India: Trivandrum School and Orphanage

Introduction:

Muttathara School Building

How would you like to do something to really make a difference and enjoy the beauty of nature at the same time? If yes, then our two small schools with 4 resident orphans in Trivandrum may be just the place for you.

Orphans walking on the beach

Environment:

Our Muthathara and Palkulangra Schools are located 20 minutes apart in residential areas of Trivandrum, a beautiful town in southern Kerala which is famous for its backwaters - salt water rivers that run into the sea, flanked by picturesque villages.

Muthathara School is only 15 minutes drive from the airport and beach,
and it is lovely to go down there in the evening for a walk along the shore near the fishermen's huts. With many beautiful beaches nearby and Kanya Kumari, the famous rock in the sea, only a couple of hours drive away, Trivandrum is a great place to be.

Two of our volunteers even managed a two hour elephant ride in their free time!

Wow! How did you manage that, Jesse?

Project Director Under management:

Young and enthusiastic, Didi Manojaya, our Muthathara school principal, is extremely vivacious. Her sparkling personality, warmth and generous hospitality will capture your heart. Hardly older than most volunteers, she will be a very charming companion to care for you and guide you on all your adventures.

Muttathara teaching area

Volunteer Coordinator

Malati is orginally from England, but has been working in India for over 15 years, learning about the culture, the languages and about the people. Ten years ago she started a programme to help provide infrastructure to struggling village schools and has since arranged funds for many schools to help them to become self-sufficient.

Accommodation:

Female volunteers can be ccommodated free at our Muthathara School while couples can rent a beautiful room with private bathroom in front of the school for around US $ 55 per month. The room owner's family are also extremely welcoming and will want to take you around everywhere if you give them the chance.

What do we need?

We prefer female volunteers or a couple. You must have a good, moral character and respect the local culture.

Students in class

How you can help:

When you stay with us, you will become a member of our small family for the time you are there, sharing our joys and sorrows, learning about our culture and teaching us about yours. We will give you a place in
our hearts, and when you leave us, we will never forget you and will request you to come back year after year.

In India rote learning is the norm and children learn to read and write English but not speak it. So both schools would like you to teach spoken English to their children, as well as songs, games, drama and share any other skills you have.
After school you may be requested to help with homework and teach the
orphans and didis more English.

Volunteers talking to their students

If you wish, you can learn to cook Indian style and help out in the kitchen when you are free, or take the orphans out on an occasional excursion...they will love that! If you can help with fundraising for the development of the two schools, your efforts will also be deeply appreciated. In return we will teach you Indian dance, songs and yoga too, if you wish to learn.

Classroom at Palkulangra.

What to expect:

You will be asked to teach at both schools on different days of the week. Palkulangra School has around 70 children and is located in a rented building that is really basic - it used to be a horse stable and
is in need of lots of repairs. The schoolchildren belong to poor families such as rickshaw pullers, taxi drivers, and market sellers.

Two of the orphans live at the school with Didi Samshuddha, the school principal, while the other two live at Muthathara. Muthathara School has around 90 children and is located in a building owned by the
school. However, facilities are really basic there too and the school is also in need of repair and painting.

The only school materials are a lackboard, some charts and the school course books. Palkulangra School also boasts a single, somewhat worn, computer.

Zoe teaching the orphans



Zoe teaching class

Read a recent volunteer's experience here