The Living and Working Situation

It is a very safe and well-supervised living and working situation, so volunteers don’t need to be experienced teachers – they only need to be enthusiastic and friendly and can be of any age. While most of the volunteers are young, some have been older couples and even retirees. Volunteers stay in a clean, secure building in the town of Bedla. There are 6 bedrooms with four beds each, so up to 24 volunteers can stay at one time, and most bedrooms have their own toilet and shower. The building has 3 floors, with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room on the second floor, and 3 bedrooms, a living room and an office and working area on the third floor. There is a TV room with dvd movies, and many books to read and trade. The building is gated and the doors are locked at night, so it is secure.

Volunteers can join for periods from less than 2 weeks to many months, depending on their own schedules. They mainly teach, but also assist with community projects like painting/remodeling schools, assisting with vaccination programs and helping with community development projects like teaching good hygene to children and skills-training for local women. There are also programs to help local street children, orphans and even an injured animal shelter assistant program. The center in Bedla is about halfway between the city of Udaipur and the 2 main rural project villages, which are in the hills North and East of Udaipur. It is also very close to the orphanages and the animal shelter in Bedla.

生活及び活動状況
ボランティアには、2週間以下〜何ヶ月にも渡り、参加者のスケジュールに応じて参加することができます。主に、ボランティア参加中はティーチングをしますが、ペインティング・学校の改修・予防接種プログラムのアシストなどのコミュニティープロジェクトも支援します。また、子供達に良好な衛生を教えたり、ローカルの女性のスキルトレーニングなどのコミュニティー発達プロジェクトの手助けもします。他にはストリートチルドレンや孤児を助けるプロジェクトや怪我をした動物を保護する支援プロジェクトもあります。Bedlaの中心はUdaipur市の近くに位置し、Udaipurの北と東にある丘にある2つの田舎町のプロジェクトを行っています。孤児院や動物保護施設も近くにあります。
生活や活動はとても安全で、よく管理が行き届いています。そのためボランティア参加者は必ずしも先生である必要はなく、熱意がありフレンドリーであれば、どの年齢でも参加可能です。参加者の多くは若者ですが、歳のいった夫婦や退職者まで参加した経緯があります。ボランティア参加者は、Bedlaにある清潔で安全なビルに泊まります。そこには６部屋あり、各部屋にはベッドが4台ずつありますので、最大で24名のボランティアが同時に宿泊することができます。また、ほとんどの部屋には個別にトイレとシャワーが付いています。このビルは3階建てで、ベッドルーム３部屋・キッチン・ダイニングは2階にあり、ベッドルーム3部屋・リビング・オフィスは3階にあります。DVDが見れるテレビルームがあり、本もたくさん置いてあります。ビルにはゲートがあり、夜間すべてのドアは締まっているので安全です。

Afternoons, most evening and weekends are free for volunteers to explore the area, go shopping, sightseeing or try the various workshops. These are included in the price volunteers pay to the project. Longer, farther excursions to castles, temples, safaris, etc., can easily be arranged and cost a bit more. The local staff can also help with private travel arrangements in and around India, if requested.

Volunteering at STEP is a rewarding, educational and exciting experience in a beautiful and historic part of India. The area is exotic and the people are warm and very friendly. Jay and Melinda, and our staff, as well as some of our students, will be making periodic trips to the project in the near future. If you have an interest in participating with us, simply ask Jay or Melinda and we will give you all the information you need.

2016-17 New Year Holiday