Bangalore: From 1^st to 5^th of July, FSL India’s Bangalore office received and held the Orientation week for Anna Švagrová from INEX-SDA, Czech Republic, Yui Nakashima from NICE, Japan, Jakob Dirksen from IJGD, Germany  and Joanna Tomanek from SCI-Poland. Joanna Tomanek was the fifth EVS (European Voluntary Service) for 3 Months.

Like all the Orientation week, this orientation was no different, with 4 participants from 4 different countries, there was lots of fun and scope for inter-cultural learning. The Country presentation by the volunteers was very interesting as they introduced us to their countries through national songs, dances and interesting facts and figures.

The Project visit to a school during the orientation was also a highlight of this orientation week. Apart from these the regular sessions during the orientation week were – Introduction about FSL India, project introduction and reporting, project visit, voluntarism and roles & responsibilities of all the stakeholders of LTV program, Kannada and Tamil Language, setting up aims, conflict management, Indian Pedagogy and different indicators of culture. The volunteers also watched a Bollywood movie, visited the famous Bull Temple and got their hands painted with Indian Mehendi designs during the week.

Overall the Orientation week was fun and provided a lot of scope for the volunteers not just to learn about the Indian culture but also about the culture of the fellow participants. The feedback received from the volunteer suggested that although they would have preferred some more free time, the Orientation week helped them understand and plan their stay in India and the project.

Kundapur : The FSL India’s regional office in Kundapur welcomed 7 International volunteers – Issa Camara from SVI, Belgium, Marcello Viola from YAP-Italy, Cristina Vergara Sánchez from Ninarwa, Spain, Paul PERRIN, Vincent CHAPACOU, CORDIER Louise Victa and Anne-Charlotte Rousselot from JR, France for the Orientation week – 1^st of July to the 7^th of July.

The orientation week included theoretical sessions, group activities, field visits, excursion, etc. On the first day all the volunteers had town tour in Kundapur to familiarize themselves with place and for buying their daily needs. Later in the evening, volunteers had Indian Mehendi session.

The afternoon session began with the traditional Indian welcoming of the volunteers with Turmeric, Garland and Light to enlighten the stay in India. Later in course of 5 days the following sessions were conducted – Kannada language, Introduction about FSL India, Environment Talk, What is culture, India & Indian Life Style and Safety, project introduction and reporting, Documentation and project administration, Practical India (About Education & Transportation) Project visit, voluntarism and roles & responsibilities of all the stakeholders of LTV program, setting up aims, conflict management and different indicators of culture

As a part of Project visit, the volunteers visited Basur School and participated in Vanmahotsava and planted trees together with the children in the school. After one week of fun, learning and sharing, the volunteers on 7^th of July left to their respective host families and projects accompanied by their FSL India Coordinators.