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:
- Stay in-office for emergency ambulance calls
- Join the ambulance team to rescue bird/s
- Treat the birds and take care of them
- Feed the birds and give water to them
- If volunteer has the relevant vet background then provide injections, healing and medical treatment will be a part of the volunteer’s work
- Assist the NGO in the environmental projects writing proposals, supporting the social media team, advocacy events and campaigns and more as per expertise
- Program Base: Jaipur
- Project duration: 1- 24 Weeks
- Joining dates: Throughout the year
- Arrival date: Saturday or Sunday are preferable, if not weekdays will be managed
- Arrival airport : Jaipur
- Beneficiaries: Injured Birds
- Working days: Monday to Friday, Weekends are off
- Total volunteer hours: 02:00 PM – 05:30 PM
- Weekends: Free to do sightseeing or travel
- Requirements: basic knowledge of English
- 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