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For the kind and caring individuals who are thinking of volunteering at the Himalaya Orphanage, we have put together a few details to help you understand the operation of the organization.
The plan is to provide housing for approximately 20-25 little children. At the moment, we have 9 children ages 4-11 years. If all goes well we hope to reach our capacity of 20 children by the end of the year. Volunteering at the Himalaya Orphanage
Construction of the building has been completed, staff have been hired and children are living in the orphanage. Now that the operation is running smoothly, we hope to welcome our first volunteers in the next few months.
We anticipate that a volunteering stint will last from 1 to 2 months. We believe that 1 month is the minimum required time to establish a relationship with the children and to accomplish anything meaningful. Volunteers are responsible for the cost of their airfare, as well as their entertainment and transportation expenses while staying at the orphanage. The Himalaya Orphanage will provide food and accommodation in the orphanage in exchange for the work of volunteers. Volunteers should make sure that all required immunizations are completed prior to arrival. They are also responsible for ensuring that medical insurance is in place for the duration of their stay. The Himalaya Orphanage can accommodate two (2) volunteers at any given time. Volunteers must confirm their plans to work at the Himalaya Orphanage with the organization prior to arrival. Volunteers may not show up unannounced. We will send volunteers a confirmation email setting out the dates and terms of their stay. Transport & Leisure
As stated elsewhere, the orphanage is in a suburb of Chandigarh called Panchkula. Chandigarh itself has a population of approximately one million people. It has a well-developed public transport network that includes public buses. The city is a bustling metropolis with several cinemas, theatres, markets and shops, and sights to visit. Chandigarh has two satellite cities which share its borders, one of which is Panchkula.
The heart of Panchkula is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Chandigarh. It is a very safe environment. The city has a population of about 200,000 people. Panchkula is a bustling city in its own right with several restaurants (including worldwide chain restaurants), movie theatres, a library and a public bus system. The orphanage itself is located in a quiet suburb with limited access to public transport. Those who are so inclined can also bike to the various areas. We hope to have two bicycles so volunteers can use them (and teach the children how to ride them). Volunteers should be aware that the only adults permitted on the Himalaya Orphanage site are staff and volunteers. For safety and security reasons, no other adults will be permitted on the premises. Volunteers will presumably arrive at the airport in Delhi or the bus station in Chandigarh. They will have to arrange to make their own way to the orphanage in Panchkula, and staff at the Himalaya Orphanage will give clear directions on how to do this. There are public buses as well as taxis and private cars at the airport. The car ride from Delhi Airport to Panchkula takes about 5 hours, whereas ride from Chandigarh Bus Depot to the orphanage in Panchkula takes about 30 minutes. Schooling The children will be taught in Hindi. They will learn English from Pearl Kaushal and any volunteers who are available. Those volunteers with a teaching background will appreciate how quickly children learn another language, especially through games and songs. Plans For Teaching
Getting supplies to Panchkula has proven to be a bit tricky. The original plan was to send a container to Mumbai, then have a truck deliver it to our orphanage, This has several logistical problems (the container remaining in Mumbai due to government red tape and the contents becoming mildewed or rusted in the process). So we are slowly bringing supplies from Canada and buying most of the items locally. Since volunteers will be arriving with their own agendas concerning teaching the children, we thought a few suggestions may help.
If, for example, a volunteer were to plan on teaching the children to knit, it would be helpful if the individual could notify us in advance. That way we could either obtain the materials in India or supply funds for the materials to the individual to bring over. If the volunteer were to teach sports, the same procedure would apply. So far we have several top-notch soccer balls, but no net (we DO have uniforms!). For these reasons, we require a sketch of the volunteer’s plans for teaching the children so that we can arrange for the required materials. We have been given some excellent reading/writing materials which will be in place by September. We would love to have someone teach music to the children (i.e. instruments). And gardening. And cooking. And crafts. And dance. And sewing. And lots of games and sports. The list is endless. Facilities
The orphanage itself is four stories high, as you can see from the photos. There is a small area in front for a garden (which, hopefully, the children can care for). In the backyard, there is scrub grass and a few small trees. Hopefully this area can be used for games and sports. The bottom floor will be a games/study area for the children. It will be nice and cool in the hot weather. The second floor will be the living quarters for Permod, Vinod and Pearl Kaushal and any other family members who will be there at various times of the year. Down the hall will be the living quarters for volunteers. These individuals will have a bedroom with twin beds, and a private bath (shower, toilet, sink). Water for bathing will not be heated in the summer, but will be heated during the winter. Volunteers will also have access to the internet and a television.
Food
The food will be Indian food, mostly or all vegetarian. The volunteers will eat with the children, along with their caregivers. A cook(s) will provide the meals. There will be plenty of food with lots of fruit. Dinner in India usually is eaten late in the evening; for our children we will have to change that time to accommodate their schedule. Our drinking water will be filtered and will be completely drinkable at all times.
Weather
Chandigarh has a sub-tropical continental monsoon climate characterized by a seasonal rhythm: hot summers, slightly cold winters, unreliable rainfall and great variation in temperature (0 °C to 46.5 °C). In winter, frost sometimes occurs during December and January.
As most of you know the summer temperatures can be scorching, reaching the thirties for months at a time. The monsoon in July & August will relieve that somewhat and the orphanage will be equipped with fans and coolers. Since the children will be sleeping on the top floor it is important that they be comfortable in the heat. Clothing
The children will probably wear traditional Indian clothing (especially if they are 12-year-old girls). It is assumed that female volunteers will dress modestly and this may be difficult in the hot summer. Because we will not be in Delhi and the general population will be quite conservative it is recommended that women do not wear shorts or short skirts. Synthetic fabrics will be very hot and simple cotton clothes will probably work best. We will have someone to do the washing daily so changing clothes will not be a problem.
Welcome!
So, to wrap up this information, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to anyone who will be coming to work with our children. We are learning bit by bit as we go along so for the first little while things may be slightly chaotic, but in a short time all will be running smoothly. It’s wonderful to be a part of such an endeavor.
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