Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme

  India

Rural Areas

Length of Position: At least two months (one month for qualified teachers)
Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year

Description: By becoming a HELP volunteer you will be able to make a direct, personal contribution to the education of young Himalayan people. In so doing, you will be having an unforgettable experience in a new and fascinating world.

We place our volunteers in primary and secondary schools throughout the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas. You are given classes according to your skills and, if possible, preferences. In other words, you are fully integrated into your school as a respected member of the school's faculty.

Highlights: This is a chance to make a valuable contribution to the educational development of the children in your charge. In so doing, you will derive great personal satisfaction, and, hopefully, will return to your country with a wider and wiser perspective on the world.

Qualifications: We are interested in hearing from people who can teach English as a foreign language (TEFL). If you don't have any experience in this field, don't worry. We can point you in the direction of a basic TEFL course, and we will supply you with a starter pack of TEFL materials that will help you get through the first couple of weeks. Other subjects needing assistance from our volunteers include Maths, Science and IT.

If you think you have a non-teaching skill that could be used by a school, we can certainly talk to you about it. For instance, one of the schools we assist, the Denjong Pema Chöling Academy (DPCA), is also looking for volunteers with basic nursing skills to act as a school nurse. Other skills this school is looking for include administrative, baking, and horticultural skills.

Minimum Education: Diploma/Certification

Cost in US$: From USD550 for two months

Salary / Pay: The benefits are non-monetary.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: In addition to having a useful skill, the qualities you will need to make a useful contribution to your school are: resilience and adaptability, an open mind and an interest in other cultures, good mental and physical health, and tact and diplomacy. Because these opportunities are best suited to mature people, our volunteers are likely to be (but not exclusively) from one of the following categories: * working people taking a career break * retired people who are not yet ready to put their feet up! * graduates wanting to have an adventure before starting their careers * students aged at least 19

Age Range: 19+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to India Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme's Mission Statement: The Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme (HELP) is a charity registered by the Charity Commission of England and Wales. The aim of HELP is to enhance the lives of poor Himalayan communities by supporting selected educational and training projects. HELP realizes its aims by enabling responsible and committed people from the developed world to: - sponsor young people with the potential to benefit from a school or college education, but without the means to do so. - make a donation to provide grants to individual students, and also to schools and health clinics that lack the means to acquire the materials or premises required to provide a satisfactory service to their communities. - undertake short-term assignments as volunteers in support of educational and training projects

Year Founded: 2002