Work Camp Updates (July 2012)
Yoga / Ayurveda / Culture (Kerala – 2nd to 22nd July -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. Volunteers also engaged in activities at the Dayaniketan Orphanage. They had activities with the kids of the Marian Centre for the mentally challenged.
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 (Dharamsala – 9th to 29th July)
Number of Volunteers: 21
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-cultural 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.
Social / Rural (Jodhpur-Rajasthan – 2nd to 15th July)
Number of Participants: 10
Camp Activities: At Jodhpur camp volunteer participated in cleaning of school premises, did the painting work and educational painting on walls and taught the school kids. They had fun activities with kids and engaged themselves in cleaning and painting, meeting with local youth and women.
Inter-cultural Learning: In order to get exposure to the inter-cultural dimension, volunteers spent time in visiting Temples and participated in Camel Safari. They also visited Mehramgarh Fort, local market at Ghantagha and participated in country presentation. Additionally they also learnt about Indian cooking.
Meditation /Culture/ Kids (2nd July to 15th July – Rishikesh)
Number of Participants: 15
Camp Activities: The volunteers stayed at Sant Seva Ashram and had an enlightening experience of Indian yoga and meditation. Everyday volunteers participated in Yoga, Meditation and Pranayama sessions. The sessions were conducted by a professional yoga teacher. Wall painting, educational drawing and fun activity with kids in the local government school were the major highlights during the work camp.
Inter-cultural Learning: As part of the inter-cultural learning, volunteers visited the local market, Vittal Ashram, Lakshman Jhoola and Raam Jhoola. They also had trekking for one day in the Himalaya and experienced terrain farming activity in the villages. Henna application thrilled many volunteers. The well-known “Ganga Arati” performed on the banks of the river Ganga was the most enthralling experience for the volunteers.
Social /Kids (Kundapur -9th to 22nd July 2012)
Number of Participants: 18
Camp Activities: Two schools (UBMC School and Government Primary School) were selected and volunteers were engaged in Wall painting and education drawing. In the afternoons, volunteers engaged with the children in “learn with fun” activities where the children were taught English through games.
Inter-cultural Learning: It was monsoon at Kundapur and volunteers had the chance to enjoy Paddy Transplanting. A farm visit was organised and the volunteers were involved in “Paddy transplanting” along with the local people. The volunteers then donated rain coats and headgear to the farmers. Other activities involved Henna application, Saree wrapping, Hindu family visit, Indian cooking demonstration, local sight-seeing, visit to Light House, beach, temple visit etc.
Vandana Tallur
Work Camp Communicator