World Water Day has been observed on the 22nd of March since 1993 since the United Nations General Assembly declared it so. To commemorate this day, and spread awareness on the importance of water, FSL-India joined hands with the Water Literacy Foundation and took part in an awareness raising rally. The Water Literacy Foundation, one of our local partners, works towards rain water harvesting systems and FSL-India has been placing volunteers there…
From the 7th of April to the 11th of April, our Bangalore office saw the arrival of 11 new long-term volunteers (LTV) from Italy, France, Germany and the Czech Repubic. The week long orientation for them was facilitated by 13 FSL-India staff members and included topics such as voluntarism roles and responsibilities, Indian pedagogy, India and Social Concerns, and a newly added session; A Reflection on Peace. This batch of volunteers showed a…
Solveig Freiling, a long-term volunteer (LTV) from Germany has been working at Nallurpala School in Mysore, Karnataka since August 2013. With four months to go, she writes to us about her experiences and insights so far. “I was brought up in a very creative family in Germany. My Mother is an artist and my father is a musician. So since I was small, I was in contact with all different kinds of arts. I think…
Once again, the month of April saw another long-term volunteers (LTV) get-together (GTG) in Kundapura. Attending the GTG on the 16th of April 2014 were seven LTVs and three of our Kundapura staff members. GTGs are not only a chance for participants to discuss and share their project experiences, but also an opportunity to explore a new place, as the location for each batch of LTVs varies monthly. These participants had a chance to…
Insa Lautzas, an ex long-term volunteer (LTV) from Germany volunteered at Seon Ashram Trust from September 2012 to August 2013. She returned to her project during the month of March, 2014 and writes about her experiences of her visit back. “From September 2012 to August 2013 I did a 1 Year Volunteer-Service at “Seon Ashram Trust”. This is a place for people who have no one to stay with. Most of them are mentally…
Dorit Schuler, a long-term volunteer (LTV) from Germany has been working at Need Base India in Bangalore since August 2013. Her project is at “Rainbow Home”, a home for abandoned and abused girls. She writes to us about her life as a volunteer… “Every day I am walking down the street to “Rainbow Home”, Vidyaranyapura, B’lore. In the distance I can see the girls waving: “Good afternoon, Miss!” As I am entering the school…
Annelie, a long-term volunteer (LTV) from Germany has been teaching at our Model Village Project since August 2013. With three more months to go, she writes to us about her experiences so far. “First of all living with a Indian family is the most exciting way to get to know to the Indian culture. Of course it depends on the family, their background and their surrounding but it will be your once in a lifetime…
Another get-together (GTG) took place this month for a different batch of long-term volunteers (LTV). From the 13th of March to the 14th of March, five FSL-India staff members and nine LTVs got together in Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu to talk about their experiences so far, have one on one conversations with their coordinators, and get motivated for their future work at their projects. The GTG attendees also had a chance to visit Anbalayam, an orphanage, where they conducted…
Every month, each batch of our long-term volunteers (LTV) have a get-together (GTG) in order to take part in activities, talk about their experiences, and resolve any issues relating to their projects/ stay in India. This month, from the 13th of March to the 14th of March, ten LTVs and four FSL-India staff members met at Green Woods Resort in Senapur, Kundapura for their GTG. They also had a chance to visit one of our Home Based Project’s (HBP)…
Following is another testimonial written by long-term volunteers (LTV) Diana and Lisa who are volunteering at St. Albans, a day care center for special children, located in Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu. They have been volunteering there since August 2013 and will continue to do so until June 2014. “Today is the 1st January, so we both wish you a Happy New Year. “We both” means Diana and Lisa. We are volunteers from Germany and work in a…