Dharamsala Community Development Project 2013

So far I have only written about previous projects so I wanted to take the time to tell you about a future charity project in the not-to-distant future.

I am going to teach English to children as part of the Dharamsala Community Development Project on the 1st of December 2013.

India is home to the world’s largest population of street children: estimated at around 11 million, according to conservative estimates by UNICEF where I would be working at various shelter homes and contact points providing care, affection, meals, basic literacy, and a safe environment for the children to learn and develop, away from the reality of life on the streets. I would also work alongside the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Service) scheme, which is a government initiative addressing early childhood development, health and malnutrition in India. Also the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women in 2001 the Indian Government has said ‘Our vision in the new century of a nation where women are equal partners with men’ but in reality Indian women struggle to gain empowerment through society. Education is the most influential tool to raise the status of women and this project aims to run a variety of educational and confidence building activities to benefit women and adolescent girls in the local community. And of course raising awareness about the need for regular schooling, and offer much needed support to local teachers.

The charity I will be working for is called Integrated Social Programs in Indian Child Education (ISPIICE).

ISPIICE is a voluntary social organization that builds partnerships between International volunteers and Indian communities; iSPiiCE introduce volunteers to teach English and computers, care give, improve access to health services, improve awareness of health issues and develop educational activities as part of sustainable community projects.

About Dharamsala:

Dharamsala (Hindi: धर्मशाला dharmaśālā) is a city and a municipal council in Kangra district in the Indian State of Himachal Pradesh. It is the district headquarters. It was formerly known as Bhagsu. The Dalai Lama's residence and the headquarters of Central Tibetan Administration and the exiled Tibetan government are in McLeodGanj, a village within the Dharamshala municipality. Dharamshala has an average elevation of 1457 metres (4780 feet), this is in the foothills of the Himalaya, in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountains.

ISPIICE Website: http://www.volunteeringinindia.com/