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Special Education

Background

According to the 2001 Census data, 21 million people in India have some kind of disability. This accounts for more than two percent of the total population. The 2nd highest category are the intellectually disabled loosely referred to as the mentally retarded. Out of the above number, more than 10% are mentally disabled. This number and the people continue to suffer due to the lack of awareness and taboos in the society. 

Challenge

Public funds are scarce for construction and renovation projects of clinics, schools, hospitals and community centres in India. The government focuses its funds on building schools for the education of people living below the poverty line and slum areas however its maintenance is a big challenge. People don’t want to go or send their children to run-down looking schools, clinics or community centres. In fact, it has been proven by research that poor infrastructure impacts on the direct environment and overall well-being of the beneficiaries. 

SBB Intervention 

STEP Beyond Borders supports local special schools which provide education to specially abled children making sure that they have access to basic education and have a chance to learn basic life skills to sustain themselves independently. This field is very wide and in urgent need of special education pedagogy volunteers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and more. We work in 2 types of schools: big foundations providing education to children whose parents can afford paying for their education in special schools and grassroot-local special schools which run as daycare centers to make sure that specially abled children are not left alone without any support.

    Main tasks of the volunteers:

  • Advisable for teachers, psychologists, occupational and physiotherapists, special educators, students of these fields. 
  • English knowledge, creative and interactive approach to teaching 
  •  Introduction with the special students to understand their interests and needs
  •  Study and observe the work at the special schools
  • Even with your smallest creativity activity you can make the children laugh, the right approach is through patience and understanding 
  • We encourage participants to develop their own educational and creative resources after gathering initial judgement of the beneficiaries needs and capabilities 
  • Special Education Curriculum can be designed and formulated for future use of the schools 
  • We expect the volunteers to ideate and execute group activities, physical activities(could be as simple as dancing and singing), games, one-on-one sessions for special children
  1. Program Base: Jaipur
  2. Project duration: 2- 24 Weeks
  3. Joining dates: 
  4. Arrival date: Saturday or Sunday are preferable, if not weekdays will be managed 
  5. Arrival airport : Jaipur
  6. Beneficiaries:  Children with special education and support needs
  7. Working days: Monday to Friday, Weekends are off 
  8. Total volunteer hours: 7 – 15 students 
  9. Weekends: Free to do sightseeing or travel
  10. Requirements: Knowledge of English and ability to work with children with disabilities, background clearance
  • Pre-arrival assistance
  • Detailed pre-arrival orientation and cultural awareness info
  • Pick-up from Jaipur International Airport
  • A detailed orientation about India, project, cultural responsibility and things to remember in India, SIM card assistance
  • Accommodation with host family (single or dual occupancy) or volunteer house
  • All meals (Authentic Indian meals) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Resource materials to use on project
  • Weekly market visit to shop for your necessities
  • Cultural workshops: 1 Hindi class, 1 Indian dress workshop, 1 professional Yoga class, 1 cooking class
  • Airport drop at Jaipur International Airport
  • Logistics & program assistance if required
  • Emergency support

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:

  • Shared bedroom (max 2 people)
  • Western washroom with toilet & shower
  • Hot & cold water
  • Filtered water
  • Common Fridge
  • Common semi-automatic washing machine
  • Kitchen access to cook food if wished so
  • Wi-Fi or internet Data access
  • Family environment
  • Comfortable & safe stay option

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:

  • Gender based division of participants
  • Rooms with max 4 people in
  • Western toilets
  • Shower
  • Kitchen to cook
  • Hot & cold water facilities
  • Wi-Fi facility
  • Semi-automatic washing machine
  • Fridge
  • Filtered water
  • Hindi class 
  • Indian saree workshop
  • Professional Yoga class
  • Indian cooking class
  • Air fare
  • Visa
  • Insurance
  • Local transportation (mostly on walking distance or support from coordinators)
  • SIM card
  • Personal expenses

For costs and further details please contact us on info@stepbeyondborders.org

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