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Community Volunteer Work in Chennai

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Work with widowed women or help in the reconstruction of a village at this project.

Gap Projects: Support a Community Affected by the Tsunami

This multi faceted community organisation is based south of Chennai and has a wonderful saying; 'small things done with great love'. It believes that all of us can make a difference. They are based 60km from Chennai, close to the coast and surrounded by the lush tropical countryside.

The project runs 4 distinct programmes:

a) An English medium school for the younger children
b) After the Tsunami, they set up a rehabilitation centre especially catering to the fisherman in nearby villages
c) An income generation project working with women
d) Construction of a modern village for widows and orphans.

Your Role This project welcomes volunteers to help in whatever way they feel possible. There are a variety of roles for volunteers and a program can be developed depending on your skills and interest. You can be involved with just one aspect, for example teaching, or develop a mix and match approach and be involved with all four if you have the stamina! Here are examples around the four main areas of their work

The children are always thrilled to see a new and different face and it is proven to have the effect of encouraging them to come to school! Gap year volunteers in this project would be able to interact with all 5 classes on a daily basis undertaking a mix of activities, e.g. assisting with teaching in the classrooms, developing and delivering lessons or using creative skills to do drama, theatre, art & music classes.

The school is small but is run by very dynamic people so there is likely to be other activities outside of school time that the volunteer could be involved in.

With the women’s income generation project, you will get to know the women and their level of skill, develop a training scheme and schedule to suit their availability, learn what fabrics and facilities are available to you and decide the best way forward with the dress designs and tailoring. If you have a degree in fashion design, your skills will be greatly valued.

Anyone who like physical work and knowledge of construction would be useful to the organisation in the building the new village as they are relying on ad-hoc help and advice from well wishers in the locality.

This project has great elements of sustainability as you will be able to see something concrete - literally - from your time here.

Gap Projects: Support a Community Affected by the Tsunami

What you Gain: Developing English speaking skills in young people is always extremely rewarding and this is a way of potentially influencing the future of the children you work with. Anyone looking to pursue teaching or who has had a career in teaching would find this project fascinating.

This is also a wonderful chance to share your skills to help these disadvantaged women and children in rural Tamil Nadu. You will be helping to give these women an income and shelter, the most basic necessity, so that they can start to grow food and look for work and start their life over again.

You will have time to explore the wonderful temples and rock carvings of Mahabillapuram as well as travel a little further a field to the former French colony of Pondicherry. There are deserted beaches all along the coast and beautiful hill stations further inland - a great place to escape from the heat of summer.