.
2. Air conditioned room or personal room or room of your own choice or changing room or changing project would not be available.
3. Medical cost, hospitalization cost, medicine cost, personal cost, personal transportation, air ticket, visa fees, entry fees, vaccination fees, entertainment cost, weekends trip cost or any other that are not mentioned in the “service that will be offered “section will not be available. All volunteers are requested to have their own medical and travel insurances available up to date with them.
4. Personal physical assistance outside of the project site are not available. Weekends trips and transportation are not included.
What to bring: You can follow traditional packing lists, but here are several items that would be particularly helpful for this volunteer experience:
A bed sheet
malaria medication
flashlight
umbrella
mosquito repellent with DEET
sunscreen
alarm clock OR watch with alarm clock
journal
sleeping bag
Any games or craft items like Origami would be great for the kids
Rain coat
Clothing: – fibrous (ex: linen or cotton or anything that is COOL and dries fast in natural sun)
– for women, bring conservative clothing that covers the shoulders (ex: shirts with capped sleeves) NO shorts, bikinis, sleeveless clothes outside your own bed room (strictly).
sandals
head covering (bandanas, hat)
towel that dries FAST.
Expectations of activities during
Description of activities for camp given below for your better understanding. Please remember that you are not allowed to participate in any other project or more than one project at a time. You are only requested to participate in your given camp work place during your duration of with SMILE. You are always requested to cooperate our coordinators and follow their instructions. Your project would be at sealdah based street children welfare project. We hope you will going to enjoy your time with our kids!!
Description of Project that you will be involved with: —
The primary activities you will be working on will be providing education to poor children at in /around Kolkata area. The children are like your siblings and we all embrace children as if they were our own. So many of them are desperately seeking affection, and we hope to provide this and much more. Our target to bring smile among these needy children and we want our volunteers to join us to help in our mission with full energy. Please enjoy your work duration with our kids. Due to hot and high humidity in weather this programme runs for 4 hours to avoid sickness and tiredness among volunteers. We do not want our volunteers to be sick during their term with SMILEJ Due to shortage of volunteer, we have to merge this camp with the other camps at one place. Thanks for your participation. Looking forward for your great supports!!
Work Hour:3- 4 hr./day ( Monday to Friday early morning)
Example Daily Schedule:
Wake up early morning
Work hour : You will be helping the needy kids from the slum/street. It is situated at the slum/street area where your main duty to help our kids in teaching and other welfare activities like washing, teaching, food distribution etc. You are welcome to organize your own teaching plan during your off time.
Lunch at 2-2:30 p.m
late afternoon: personal time when you can travel around by your own or with your group & preparation for next day work .
7-8 PM dinner
9 PM bedtime
Work type : Food distribution, teaching etc .
** Please remember that programme schedule or project site can be changed or altered by the Project In-charge if required and all volunteers are requested to cooperate with our local members and partners. **
Help them to help themselves
Basic local language (bengali) learning chapter:–
———————————————————————-
Father—Baba ; I / Me— Ami ; One — Ak ; Seven—- Saat
Mother—Maa ; You— Tumi ; Two— Dui ; Eight —- Aat
Younger Brother—Vaai ; He /She —- Shey ; Three— Tin ; Nine —- Noy
Elder Brother— Dada ; They —Tahara / Tara ; Four—- Char ; Ten — Dosh
Younger Sister—- Bon ; This — Eta ; Five —- Panch ; Eleven — Egaro
Elder Sister —- Didi ; That —- Ota ; Six — Choy ; Twelve —- Baro
My name is Ram ——– Amar nam Ram ; I am 7 years old ———- Amar saat bochor boyosh.
What is your name—– Tomar nam ki ? How old are you ? ——–Tomar boyosh koto ?
You are beautiful / handsome —- Tumi sundor ; I love you —— Ami tomake valo bashi .
Where do you live in ? — Tumi kothay thako ; I live in Japan/Korea — Ami japan/ Korea te thaki.
How many brother and sister do you have ?—– Tomra koy vai bon ? I know — Ami Jani .
Do you know ? — Tumi jano ki ? Sit quietly—- Chup kore bosho .
Do not move —- Norbe na ; Make a line —- line kore darao
Draw a picture —- Chobi aako ; Let’s dance —- Ekhon nacho.
Let’s sing —- Ekhon gan koro ; Let’s go —- Ekhon Cholo.
You are a good boy — Tumi ekti valo chele ; You are a good girl — Tumi ekti valo meye.
Write your name — Tomar nam likho ; Do not shout — Chitkar koro na .
What is the time now — Ekhon kota baje ; Now it’s 6 o’ clock – Ekhon choy ta baje.
Wash your face — Tomar much porishkar koro ; wash your hand — tomar hat porishkar koro.
Wash your leg – Tomar paa porishkar koro ; wash your head – Tomar matha porishkar koro.
Brush your teeth — Dant majo ; Now it’s end — Ekhon eta shesh.
Good Morning — Shu provat ; Good night — Shuva rattri.
Good bye – Shuvo biday ; Thank you – Dhonyobad
Volunteering India 