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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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…and neither will you on this jam-packed tour! Aside from befriending elephants you will also be making some new friends of the human variety when you work with children and young people at a special needs school. Your weekends will be filled with stunning scenery as you float along Kerala’s famous backwaters by houseboat, spend time fishing with the locals and take a tour of historic Kochi.
Today you will be met at the airport and accompanied to your accommodation. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to drive from the airport to your homestay so sit back, gaze out of the window and take in the sights, sounds and smells of Kerala. You’ll have some time to unpack in your new digs and meet your fellow travellers and in-country team before sitting down to your first Indian dinner.
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Cochin on the designated arrival day then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation for an additional fee. Please call us for more information.
Today you’ll set off to explore Kerala’s colonial heritage as you take a tour of the historic Fort Kochi area. Be amazed by the Santa Cruz Basilica, one of the most impressive churches in all of Kerala. You will also take a walk back in time to visit the home of Vasca de Gama, a famous Portuguese explorer, as well as visiting the home of Kerala’s royal family and the Jewish Synagogue.
Make sure you don't miss the 'Chinese' fishing nets - one of the most easily recognisable symbols and attractions of Kerala set alongside a peaceful waterfront walk. If you ask nicely the fishermen will even let you have a go yourself! There is also the opportunity for plenty of shopping for colonial artifacts and souvenirs – get haggling!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner of traditional fare are included.
Today you’ll be up bright and early for your first day your project! Today is all about settling in and getting to know your way around. You’ll be accompanied to the project by a member of the i-to-i team who will make sure you know the way and introduce you to the staff and children. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the work you’ll be doing so don’t be shy! Be prepared to be the centre of attention as the children will be very curious and keen to get to know you!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Your next few days will be spent actively working with children and young people with special needs. Enjoy every minute as you get to know these inspirational children and get stuck into activities including singing songs, playing games, arts and crafts and music. The overall goal will be to keep the children and young adults happy, healthy and to help them to enjoy learning. Your typical day will be working from 9.30am to 3.30pm but you’re welcome to stay longer if you have the energy. You’ll be working alongside staff at the project and working with children either on a one to one or group basis.
Breakfast, a packed lunch and dinner is included each day.
All aboard! After breakfast you’ll be off on your serene picturesque boat cruise. You will have a tasty lunch on the boat and then start exploring the scenic backwaters. You will pass quaint villages, fisherman hard at work, women washing garments in the water, giggling children playing in the canals and running along the canal banks to keep up with you. You’ll then spend the night drifting silently along the lush canals as you dig into a traditional tasty dinner.
This is one of the main attractions of Kerala and offers a great insight into a way of life that is rapidly disappearing. Whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!
All your meals are included today.
After breakfast on the boat you will head back to your home stay in Kochi to relax and explore more of Cochin at your leisure. Home stays are a great way to get a unique insight into a different culture and to see more of a destination so spend time getting to know your hosts!
Later, it’s time to get dressed up in your finery as tonight you will be dazzled by traditional and theatrical Kerala dancing, martial arts and drama. Theatres of this kind are an important part of Kerala’s tradition so sit back and enjoy the evening!
All meals are included today.
Make the most of your last few days at the project as you spend this time engaging with them as much as your energy levels allow. There is no such thing as being too creative; invent new games, teach new songs and have a ball playing with these very special children and young people. The old saying definitely holds true here; the more you put in, the more you’ll get out.
All meals are included today.
Today it’s an early start as you journey to an elephant camp in time for their morning bath! You’ll see the mahouts (elephant keepers) bringing their elephants to the water and washing them, and you’ll even be able to get stuck in yourself and help with the bath! This is a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with these surprisingly graceful long-nosed animals.
Please bear in mind that these very big animals live in the village and in order to control them they are sometimes shackled at the feet. However, there is no cause for concern as the elephants are very well looked after and the mahouts are dedicated and love their animals very much.
Your afternoon will include a trip to Athirapally which is located 70km from Kodanad. You make your way through the stunning landscape on a short but tiring walk before finally arriving at the Athirapally waterfalls where a cool down in a rock pool is a must!
Next is a short drive to a local restaurant for lunch where you can admire the views of the Athirapally waterfalls. After lunch and you have the choice of just sitting back and admiring the views or taking a dip in the infinity pool to round off the day. Bring your swimming costume so you don’t have to miss out!
All meals are included today.
Today you will have another chance to enjoy the gorgeous backwaters, as you cruise along them in traditional boats, soaking up the atmosphere and relaxing. Meet the locals and enjoy a traditional Keralan lunch in a beautiful village setting.
All meals are included today.
Today is the day to buy all those last minute souvenirs. You’ll travel to bustling Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala, which is the perfect place to pick up some traditional gifts. Bring a sari home to your friends and be sure to stock up on miniature Hindu gods and bangle bracelets. Prepare to haggle!
All meals are included today.
Say your fond farewells to your new friends as today you will be transferred back to the airport for your journey home or on to your next adventure. Feel free to ask the in country team for some tips if you’re travelling on in India! A taxi back to the airport is a maximum of 1 hours ride and will cost round 700 rupees.
You are free to book your flight back at any point during the day, but we’d recommend an afternoon flight to give you enough time to get to the airport.
Meals can be included today if you need them before you head to the airport.
Please note that the order of the itinerary may vary slightly from trip to trip. All the explained activities will be included, although you may not follow this exact itinerary.
Note: Minimum numbers apply for this trip; please contact us for more information.
The nuns at the Cottolengo Special School help educate over 70 children and young people with special needs in the Kochi area. The aim of the school is to give these marginalised children and young people a chance at independence by teaching them basic life skills. The majority of the students have loving families and only attend school during the day, although several older female students also board at the convent and live and study at Cottolengo full time.
The main aim is to improve the quality of life for its students and provide a happy and loving environment for them. Cottolengo aims to help the children and young people become independent, valued members of society and also gives individual care to them. They also aim to encourage the productivity and expectations of the children by boosting their confidence and praising them in all they do.
If you were expecting a dull and dreary atmosphere and sorrow for the children and young adults, then we’re afraid you’ve come to the wrong place! Cottolengo is full of love and laughter and the dedicated nuns and happy children will give you a warm welcome and embrace you as part of their extended family.
Cottolengo has a main hall, several classrooms and a playground and play equipment outside. There are also physio and speech therapy departments and living quarters, although you will be based in the main school area during your time volunteering.
The nuns work tirelessly to give the children and young adults the best care possible and do a fantastic job. However, the small staff is often overwhelmed by the high demands of the children. Volunteers are a huge help and play an active role in taking care of the children and getting involved in a huge range of projects. Your presence also enables the nuns to spend valuable time with children who need one on one speech or physiotherapy, as well as being able to concentrate on the administration side of running the school.
No previous experience of work with special needs children and young people is required, but you must be flexible, have self-motivation and openness to a new culture and a willingness to learn. If you love children and want to make a difference to these special little people and young adults, you’ll have a ball at this project.
Your working hours will typically be from 9:30am to 3:30pm with a break for lunch, and you will be helping out and getting involved in a variety of activities that could include singing, dancing, playing games, teaching basic English, arts and crafts and anything else you can think of! You’ll also be helping out at lunchtime, supporting the children and young people who need help feeding themselves.
The nuns will allow you to plan your own activities and are very flexible and accommodating – if you have a special skill you’d like to organise or an activity you’d like to arrange, then go for it!
Whilst no two days will be the same on this project each day will be an adventure filled with new experiences and challenges. Your main task will be to keep the children and young adults happy, healthy and learning.
The school is under resourced but it gets by on a daily basis with what it has. What it really needs is man power and someone to give lots of cuddles and support to the children and to offer help to the existing team. The staff love their job and are extremely dedicated but rely on volunteers who can give them some help to get even better at what they do.
If you do make the decision to give resources in any way to the project, we would encourage you to wait until you get to Kerala before making your decision. Buying resources locally is very easy and means you can wait and see what is most needed, and ensures sustainability rather than bringing toys from overseas that can’t be replaced as easily. It also helps the economy if you buy local, as well as saving space in your luggage!
Please remember that you are a role model and working in a religious environment and should dress and behave appropriately. Keep your shoulders covered and wear trousers or skirts that are knee length or longer, and avoid tight or revealing clothing, or t-shirts with slogans that could cause offence.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
You’ll spend the majority of your time in Kerala staying in a locally run homestay accommodation in Thoppumpady, a small town just a short bus or rickshaw ride from the bustling tourist area of Fort Kochi. You’ll also spend a night on a houseboat, which will have twin bedrooms with showers and western-style toilets.
The homestay accommodation is used by all i-to-i volunteers in Kerala. Rooms are shared by two people of the same sex (although friends and couples of different sexes can also be accommodated easily) and each room has its own bathroom. There’s also a communal area where volunteers can eat and relax together.
Bedroom facilities will be on a twin sharing basis, and there will be plenty of storage space and a ceiling fan to keep you cool! A lockable draw will be provided in the accommodation for each volunteer to use.
Each bedroom has a bathroom with western style toilet, running hot water and a shower. You’ll be surprised at how your priorities change whilst away – hair straighteners have no place in India!
The communal area has comfortable seating, a large dining table and there’s even a television with English language channels! In addition, there’s a fridge for keeping your snacks and drinks cool, a kettle, sink and kitchen area for your use.
You will be provided with delicious traditional Indian-style meals every day. Don’t worry if you can’t handle the spice because you opt for the milder versions if you prefer (we won’t tell anyone!).Vegetarians are easily catered for since over 70% of Indians eat a mostly meat free diet. All you carnivores out there should prepare to eat a lot of veggies!
There is a laundry service at the homestay, and you can ask for your clothes to be washed for a tiny 5 rupees per item fee.
The homestay is based in Thoppumpady, a small town just a short bus or rickshaw ride from the bustling tourist area of Fort Kochi. Thoppumpady is a lovely town with all the facilities you need – internet cafes, shops and banks are within easy reach on foot.
Your journey to work each morning will take a maximum of 45 minutes. There’s a 20 minute bus journey followed by a short walk through Fort Kochi, along the beach and past the Chinese fishing nets. You’ll be accompanied by a member of the in-country team on the journey until you feel confident making it yourself, but you’ll have the company of your fellow volunteers so don’t worry, just enjoy the views on your commute!
The bus journey costs just 6 rupees, and if you prefer to travel in style by auto-rickshaw you should budget a maximum of 100 rupees (or cheaper if you’re prepared to haggle!).
For over 5000 years the subcontinent of India, has seen the rise and fall of a succession of great empires, regional states and colonial powers. The first great Indian empire-builders were the Harrapans (The Indus Valley Civilisation) who flourished across parts of modern-day India and Pakistan from around 3500BC. The Harrapans opened up trade routes with Mesopotamia, built carefully planned cities and developed a pantheon of deities that over the years morphed into the Hindu deities Shiva and Kali. After the Harrapans came the Aryans who developed the caste system and wrote the sacred Vedas (including the Upanishads and the Brahamanas). These philosophical teachings were instrumental in the development of Buddhism and Hinduism – the religious foundation stones of the Indian cultural psyche.
After a brief incursion by Alexander the Great in 326BC, the Mauryan Empire gained control of much of central, eastern and western India. The first Indian empire to embrace Buddhism, the Mauryan civilisation reached it’s peak under the guidance of Emperor Ashoka and a long period of political stability enabled the caste system to flourish and allowed many cultural and technological advancements to be made. During this time envoys were sent to Sri Lanka and Nepal to spread the word of Buddhism.
Over the next 1000 years many empires gained control of regions of India – the Gupta’s in central India, the Chola’s and The Vijayanagar Empire in the south – but it wasn’t until the emergence of the Islamic empire of the Mughals that the whole of India came under the control of one power.
The Mughals ushered in a golden age of art and architecture, and have left us with many of the most recognisable symbols of Indian grandeur and architectural excellence – Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal, Agra’s Red Fort and Hamuyan’s Tomb in Delhi. They ruled from the early 16th century until the rise of the British East India Company and the advent of European control of the Indian subcontinent.
After much jostling for position, the British emerged as the dominant colonial force in India. While Portugal held sway over parts of Goa and Kerala and the French had small colonies such as Pondicherry, British influence spread from the verdant valleys of Kashmir to southern shores of Tamil Nadu. India was now under British rule and would stay that way for over 150 years – the British Raj had been born.
The European colonisers exploited the many natural resources found in India and the excesses of the Raj were many and spectacular. Every summer, as the heat in the central plains grew unbearable and the streets of Delhi shimmered in the heat haze, the entire apparatus of government was moved more than 300km north to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. To this day Shimla - a strange little town perched high in the foothills of the Himalaya - resembles nothing quite so much as a Victorian English village - complete with parish church and fun fair!
The excesses of British rule created widespread resentment across India and a succession of uprisings and civil disputes lead to independence from British rule in 1947 and the partition of India and Pakistan. Following independence much blood was spilled as Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims tried to ensure their place in the uncertain future of the subcontinent. Many wars have since been fought between Pakistan and India and to this day the Kashmiri borders are still disputed and fought over. The pristine valleys and glacial lakes still reverberate to the sound of gunfire and army convoys ply their trade across the mountain passes of the Jammu and Kashmir.
India’s recent history has seen relative peace and since the recent earthquake that hit Pakistan and Indian Kashmir, relations between the two countries have greatly improved. Although poverty and deprivation are still endemic in India, economic strides are being made and India now has a reputation as one of the world’s leading e-business nations.
Due to the sheer size and the complex geography of the subcontinent, Indian weather is as complex as Indian history. While the people of the central plains are searching for shade and respite from the heat, the inhabitants of the Jammu and Kashmir are waiting for the last snows of winter to recede.
From as early as February the whole continent gradually begins to heat up and by May temperatures of 45C are commonplace. As the hot season drags on the country takes a collective deep breath and waits in anticipation of the south-west monsoon. When the monsoon finally hits, the hot, dry and dusty conditions are gradually replaced by intermittent heavy downfalls. It doesn’t rain all the time during monsoon, but it rains every day – heavy tropical showers are punctuated by warm sunshine that turns the parched subcontinent into something of a mudbath.
When the rains have finally cleared the country experiences a brief but beautiful spell of warm sunny weather. The period from October until around early February sees much of the country experiencing comfortable conditions that are ideal travelling weather for foreign visitors. That being said, in the far north (Kashmir, Ladakh and parts of Himachal Pradesh) winter has taken hold, snow covers the mountains and passes up into the Himalayan Plateau shut down as early as September 16th.
Travel in India is unlike anywhere else on the planet, the distances are huge, booking tickets can be tricky and comfort is often at a premium. If you are short on time or just don’t want the many hassles of travelling through India, flying can be a good option. Local airlines such as Deccan, Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Indian Airlines offer services to destinations across the country.
India is home to the world’s largest railway system and offers the resilient traveller some of the greatest rail journeys known to man. Journeys can be long - Delhi to Chennai comes in at around 30 hours – but when you travel by train in India you get to see the vast complexity and natural beauty of the subcontinent roll past in all its glory.
If you decide to travel by train, the complex issue of booking a ticket must be addressed. First you’ll need to decide what class you wish to travel in: this can be tricky. There are 6 classes: 1st Class air-con (1A), 2-tier air-con (2A), 3-tier air-con (3A), chair car (CC), Sleeper (SL) and Second (II). For short journeys second is adequate, unless it’s really hot then it’s well worth paying for chair car. For longer journeys sleeper offers a cheap option with the added bonus of being able to mingle with the Indian masses. When the majority of Indians travel long distances by train, sleeper is their class of choice. Much has been said and written about the pitfalls of travelling by sleeper, but in my experience, it is the best way to truly experience Indian rail travel. 1A, 2A and 3A are more comfortable, but significantly more expensive and you’re less likely to strike up conversation with ordinary Indians. Whatever class you decide to travel in, you will need to pop down to the train station and book yourself a ticket. I won’t go into to much detail, but suffice to say, it’s probably best to put half a day aside for this little errand. Ah, the many joys of India!
Travelling India by bus and coach can require an almost saintly forbearance and an extremely hard backside. Short journeys by bus are great (if a little hair-raising) but for longer distances I’d suggest you jump on a train or a plane. The journey from Leh to Manali will see you sat in a rickety old bus for 2 whole days negotiating some of the highest motorable passes in the world on roads that seem more suitable for mountain goats that mass transport. That being said it is a spectacular journey and is will leave you feeling that you have really travelled.
When travelling within a state, bus travel is fine. Buses serve all major cities and often stop off at small towns and villages (and at shops owned by friends of the driver) along the way. On long journeys you may well be charged around ten rupees for having your baggage stored inside the bus. Although this is a little cheeky and can be a little annoying (the charge seems to apply only to foreign travellers), it is important to remain polite and to remember that the baggage handlers on the buses have much less money than you do.
Many buses have a small shrine to their deity of choice perched precariously on the dashboard and often make stops at roadside temples to make offerings. If asked for a few rupees to help with the offering, my advice would be to dig deep and hand over a few coins; bus travel in India can be a dangerous business and it can’t hurt to have a little divine protection!
Travelling by tuk-tuks, cabs and rickshaws is a great way to travel around cities, although care must be taken. It is imperative that you agree on a price before you set off and don’t be afraid to haggle: if your driver says the price is 100 rupees, knock them down to about 70 and you’ll be getting a half decent foreigner-price. Travel by taxi is the most expensive, tuk-tuks are a little cheaper (but just as fast) and bicycle rickshaws are cheap and slow. Drivers will often try to take you to shops, hotels and restaurants where they receive a commission. Unless you really like the driver and don’t mind being over-charged, it’s best to refuse firmly but politely. When travelling in Mumbai, travel by taxi can be tricky. Taxi journeys are metered, but the meters are very out of date. Ensure that the meter is at zero when you start and make sure that the driver has an official tariff card in the car. When you arrive at your final destination, you’ll need to work out the price by comparing the price on the meter with the tariff card. It’s a pretty simple operation, but unscrupulous drivers often try to overcharge unsuspecting tourists and will insist that they don’t know what the tariff card is. As with all things in India, be polite and remain calm.
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.
State owned domestic airline which offers competitively priced flights to destinations across India.
300 daily flights to 44 destinations across the country. Also good for flights to Sri Lanka.
Good quality budget airline. Nice food on the flights too.
www.indianrail.gov.inTrain information, ticket reservation and general info for train travel in India. The reservation service saves a lot of time and hassle… when it works!
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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