Dear Xplore for Success and Friends, We are so pleased to invite you to join us at Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp, your Volunteer Adventure base in India. Allow us to share this special place with you, immersed in a welcoming community and surrounded by majestic landmarks. The area is rich in culture and history, evident in the colourful fabrics and foods of Rajasthan. The roots of Free The Children lie in South Asia, with the story of former child labourer Iqbal Masih that ignited then 12-‐year-‐old Craig Kielburger’s passion to create change in the world. Free The Children now works in seven different communities in Rajasthan and has built more than 100 school rooms serving more than 400 children, although to this day, great economic and social challenges remain. Your Volunteer Adventure is an important part of changing those trends, as you engage in education, awareness, volunteering, and direct action in the community. The close bond between these trips and Free The Children, the charity you’ll volunteer alongside, allows you to collaborate with traditional rural communities and people first-‐hand, and experience the holistic Adopt a Village model. Thousands of families and groups have travelled on these trips, thanks to our international partner, Me to We. We’re excited that volunteers personal stories of inspiration and connection to the local people have expanded to Australia for groups like Xplore for Success. So join us, and experience the real India we know and love on a Hand Up Australia Volunteer Adventure. It’s your opportunity to make an even bigger difference in the world as you provide a hand up, rather than a handout. If you would like to begin planning your trip or if you have any further questions, please contact Kristy Moore on 0414 424 304 or at [email protected]. Come with us and discover incredible India! [email protected] | 0414 424 304 Your trip contact: www.handupaustralia.com/corporate Up Australia Volunteer Adventure to India Hand 2015 Xplore for Success Trip Itinerary | Saturday, Feb 21st – Monday Mar 1st 2015 *** Please note that this itinerary is subject to change. Details of specific trip inclusions/exclusions are listed below with the indicative costing. Accommodation in Delhi may change subject to availability. Friday Feb 20 Saturday Feb 21 Depart from Australia Choose your preferred flight departing Australia in the evening of February 20 or the morning of February 21 (if flying direct to Delhi). Aim to arrive at Delhi airport in the afternoon or evening of Saturday February 21. Late Evening Arrival in Delhi Collect your luggage and proceed through customs, where you will be welcomed by your in-‐country facilitator in the arrivals hall. Enjoy a comfortable ride to your boutique hotel. Check-‐in at the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon Welcome to Delhi! From the same architects as India’s first “green” hotel, the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon has been designed to combine India’s rich cultural past with its modernity. Overlooking the rising technological hub of Cyber City, the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon provides a sanctuary of rest and relaxation amidst the densely populated burgeoning metropolis. **Depending on your arrival time, dinner or bar snacks are available on the premise. Not included. Sunday Feb 22 Acclimatisation Day in Delhi Use this time in the morning to rest and relax, as you acclimatise to India time! Guided Tour of Old Delhi Make your way through a dense network of narrow alleys and tightly packed markets and houses. Visit the largest of Delhi's monuments, the Red Fort, whose thick red sandstone walls bulge with turrets and bastions, rising above a wide, dry moat. Later, wind your way through colourful and crowded Chandni Chowk bazaar by cycle rickshaw (pedicab), before exploring India's largest mosque, Jama Masjid. Self-‐Directed Dinner On return to the hotel, you may wish to choose to dine in the restaurant or order room service. Monday Feb 23 Late Morning Flight to Udaipur Board the shuttle bus from your hotel to take you to your commercial flight to Udaipur, known as the Venice of the East. Depart for Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp Enjoy the stunning landscapes of Rajasthan, the royal state of India, on your drive to Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp, while learning some key Hindi words and greetings en route. Introduction and Orientation Settle in to your private tent or cottage and tour the generous shared spaces and garden. Become acquainted with Araveli, discuss the trip itinerary and what to expect, and practice some of the Hindi that you’ve learned along the way in preparation for your meeting with the community. [email protected] | 0414 424 304 Your trip contact: www.handupaustralia.com/corporate Tuesday Feb 24 Learn about Free The Children’s unique Adopt a Village (AAV) model, which relies on five key pillars to break the cycle of poverty and achieve long-‐term community development goals: • Quality primary education • Health care services • Alternative income projects • Safe, clean drinking water and sanitation systems • Agriculture and food security Welcome Dinner We love food, and we love to share the exotic flavours and dishes of Rajasthan with our guests. Expect an introduction to a variety of Indian dishes, with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as traditional Western favorites. Early Morning Yoga Begin your day like thousands of others in India with yoga, the discipline that first originated in ancient India, at sunrise. See how your postures and meditative abilities improve! We also offer a great alternative for the uninclined yogi: D iscover your Dosha! In this session you will learn about the three fundamental bodily humours (doshas). Language Lesson Have some fun and get ready to learn key phrases in Hindi. From “Namaste” to “Aap kaise ho?” you will be communicating with community members in no time! You will soon be testing out your new skills as you head into the village for the first time. Community Welcome Experience the warmth of a community welcome as you gather with students and villagers who will be directly impacted by the work you are doing. In accordance with Hindu tradition, you will partake in a Poja – a traditional Hindu prayer ceremony to mark the beginning of an auspicious event. Every new initiative begins with a blessing to ensure the success and prosperity of the work being undertaken. Learn about the village and the school that you will help to rebuild; and how your efforts and the work of Free The Children will make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families. School-‐Building Roll up your sleeves and start volunteering at the school build site. There is a meaningful role for guests of all ages and abilities, as we help build a new school for the community. Lunch and Jhapki “Jhapki” is Hindi for “siesta.” In keeping with local tradition, we will take a short rest from the hot midday sun at Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp before returning to the day’s activities in the cooler afternoon hours. Nature Hike Take in the beautiful foothills of the Mewar region by exploring the flora and fauna on foot with a local guide from the area. Dinner and Dance Performance from Local Dance Troupe End your day with a colorful performance that will showcase local folk dance traditions. [email protected] | 0414 424 304 Your trip contact: www.handupaustralia.com/corporate Wednesday Feb 25 Women’s Village Walk Rise early as you help local women with their morning activities. You will walk through the village where you will experience shared communal responsibility, frugality in response to limited resources, and sustainability defined by the renewable and functional use of resources. You are invited to accompany women in making chapatti in their homes, haul water from the local well, and in feeding the animals. Lunch and Jhapki Visit The Anganwati Spend time with Free the Children’s health team, and learn the functions of a village health care centre. A village health care centre, locally known as an Anganwadi, serves a variety of purposes and specialized functions within communities. It provides nutritional supplements, pre-‐school services and lunch to young children, pre-‐ and post-‐ natal support and care to mothers, and vaccinations for community members. Free the Children links community members with Anganwadi to facilitate access to these much needed services. Thursday Feb 26 Dinner Early Morning Yoga School-‐Building Continue the progress you are making on your school tasks! Lunch and Jhapki Bollywood Dancing Dust off your dancing shoes, and get ready for a Bollywood experience! Spend the evening with a professional Bollywood choreographer who will share the glamour (and some of the tricks) of one of the largest centres of film production in the world as he teaches you to dance. Share in a good laugh as you try to keep up! Indian Artisan Activities Next, pick your fancy as you choose to participate in age-‐old customs that will immerse you in the local culture. Experience the various artistic forms of henna, tie-‐dying and block-‐printing. Women’s Meet and Greet Sit down and get to know the women in the community you are working in. Ask them questions and learn about their life as you share your story as well. Dinner and Evening of Musical Entertainment The musical traditions of India are rich and varied and remain an integral part of daily life. You will spend a relaxing evening enjoying the different sounds of Indian and Rajasthani musical instruments. Your trip contact: [email protected] | 0414 424 304 www.handupaustralia.com/corporate Friday Feb 27 Saturday Feb 28 Early Morning Yoga School Lunch Activity and School Building Take a break from school building and join the front lines combating malnutrition in rural areas as you participate in the school’s lunch program. Learn about malnutrition, cost of food, village diet and meal patterns. Lunch and Jhapki Women’s Circle Gather in circles with local women to gain fuller insight into what is important to women in rural Rajasthan. Discover the parallels and differences with your own lives as you learn about one another. Alternative Income and Livelihood with Local Women Meet women involved in our Alternative Income and Livelihood program and learn about their daily economic challenges and struggles to support and care for their families. Free the Children provides women with limited resources the opportunity to generate income and to improve the food security of their families through the distribution of productive resources, such as goats. Early Morning Yoga School-‐Building and Farewell to Community Complete your school-‐building project, celebrate your progress and say goodbye to new friends. Lunch and Jhapki Visit Kumbhalgarh Fort Visit this dominating fort, which boasts the second largest wall after the Great Wall of China. The Mewar fortress was built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, and enlarged through the 19th century. Kumbhalgarh is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar. Occupied until the late 19th century, the fort is now open to the general public as a museum and boasts an incredible number of temples, as well as a permanent community within the fortress walls. International Women’s Day Celebration What better way to celebrate your journey and bid farewell to Araveli than with a selection of colourful stalls serving some of India’s most gastronomic dishes while celebrating women all over the world. Enjoy a dance performance by a local women’s folk group celebrating their culture and history through regional dance. Sunday Mar 1 Depart Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp for Udaipur Lunch at Hotel Raaj Bagh The enchanting grounds of the Raaj Bagh Restaurant Palace offer you a breathtaking view of Lake Fateh Sagar, said to be the pride of the City of Lakes, and the beautiful Aravalli mountain range from which our camp takes its name. Late evening flight from Udaipur to Delhi Connect to Your Flight Home in the Delhi Airport * Your included domestic flight is scheduled to arrive in Delhi at 10:25pm. Please allow a good amount of time when booking return international flights, as there can sometimes be delays with the domestic flights from our experience. Monday Mar 2 Arrive home in Australia The Hand Up Australia team look forward to welcoming you home – where the real journey begins. [email protected] | 0414 424 304 Your trip contact: www.handupaustralia.com/corporate Hand Up Australia Signature Service Trip Estimates Every Hand Up Australia Volunteer Adventure includes your major expenses and is designed to keep the trip running smoothly and worry-‐ free. You will be guided by an in-‐country facilitator for the duration of your trip, an invaluable resource and source of local knowledge. As well, a large team on the ground will work to ensure your comfort and safety at all times. These costs offer a guideline for your total trip cost. We would be happy to customise your Volunteer Adventure to suit your unique needs and to provide a final quote. Hand Up Australia Volunteer Adventure costs are subject to change based on the final inclusions and exclusions requested. Accommodation You have a choice of two comfortable accommodation options at your volunteer base – Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp, which can be shared with other guests in your group if preferred. The following all-‐inclusive costs reflect these options: $4,795 AUD Cottage per person (based on double or twin occupancy) $4,395 AUD Luxyury Permenant Tent per person (based on double or twin occupancy) $800 AUD Single supplement per person for private room Inclusions • • • • • • • • • Professional facilitator Ground transportation for the duration of the trip Return airfare from Delhi to Udaipur Hotel accommodation in Delhi (2 nights) Meals as indicated in Delhi Entrance fees to sights in Delhi and Udaipur All activities as outlined in the itinerary Accommodation at Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp (6 nights) All m eals and drinks at Araveli, including purified water, sodas, beer and wine Exclusions International airfare to and from Delhi Indian Tourist Visa, which can be obtained and stamped in your passport prior to departure from Australia at an Indian embassy or consulate. Visas are not available at the port of entry. • Evening snack in Delhi upon arrival • Self-‐directed dinner in Delhi on Day 3 • Travel Insurance (Out-‐of-‐Country medical, trip cancellation and interruption insurance) – Hand Up Australia can arrange comprehensive travel insurance on request Gratuities are not expected but appreciated, and are shared among all staff in India. We humbly suggest $5-‐10 per adult volunteer per day. • • *Please note that arrival and departure transfers are included in your trip cost. Pick up time at the airport is no earlier than 2:30pm on your arrival day, since check-‐in at the hotel is at 3:00pm. Should you decide to extend your stay by arriving earlier or departing later than the scheduled times of your Hand Up Australia Volunteer Adventure, airport pick-‐up and drop-‐offs c an be arranged at an additional cost. Your trip contact: [email protected] | 0414 424 304 www.handupaustralia.com/corporate
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