Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Dom
Hometown: Brighton
Destination: Crawley (UK)/ Thal (Rajasthan, India)
Project type: Training in Global Education/Awareness
Organisation: VSO Global Xchange + Pravah (India)
What were your impressions of your destination?
The 9 British and 9 Indian volunteers lived in pairs in host homes in Crawley for 3 months and then in Thal for 3 months. Crawley was ok, with brilliant group activities as the saving grace. Thal was amazing!!!!! 5 of us volunteers stayed there with host families, out in the dessert, without buses, with water problems, with the village gossip and social etiquette, and children always keen to play- brilliant kind families, and always the sense of security from our excellent project supervisors.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
We were assigned different work placements and all helped to organise 'Community Action Days'. We all had the chance to organise 'Educational Activity Days' for the rest of our group too. We also organised weekends away such as the Mid Project Review. The 18 volunteers and 2 Project Supervisors always had a lot of fun when we did the activities and the work placements were less fun, but still interesting. In Crawley I worked with the Young Persons Council and Crawley Interfaith Network, and in Thal I was a climbing frame for 2-5 year olds in the morning, and helping to carry out health surveys and organise a health fair in the afternoon.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
Families in both Crawley and Thal welcomed us into there homes and looked after us with so much kindness and generosity. Rajesh (my Indian counterpart) and I lived in a mansion in Bletchingley outside Crawley with a lady who had spare rooms after her children had flown the nest, and in Thal we lived in a the home of a very poor village family who owned a camel, cows and goats. The accommodation was simply amazing for me.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
The two project supervisors were well trained by VSO and Pravah and were both so sensitive to our needs, and energetic. They did a fantastic job- pushing us forward and encouraging us, whilst supporting us and not leaving us feeling exposed. They facilitated us in making decisions ourselves. The office and training staff were amazing, fun and supportive at all times.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
The project was free although we had to raise £600 in order to show our commitment. Working, living and learning so closely and intensely with 17 other volunteers was simply incredible, and I miss those times we shared when I think of it. I met so many brilliant people on that project and I would strongly recommend this project to anyone finishing school. I still can't quite believe I had the opportunity to meet those people and do all those things- it really makes me feel like a jammy git!!
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
