Work Camp Updates (September 2012)
Yoga / Ayurveda / Culture (Kerala – 10th to 30th September-2012)
Number of Volunteers: 7
Camp Activities: The highlights of the Camp were the rejuvenating Yoga classes and the enlightening Ayurveda Classes. These were held in the evenings. In the morning volunteers were engaged with the children activities at the Dayaniketan Orphanage at Bakkalam.
Intercultural Learning: The inter-cultural learning was facilitated by FSL-India team. Volunteers visited Muthappan Temple followed by teaching at the popular Kalari Payat School. The volunteers also witnessed the famous ‘Theyyam’ dance performance by local artistes.
(NOTE: Theyyam or Theyyattam or Thira is a popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala state, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area. As a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs, it embraces almost all the castes and classes of the Hindu religion in this region. The performers of Theyyam belong to the indigenous tribal community and have an important position in Theyyam). The volunteers were also taken to watch a toddy tapper at work. Toddy or Kallu is an alcoholic beverage in Kerala derived from palm or coconut trees. Here toddy is being tapped by a toddy tapper who is traditionally expert in the work. The fruit of the palm is cut in its bud and is covered with a pot. It is normally an evening business and by the next morning, toddy gets fermented.
Tibetan Culture / Renovation (10th to 30th September – Dharamsala)
Number of Volunteers: 19
Renovation: Volunteers helped the school authorities with construction work at school premises. They also undertook the educational painting of walls at Thotarani Primary School, Naddi. The volunteers during the work camp had a joyous time and engaged in activities with children such as teaching and fun games. A total of 85 school children benefited from work camp activities
Tibetan Culture: As part of the
inter-cultural learning volunteers interacted with Tibetan Monks. Inter-cultural learning was facilitated by visiting Tibetan Children’s Village, Tibetan cooking class, visit to Main Dalai Lama Temple and Museum, Tibetan Art Gallery and Carpet Factory. The Regional Tibetan Youth congress also gave a presentation on Tibetan Culture. In the last week of the camp volunteers partook in trekking covering a total of 45 kilo metres between Guna Devi and Triund.
Social /Culture/ Kids (17th to 30th September) Udaipur, Rajasthan
Number of Volunteers: 9
Camp Activities: Volunteers worked with destitute children of the Vijaya Mahamahila Mangal Bharathi Destitute Home, Bedla. The Home houses more than 25 children. Volunteers decided to paint and decorate the sleeping quarters of these children. In two weeks the motivated volunteers from various parts of the world like South Korea, Spain, France and Czechoslovakia, interacted with the children, engaged them in various activities and taught them Basic English. The highlight of the camp was the “Olympics” organised by volunteers
for the staff and children of the Home. Varieties of were games conducted and the winners were awarded with medals designed by the volunteers themselves. Another interesting aspect of this camp was the interaction between the local youth and the volunteers of FSL-India. The MSW students of the Udaipur University also had an interactive session with the volunteers on culture, volunteering, local customs etc.
Inter-cultural Learning: Udaipur is known for its rich cultural heritage. As part of the inter-cultural learning, volunteers visited the Lake Palace, temples and participated in puppet show and Rajasthani folk dance.
Vandana Hattiangadi-Tallur,
Communicator, Work Camp