Health on Stage

Team leader: Deepak, Bharathi

The “Health on Stage” workcamp is a unique model that attempts to involve young international volunteers and engage them in intensive dialogue with local community by using “forum theatre” as the medium for communication. The Health on stage camp was implemented in the slums of Bangalore and rural areas in Mysore. Water related issues and waterborne diseases were the important components of Health on Stage camp. Initially the volunteers was involved in social mapping to identify the local water and health issues and through forum theatres analyze the issues with the community and design locally available solutions.

Under the broader framework of Water and Public Health, a wide range of local issues were taken up for dialogue and to seek solutions. Hygiene and sanitation, waterborne diseases, preventive and curative aspects of health, water and environment, water conservation, indigenous water purification measures were the issues that were dealt with. Close to 1100 local community members benefited in this camp. The volunteers also performed in Sacred Heart School, around 250 children benefited from this forum theater. It was a great eye-opening session for the children as well as local community.

Heritage conservation/awareness in Badami

Team leader: Manjunath

Part of the famous Chalukyan Empire, Badami is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Volunteers at the camp worked in government primary and high schools in Badami and Pattadakal. They initiated the formation of a Youth Guardian club and conducted a competition on heritage conservation. During the second week, they also performed a street play on saving water and heritage conservation. Around 350 children and 14 teachers actively took part in the programs of the work camp.

Volunteering on the Indian West Coast: Kundapur

Team leader: Joy

Volunteers to this camp worked with a local government primary and high school, taking lessons in Basic English, Maths and Science for close to 50 of its students. Intercultural learning was facilitated by out team leader through various activities unique to Indian culture. Volunteers learnt how to wrap a saree and took part in henna sessions. Weekends were set aside for boat trips

At the Himalayan foothills: Manali

Team leader: Bharathi

Volunteers worked with a total of 40 children involved in this project, teaching them about environmental topics such as types of pollution, nature protection and Basic English. They were also involved in cleaning the school ground. A visit to a local family as well as an international cooking session were a part of the intercultural learning experience.

Yoga and Ayurveda

Team leader: Rahul

Volunteers to the camp divide their day between activities at the Marine Special School in the mornings and yoga and ayurveda classes in the evenings. Intercultural learning includes a visit to the Muthappan Temple, followed by a visit to a school that teaches Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art form. In this camp, volunteers also witnessed the famous ‘Theyyam’ dance performance by local artistes. 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.

Tibetan Culture

Team leader: Sandesh (Environment), Dinesh (Construction)

Currently the home of the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, located in the State of Himachal Pradesh, is rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. This July, two work camps were held in this quaint city, centred on the themes of environment and construction.

Volunteers to the camps actively participated in school wall painting and cleaning school grounds. In the construction work camp, they helped in levelling the school grounds so that children could play safely. We also teamed up with our local NGO partner to clean a field in the locality.  In addition to this, volunteers worked to teach basic English, health and hygiene to children at the Naddi Government School. Up to 98 children participated in these activities.

Intercultural learning included spending time interacting with Tibetan monks, cooking Tibetan food and visiting the Dalai Lama Temple and Tibetan children’s village.