Background
Jaipur is one of the most highly populated cities in the country. STEP Beyond Borders collaborates with a local Bird Rescue Line that functions as an NGO. They receive calls from regular citizens, the bird ambulance goes to the incident location, rescues the bird and takes it to the shelter.
Challenge
Birds and serpents are continually at risks from electricity poles, nets and especially during the festival season like kite festivals and Diwali. During Makar Sankranti – the kite festival many birds injure wings because of the kite threads which are coated with finely powdered glass casually hanging across the city. Diwali – the festival of lights and crackers pose a threat to them as high flying crackers and lanterns are set ablaze. The shelter is a small private house run by the NGO, all the birds get medical treatment by vets, stay in cages and get fed. Although, due to the lack of funds, training and volunteers the operations are still at small-scale in relation to the large-scale impairment.
SBB Intervention
STEP Beyond Borders volunteers are engaged right from the rescue process of the birds to the overall treatment and recovery process. They help the local staff to feed the birds, take care of them and finally when they fully recover, reunite them back with their freedom. Besides the practical experiences in rescue service, the volunteers can help the local staff with promotional materials for awareness raising about injured birds and the effect of crackers They can also conduct workshops on environmental education topics for school students and children, provide vet services (if professional or vet student) and more.
Main tasks of the volunteers:
Host family: Indian local family which is ready to receive you like a family member, share food and space with you. Chances of having single or dual occupancy are there as we don’t keep more than 3 people in one room in host families. Host family accommodation is best to discover the local culture and to enjoy tasty home-made Indian food. Food includes breakfast, lunch and dinner made by the host and includes vegetarian authentic dishes like chapatis, daal, vegetables.
Facilities include:
Volunteer House: This is a common accommodation for our foreign participants to share and experience each other’s culture as we have participants from all over the globe. To ensure understanding and security in this accommodation we have some basic rules to follow to make sure everyone is convenient here. Rules are no smoking inside the accommodation, no night outs, no outsiders allowed. Food in the volunteer house includes breakfast which is self-service (make your own coffee or tea, toast, oats), lunch and dinner are ordered by our coordinator staff with delivery from hygienic and decent restaurants or chefs. Food is vegetarian authentic meals like chapatis, daal, vegetables.
Facilities include:
For costs and further details please contact us on info@stepbeyondborders.org