RC-37/16 RUCHI Solan Women Power Soc/Edu 21/11 – 04/12

Location: Baddi is an industrial town of Solan district located at a distance of 35 km from Chandigarh city. The township is full of slums developed around villages and close to city center. Baddi faces problems of sanitation and poor health. The problem is serious with women because of their ignorance. RUCHI campus is 25 km. from the Baddi town.

Work: Volunteers will work in slums or adjacent villages. Educating women on health, hygiene, sanitation, environment and micro-credit will be the prime focus of the work. Volunteer will get orientation before starting project. Additional activities will include learning of various developmental issues and solutions. They will visit various humanitarian projects and interact with the villagers.

Requirements: Interest in gender sensitivity and learning ability, High motivation.

Accommodation: Volunteers will live in the Guest House or Host Family. Simple basic amenities will be available. Asian squat type toilet or English WC will be available. Vegetarian food will be served. A cook will be there but volunteers are expected to help him and occasionally cook their own meals. Self-management is required. Sleeping bag is desirable.

Leisure time:Self organized city tours and excursions.Old Sikh and Hindu temples in the near vicinity can be visited. Nearby Chandigarh city with internationally known Rock Garden is a tourist attraction.A visit to Shimla will offer an opportunity to see high Himalayan Mountains.

International Terminal: New Delhi (320 Kms); Domestic Terminal: Chandigarh (35 kms)

Nearest railway station: Chandigarh (30 kms) Participation Fee: Euro 200

Theme: National Festivals

RC-33/16 Rajgarh-Mangan Diwali Festival Cult/Fest 24/10 – 06/11

Location: Mangan is a small and sleepy village with 20 households and is situated close to Rajgarh town in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The area is scenic with a all year round beautiful climate. The village is 125 km north-west of Chandigarh city and 58 kms from Solan district headquarter. The entire area is hilly where the rural economy is based on agriculture and horticulture. This is a fruit growing area and is famous for producing Asia’s best peaches. Being high altitude (2000 meters above MSL) in the area, the weather is always pleasant and the landscape is beautiful. It hosts a 250 year old Hindu temple.

Work: Months of October and November host two prominent Indian festivals of national importance. The dates are decided on yearly basis as per Hindu calendar. These camps are specially organized for those who are interested in Indian history and culture. This period is also supposed to be auspicious for marriages. Besides local festivals, volunteers will have an opportunity to attend, local weddings, visit lone Tibetan Bon Monastry and interact with villagers and educate them on health and environmental issues and concerns like global warming, climate changes, etc.

Dussera: Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is a gazetted holiday in India, which is marked on the 10th day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashvin (Ashwayuja), according to the Hindu calendar. During 2016, the main festival falls on 10^th October.

Many people of the Hindu faith observe Dussehra through special prayer meetings and food offerings to the gods at home or in temples throughout India. They also hold outdoor fairs (melas) and large parades with effigies of Ravana (a mythical king of ancient Sri Lanka). The effigies are burnt on bonfires in the evening with lots of firecrackers. Dussehra is the culmination of the Navaratri festival. A short version of the epic Ramayana in the form of Raamlila is also performed for 9 days before this festival in Northern India.

Diwali:Festival of Lights is a national festival celebrated throughout the country with lot of zeal. This festival, falling on 30^th October, 2016, is celebrated with a great fervor just like Christmas and goes on for 5 days. Diwali is followed by other local events like Budi Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj etc. In North India, as it is believed that it was on Diwali that Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya after killing the Demon king Ravana in Lanka.

Renuka Lake is another tourist attraction and off late Renuka ji festival in this part is also getting international attention.

Accommodation: Volunteers will live in guest house/ home stay with simple conditions and share accommodation with other volunteers. All meals will be cooked and served in guest house. A cook will be there but volunteers are expected to help him and occasionally cook their own meals. Self-management is required. Sleeping bags are also necessary for volunteers looking or interested in trekking.

Leisure time:Self organized city tours and excursions.A variety of treks are available in close proximity. Shimla offers an opportunity to see high Himalayan Mountains. A visit to nearby Chail Palace boasting world’s highest cricket stadium can also be rewarding.

International Terminal: New Delhi (360 Kms); Domestic Terminal: Chandigarh (125 kms)

Nearest railway station: Solan on small gauge (55 kms) Participation Fee: Euro 220

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 909