Yoga / Ayurveda / Culture (Kerala – 6th to 26th August -2012)

Number of Volunteers: 19

Camp Activities: Volunteers attended Yoga Class every day from 4.30 to 6.30 p.m. They were also involved with painting and conducting games with the children in Special school. The special attraction of the camp was the sessions on Ayurveda for volunteers. Sessions were conducted at the Parassini Kadava Ayurvedic College.

 

Inter-cultural Learning: As part of the inter-cultural exposures, volunteers visited Muthappan Temple, and watched the Teyyam dance. They learnt about Indian cooking during a visit to an Indian family and participated in country presentation. The other visits included the Snake Park, Toddy (local alcohol) collection centre and Kallari Payat (Martial Arts) School.

 

Tibetan Culture / Renovation (6th to 26th August – Dharamshala)

Number of Volunteers: 13

 

Camp Activities: As part of the camp activities volunteer participated in school wall painting, construction and renovation work and organised fun activities with the school children.

Inter-culture Learning As part of inter-cultural learning volunteers spent a good deal of their time in interacting with Tibetan Monks. They also had Tibetan cooking session, visited a Hindu temple and waterfalls, visit to Main Dalai Lama Temple and museum, Tibetan Art Gallery and Carpet Factory. They enjoyed visiting Tibetan children village and spent time in Four-day trekking at the Himalayas.

 

Tribal / Rural/Environment (6th to 19th August –Coorg, Karnataka)

Number of Participants: 17

 

Camp Activities: In this camp volunteers cleaned School premises and did the educational painting. They also participated in teaching School kids, conducted some educational and fun activities with kids and held discussion with Indian teachers on education system in India.

 

Inter-culture Learning: As part of inter-cultural learning volunteers visited Hindu temples, participated in Country Presentation at the local school. They also paid a visit to Bylukuppe- Tibetan Monastery, Dubare and Elephant Camp.

 

Heritage Conservation / Awareness (6th to 19th August – Hampi)

Number of Participants: 19

 

Heritage Conservation: A total nineteen volunteers in Hampi cleaned the surrounding areas Ganesh Temple. Importantly volunteers’ work has been widely appreciated by the Archaeological Survey India. The camp also got wide media coverage.

 

Awareness: With a view to create awareness on the importance of the heritage site, volunteers did the painting in local government school. Volunteers conducted activities for the school children and facilitated session for school children to create awareness and protect heritage monuments.

 

Inter-culture Learning: Volunteers learnt cooking their dishes for the Host family and local volunteer. They also visited the temples in and around Hampi and Anegundi. The camp also arranged for a special visit to a Tribal Welfare centre run by a French Couple at Kaddirampura.

 

Social /Kids (20th August to 2nd September-Kundapura)

Number of Participants: 14

 

Camp Activities: For conducting camp activities Govt. Higher Primary School, Moodu Gopady, Bijadi, and Govt. Primary School, Koni were selected and volunteers were engaged in wall painting and educational drawing. In the afternoons they were engaged with children in “learn with fun” activities taught them English through fun games. The communicator Mrs. Vandana also visited the Camp and interacted with the volunteers.

 

Inter-Cultural Learning: Monsoon continued its fury at Kundapur and volunteers had the chance to enjoy the “Indian Monsoon”. A local family hosted a grand Indian lunch for the volunteers. Other activities involved Henna application, Saree wrapping, Hindu family visit, Indian cooking demonstration, local sight-seeing visit to light house, beach, Hindu temple etc. The volunteers also watched a ‘Sandalwood’ movie “Shiva” in the theatre to get a taste of the local film!!

 

Social/ Culture (13th to 26th August –Mount Abu)

Number of Participants: 19

Camp Activities: Volunteers cleaned the premises at NAB to prepare a kitchen garden. Volunteers also participated in wall painting in school, tree plantation (25 saplings planted), peace march with visually challenged children. Volunteers also blindfolded themselves to feel how the children felt.

Inter-culture Learning: As part of the inter-cultural exposure, volunteers visited Indian Family, interacted ion with trainee teachers, local youth who catch snakes and release them to forests. Volunteer also participated in Independence Day celebration with school children.

 

Health on Stage- (6th to 26th August -Bangalore / Mysore)

 

“Health on Stage” is an initiative that intends to promote public health dialogue among community people on water and health issues using Forum Theater. A total of 11 volunteers from Taiwan, Germany, Spain and France arrived in Mysore to share three weeks for Health on Stage Program organised by FSL-India. The volunteers who participated in the Health on Stage 2012 are: Loire Mathilde, Pauline de Bortoli, Marion König, Antoine Retours, Jing Huei Huang, Lluís Martinez, Marie Acard, Katia Gianfermi, Clara Muñoz Serdà, Caroline Seifert and Dominik Holdau. The group gave seven performances and more than 1000 spectators watched these in various locations of Mysore and Bangalore. Besides participating in the performance, volunteers also had umpteen numbers of opportunities to enrich themselves with intercultural exposure.  

 

 

Vandana Hattiangadi- Tallur

Communicator, Work Camp