Months ago, the idea of volunteering in India was just a distant dream. Today, I am happy to tell you that it is a reality in the near future. For a couple of years, I had been volunteering in the local preschool class, reading to kids, entertaining them with crafts, and watching them learn. I believe that education is the key to success and that every child deserves a good education. Unfortunately, poverty makes this difficult in some cases. Too many children are going without a quality education and I felt the need to help. Last summer I came across Integrated Social Programs in Indian Child Education (ISPIICE). I was intrigued by the efforts of the organization not long after reading every word on their website. ISPIICE works with government schools in Himachal Pradesh, India by teaching them English as well as other school subjects. The schools are understaffed in need of fluent English speakers to help the children learn English which helps their career outlook when they are older. ISPIICE also helps in daycares that are also lacking enough staff to care for all the children that come in everyday, needing to be fed and bathed. Amazingly, ISPIICE doesn't stop there! They also run a women's empowerment group! The purpose of the group is to help women in the community learn English and IT skills and further their education, therefore improving their social status! When I get there, I will be able to choose a primary volunteer placement to work in. ISPIICE has done many great things for the people of the Dharamsala area and I am overjoyed that I will have the chance to be a part of it!
Although I will be arriving in India on March 9th, my volunteer adventure won't start until March 13th. My first 4 days in India will be spent in Delhi, the capitol of India! Coincidentally (and fortunately), my Uncle Kurt will be traveling to Delhi with a friend on a business trip. So I am taking the opportunity to do some sight seeing in Delhi with my Uncle Kurt before heading up to the mountains with ISPIICE. For the duration of my volunteer trip, I will be staying in the ISPIICE base camp. The base camp houses the staff members and volunteers, but this time it will just be me and the staff because I am the only volunteer scheduled for the weeks of March 13th-April 10th. I think that it will be a good opportunity to get to know the staff people better! They sound like a great group of people!
Many people have asked me about what I am most excited to get out of my trip. It is difficult to narrow it down to one thing because everything about the trip will be completely new to me but I believe that what I will find most rewarding about the trip is getting to know the community and people of Dharmasala. ISPIICE puts so much effort into improving the community and schools so I know that the people they are helping must be very special! I can't wait to feel like I am really making a difference in a child's education! The thought of being a teacher in a formal classroom setting is a little bit intimidating but I'm sure that it will start to feel more natural once I get the hang of it! I also am looking forward to learning about their way of life. I'm sure it is worlds different from the way I am accustomed to living in Vermont so I am very excited to be open to their culture as a great learning experience and to better understand the typical lifestyle of someone living in India.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog and keeping up with my experiences in India! Stay tuned in for my next post about preperations for my final departure!
You can read more about ISPIICE on their website (http://www.volunteeringinindia.com/).
