Trip Theme: “Alternative Winter Break: Exploring Obstacles to Education in India”
Apply: CLOSED
Deadline: October 7, 2019 @ 11:59 pm
Trip Dates: December 18, 2019 (5:30 pm departure) – January 8, 2020 (11:30am arrival at LAX)
Description:
Interested in exploring a country and its community by immersing yourself in the culture? If so, AWB India may be for you!
According to a 2011 census, roughly one in six Indian city residents live in an area of high poverty or in a dwelling with unsanitary conditions — roughly 64 million people. For people living in poverty, access to formal education is limited.
On this three week trip to the northern state of Rajasthan, USC students have the opportunity to explore educational barrier within the Sikar community. Students will try to learn and understand the barriers to economic and educational development in India by assisting a small community in creating sustainable solutions. Students will primarily instruct within either an established primary school in Sikar or an informal school within the Banjara Basti with the goal of inspiring a passion for learning.
By leveraging the strengths of each participant, we will create a basic, sustainable curriculum that can be used by future instructors and volunteers at AVI. Following AVI’s mission, we strive to help the community help itself so they can continue to grow and empower themselves long after our group’s three-week stay. Past projects include teaching children basic English and math, creating an inspirational mural for the classroom, installing water filters in the school and the local community, raising awareness about basic hygiene practices, and collecting clothing and educational donations to give to local children.
On weekends, participants will spend time traveling to Pushkar by camel, shopping in Jaipur and Sikar, and visiting the Taj Mahal (you cannot go to India without seeing it!). In addition to working with children and weekend travel, participants will be immersed directly in Indian culture. AWB India participants will have the opportunity to participate in Hindi classes, traditional Indian cooking and dressing workshops, henna painting, and yoga & meditation classes. Participants will also live with a local family on their village farm in order to learn more about the economic and cultural practices of the region.
If you have any more questions about AWB India please email india.awb@gmail.com Read about AWB India in a participant’s blog!
Estimated Cost: $2,750 USD* per participant