Culture & Action
India
Indian Journey
Develop Skills
Activism
A Life-Enancing Experience
Are you someone who seeks adventure, real understanding of another culture but also wants to do good too? We offer an opportunity you can’t find elsewhere. Do you want to mix basking in Indian culture and experiencing the usual tourist sights with working with an effective national Civil Society Organisation? Then this is for you. The key differentiator is that we work with the Guild for Service, the largest CSO working with widows in India. They have been hugely influential in national policy improvements as well as providing grass roots projects for widows. We have worked with them for a decade, so we know them really well. You will be living in the widows centres established by the Guild and work closely with them in service projects that they have asked for. You will enjoy a cultural tour of key sites. You will go boating on the Dal, ride an elephant and relax in the beauty of the Srinagar valley surrounded by the Himalayas on all sides.
Student Benefits
Career enhancement
Improved personal statements/cv; internship & job opportunities, increased interest in Masters and PHDs in relevant fields; A gender sensitized understanding of developmental issues vital for those seeking careers in the developmental field and international funding agencies.
International trip
Explore beautiful India with friends and create amazing memories!
Development experience and internship
In-depth with an effective grass-roots organisation.
Enhanced learning
A firm grounding on the dynamics of gender relations and its inter sectionality with power dynamics; An understanding of how the status of women is an obstacle to the eradication of poverty; widows; the work of civil society.
Develop Skills
Increased relevant skills for study and life: Research, presentation, drafting, writing, analysis, using social media.
Personal development
Coping with a different culture, team working, consultation, perseverance, activism, confidence, networking, reflection.
Alumni
Access to exclusive community of previous participants & associated organisations.
Parent Benefits
Invest in your child’s future
By providing career enhancement opportunities.
Leadership qualities
Participating in this opportunity affords your daughter or son the chance to develop exceptional personal qualities of empathy, perseverance,individual initiative, decision making and planning.
Enhanced learning
They will broaden their understanding of geo-politics, issues affecting widows, socio-political context of India, a firm grounding on the dynamics of gender relations and its inter sectionality with power dynamics; An understanding of how the status of women is an obstacle to the eradication of poverty; the work of civil society.
Develop Skills
Increased relevant skills for study and life: Research, presentation, drafting, writing, analysis, using social media.
Personal development
Coping with a different culture, team working, consultation, activism, confidence, networking, reflection.
Health and safety
Impact Travel personnel have enhanced DBS; the trips have risk assessment, health and safety, and safeguarding measures in place; we have long experience in organising international trips and working in India and offer ATOL protection.
School & Uni Benefits
Professional & Personal Development for staff
Staff satisfaction is increased due to the opportunity to attend the trip with the students. They will have an increased passion in subject areas such as development, politics, gender. They will gain real development experience with an effective grass-roots organisation, the work of civil society, issues affecting widows. They will increase their understanding of the dynamics of gender relations and its inter sectionality with power dynamics; An understanding of how the status of women is an obstacle to the eradication of poverty; widows; the work of civil society. They will benefit from personal development: coping with a different culture, team working, consultation, perseverance, activism, confidence, networking, reflection.
Fully Managed
The trip is fully managed for students safety, by a valued-based company. Impact Travels personnel have enhanced DBS; the trips have risk assessment, health and safety, and safeguarding measures in place; Impact Travel has long experience in organising international trips, personnel have worked in India and we offer ATOL protection.
Increased reputation
Students and staff are involved in real development, character building and regional process.
Student satisfaction
Offering the trip through the university offers greater value to students thereby attracting new students including international students and enhancing retention. There is increased satisfaction with Uni choice, greater understanding of their course and enhanced skills such as research and analysis, assisting in better results in their degree.
Conscious Traveller Benefits
Bucket list
Trip of a lifetime, go with friends, fun, Indian adventure, cultural immersion, take a trip unlike others, eco-tourism, holiday in Kashmir.
Personal development
Learning about Indian culture, gender issues, widows, networking and presentations, team working, consultation, reflection, develop life skills.
Activism
Work with a local Civil Society Organisation that has made a remarkable positive difference; learn how CSOs work in the field; the role of civil society in development, be involved in sustainable development, network with incredible people; be of service; continue that activism in life.
Exclusive Community
Access to exclusive community of previous participants & associated organisations working on socio-economic development.
The Programme
Gender & Inequality Training
Learning sessions provided by Guild gender experts will use film and discussion to look at historical and contemporary society. The focus is on women’s rights, but the underpinning theme is the violation/ inaccessibility to human rights within traditional societies. Subjects covered include: Socio cultural, Religious interpretations, Political, Legal, Women in and affected by conflict; Access to health, education, employment, legal support, political participation; Gender based violence.
Internship
This trip can be considered an internship. It is structured to give an in-depth knowledge on the status of women and issues of concern for women in the patriarchal framework of a developing nation. Every day is divided into a discussion/classroom session and a field visit session. Informal evening sessions will include discussion and debate. At the end of every day the debrief will include reflections on learning. At the end of each week, you will submit a paper to share your learning.
Field Visits
You will visit Guild for Service initiated empowerment projects; Interact with Women’s Study Centres of colleges, students at Delhi University and rural women. You will experience cultural presentations on women’s issues provided by the Guild for Service. You will also receive instruction in yoga and natural health cures.
Service Projects
The Guild for Service and the widows they work with, have consulted on the service projects they need and we will work with them to undertake these. Everyone on the trip will have given us an outline of their skills which will be used in the service projects. Whatever you have to offer, it will be used to help the widows and their children.
Cultural Tour
You will go on luxury coaches to visit sites around Delhi including, Delhi Haat, Qutab Minar, Hymayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, India Gate and the Lotus Temple. You will also visit sites in Agra, Jaipur and Vrindavan including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fathehpur Sikri, City Palace, Amber Fort, with a ride on an elephant.
Citizen Journalist
Write a report of your experiences which will be published. Undertake social media, before, during and after the trip on the key issues. Conduct interviews.
Kashmir Tour
You will stay in and near Srinagar, called the Venice of the East. To enjoy one of the many lakes in the area, you will go on a boat ride and stay overnight in a boat house, visiting the floating vegetable market on Dal Lake, the only one of its kind in India. You will see some of the palaces and gardens built by the Mughal emperors. You will work with the orphan children of conflict and stay in a widows centre established by the Guild.
Make a Presentation
You will need to organise your own research and activism to provide real information to draw on. We will offer suggestions for any improvement and once your presentation is completed you will deliver it in the UK to an invited audience. There will be opportunities to rehearse and enhance your presentation during evening briefings. Finally you will deliver your presentation at one of our meetings with gender experts.
The Package
Programme
All travel, connections, activities, events and networking are fully organized for you.
Accommodation & Food
Accomodation with the Guild of Service and hotels in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Srinegar. All meals covered.
All Tours
Arranging all cultural visits, fees and guides, boat ride and the elephant ride.
Networking
Arranging all meetings with various NGOs and organisations.
Service Projects
Various opportunities to contribute efforts towards good causes.
Cultural Briefing
Cultural briefing, training in networking and presentation skills.
Mentoring
Daily briefings & training, with workshops on issues.
Our Expertise
Impact Travel has been working with the Guild for Service for a decade. One of our Directors is currently chair of Widows Rights International, a CSO working for widows established in the 1990s and is therefore well placed to brief participants on the situation of widows and how CSOs work in development. Impact Travel is passionate about the importance of social enterprise and values based business, enabling this trip to assist Guild for Service, at the same time as providing a life enhancing experience for you. Impact Travel has long experience in organising international trips. The Directors of Impact Travel have undertaken consultancy in India on a number of occasions.
Safety First
The trip is fully managed for safety, by a valued-based company. Impact Travels personnel have enhanced DBS. Risk assessment, health and safety, and safeguarding measures are in place. Impact Travels has long experience in organising international trips.
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