This project in
Pune brings together street kids and volunteers with energy and enthusiasm to help educate and brighten the lives of less privileged children.
Using donated spaces in local schools in
Pune, the project tries to make a difference to the lives of some of the city's most disadvantaged children by providing extra tuition in English and Maths and running activity classes in Drama, Arts and Sports.
Volunteers play an active role in running classes and activities, as well as doing a round to collect the children from their homes and walk them to and from school in a lines of two.
Your Role: Your main role will be that of being a mentor for the children almost acting as an elder brother or sister to them. After a short induction period you will either be working alongside existing teaching staff or looking after a group of children yourself. You will have your own specified groups to teach, your own set timetable and a curriculum. This will normally involve English, Math and General awareness (hygiene etc.)
As all sessions are conducted in English so you will not face many of the communication problems that often arise when teaching abroad - the children already have a basic level of English which you will be working to improve.
You will take up 2 or 3 sessions each day (combinations of mornings, afternoons and evenings) with each session lasting 2 - 21/2 hours. This may involve traveling between different centres, by foot or rickshaw, depending on where you are placed.
What you Gain: This is a wonderful opportunity to work with a committed group of people on your gap break to make a difference to the lives of some of the poorest children. You will independently run classes and activities, be appreciated for what you offer and leave with memories, many friends and a sense of having done something meaningful on your gap year.