India: TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO UNDERPRIVILEGED Kids

About the local hosting organization

SMILE Society (Situational Management & Inter Learning Establishment Society) is a registered Nonprofit working for these underprivileged communities around the state of West Bengal since 2003. On August 31, 2003, a team of volunteers leaded by Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty (Renowned Social Activist), formed SMILE Society. SMILE mission is to provide volunteers with a customised program (workcamp, medium term, long term) that will enable them to make an important contribution to these poor and needy kids from refugee families. Our foremost goal is to "Bring Smile around" We ensure that all volunteers are provided with a safe and enriching experience. Our flexible approach means that you will be given a placement to suit your needs and time scale. All international students are also welcomed to take part in our Programme. Our unique placements could become the trip of a lifetime.

Presentation of the programme

India having uncountable numbers of street and slum dwellers . There are thousands of poor refugees coming every year from nearby countries and from different small towns and villages to the big cities and most of these families are living in a very poorly condition at slums or on street corners. Often these families bring their children to help them in begging ,household work ,rag picking activities, even some girls been forcibly thrown to the dark life of prostitution. Volunteers have chance to teach their own mother tongue to these kids. Work & Activities : Most important target of the project is to bring smile among these children and provide confidence .Volunteer would use different way of informal education technique to present a unique and attractive way of education programs for these kids .Most of these kids speaks local Bengali /Hindi language but they are very smart and intelligent.so teaching them with the support of local coordinator would not be so difficult ,just little bit of patience and involvement can solve this problem easily. All volunteers would go through orientation on arrival and two local language session during this camp. On every afternoon (after lunch) volunteers would prepare the lesson plan for kids. Volunteers would also help local coordinator in other activities like giving shower food distribution, organising drama,story telling and entertainment games for the children.whole action would be run under the supervision of very experienced local project coordinator. Example Daily Schedule: Wake up early morning: 9 am Breakfast: 9:30 am Manual Activities : 10-12 am ( painting, cleaning, nursary work etc.) Lunch at 12:30-1 p.m After lunch : 1-2:45pm ( Lesson plan preparation ) late afternoon project activities with Children : 3 - 5:30pm Dinner : 7 – 7:30 pm ( volunteers required help themselves in serving ,washing ) After 7:30 pm exit door would be closed.No one allowed to go out or come in the accommodation after 7:30 pm everyday including weekends. 9:30 bed time

About the accomodation

Dormitory basis in host family as per available on arrival (on cot with mattress/on floor with mattress, 2-4 volunteers in one room) shared accommodation (normally male & female separate room). You will get accommodation till 6 pm on the last day of your camp. We are unable to provide you any accommodation before or after these dates. Please arrange your own accommodation in case of early arrival or late departure. You are requested to meet our representative at the meeting place on exact time given above. If you arrive early then you can have your stay in any of the different hotels available nearby Airport, within 2 -3 km .on the road popularly called as V.I.P road. You are requested to take any cab to check in any of these hotels. If you arrive at earlier night then you are requested to stay inside the airport terminal and meet at the next morning with our representative at 12 noon.

About the food

You will get 3 times local homemade food from host family as per available on arrival. Please do not expect any kind of special dishes (veg/nonveg) or cold drinks or special living room or air-conditioned room during your term. You are requested to get ready for a simple and challenging life.

About the location

Madhyamgram (20 km away from center kolkata, 8 km away from the Kolkata (Ccu) Airport). INDIA is an amazing country with diverse culture and tradition .Interesting people ! Explore the country with exciting diversity. Kolkata, the city of joy was known before as Calcutta since the colonial time. This ancient city was used to be the capital of British colonial period. Madhyamgram is a suburb with full of heart. All modern amenities are available in the suburb. Local people are basically belongs to the middle, lower middle and poor class. City Kolkata is known for its busy traffic, huge population, warm weather and poverty around the street corners! It is a great place to visit for every tourist coming to India. Kolkata (itself is a great tourist place with its historical value) is well connected with many famous and attractive tourist places.

About the leisure activities

Free, you are welcome to travel nearby places, but you are requested to return home before getting dark (5 pm in winter/ 6 pm in summer). Night stays outside during project duration is not permitted due to the safety and security reason. Please cooperate.

Requirements

• Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in and around the accommodation • Volunteers are requested to pay their living cost soon after they arrive our place. What to bring: A bed sheet, malaria medication Flashlight, umbrella, mosquito repellent with DEET, sunscreen, alarm clock OR watch with alarm clock, journal, sleeping bag, any games or craft items like Origami would be great for the kids, raincoat, snacks from your country, music/ dress / special souvenir from your country, medicine and first aid supplies for emergency personal use, any special games or study material for kindergarten standard kids.