NEW DEADLINE - VolunTour: Indistrialization & Slum in Baddi

THE PROJECT This Study Visit is the outcome of the “VolunTour” project, part of Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the Field of Youth. The general aim of the Capacity Building is to develop a new format of international mobility, called VolunTours, fully organized and implemented by youth organisations, whose purpose is to offer a quality learning experience and to inspire active participation and advocacy in the local communities. These VolunTours can be defined as a mixture of responsible tourism, volunteering, interaction with local communities and with stakeholders, according to a different topic for each Asian country involved. Asian and European youth organizations are working together to organize the VolunTours in India, Nepal and Cambodia. PARTICIPANTS INVOLVEMENT IN THE STUDY VISIT The aim of the Study Visit is to evaluate together the mobility realized and to understand if a similar project can be realized in different contexts. The Study Visit is addressed to youth workers and managers of NGOs interested in implementing similar activities and replicate the NFL methodologies in other communities. Participants will have the chance to take part in the pilot project, to see how the international mobility is organized, scheduled and to share good practices with managers of the Asian and European organizations involved in the project. The objectives are as follows: - Take part in the pilot project of the VolunTour mobility and provide feedback about the idea of the mobility, the proposed activities, the balancement of touristic activities, volunteering and meetings with local community; - Evaluate if would be possible to transfer the VolunTour in their local communities and for potential tourists; - Acquire NFL methodologies and good practices to implement a similar international mobility in different local contexts. INDIAN VOLUNTOUR The theme of the VolunTour in India is Industrialization & Slum of Baddi and it focusses on the problems caused by industrialisation and visit local projects developed to cope with these by NGOs and other involved stakeholders. The Study Visit will last 12 days (arrival and departure included). Schedule: Day 1: Arrival, welcoming, dinner and rest Day 2: Orientation: info about the VolunTour’s organization and activities, walking tour in the local community Day 3: Visit to the Baddi Slum & the industrial town Day 4: Volunteering in the Baddi Slum Day 5: Volunteering in the Baddi Slum in the morning; meeting the Industrial Union in the afternoon Day 6: Visit to the local community Shyamaghat in the morning; Dussera festival and fair in Kuthar Day 7: Guided sightseeing tour of Chandigarh city, Rock garden and Rose garden, free time and shopping Day 8: Volunteering in the organic farm (Bandh) and community visit Day 9: Guided sightseeing tour in Kasauli Day 10: Visit to women enterprise in Dhar/Tujhiyar village Day 11: Volunteering in an organic farm, evaluation of the VolunTour, cultural evening (Himachal Culture night) Day 12: Departure Three European Volunteers (EVS, funded by Erasmus+) are involved in the scheduling of the project and will take part and contribute during the Study Visit. The Study Visit is hosted by RUCHI (Rural Center for Human Interest), a non-political, non-profit Organisation committed to the development of rural India. Founded in 1980, the Organisation is working in over 100 villages in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh State, Northern India. The major focus areas for RUCHI are the following: sustainable management of natural resources; promotion of rural technologies; health care; education and awareness generation; micro-credit village projects. RUCHI hosts several International volunteers that have the chance to get involved in community development programmes while experiencing the local culture and environment. For more information about this Study Visit, please visit the official website: http://volunt-tour.info/study-visit-voluntour-india/