Interview with Claire: Women Empowerment in Jaipur
Claire came with Iko Poran to Jaipur, to work with a women empowerment project. She felt, she could offer something special for women who are illiterate and who have almost no opportunity to do something outside home. When Claire left the USA, she had something special in mind. She had already sent a few sewing machines to Jaipur, and would see, if the women would like to learn sewing. During the project, Claire showed them how to make sanitary pads. But there is so much more to such a project. When Claire realized, her host family treated here like their own daughter, she felt so happy. As she, says, they called her their “Queen”. Listen to Claire’s interview and get some inspiration for your own projects!
Interview with Claire Herbert, about here experience in Jaipur:
Claire, can you tell me, why did you come to India?
Claire: I came to India, because I thought it was a country that had the most of what I could offer. It was so much equity to India, I never traveled this far and I have never been to India before. But when I looked in to the program, and I read the description, and I was send the powerpoint, I got a full view of what I was seeing here. And I realized, this was exactly, what I wanted to do. If I had done an orphanate job, or something else, it would have been anywhere as meaningful.
What project did you choose, and what have you done during your project?
My project was the Women Empowerment project at the public school in Jaipur. That women empowerment project is designed to help women who have nothing, illiterate, and have no opportunity going outside of their home. So bring them here, teach them what it is, they want to learn. We started with just English, but as we got a couple of sewing machines here, that I had sent here, we changed our plan, and I was started, doing an hour of… or two hours of English each day, but we switched it to one hours of English and one hours of sewing. Once they learned sewing, they wanted to do sewing all the time. (laughs) But I still kept English for just a few of them, that really could use the English as well.
How has been your experience with them?
Boy, my experience with the group is probably beyond what I could have been expected. I think, it’s not just coming to the project every day to work, but staying with the host family was key for me. Uhm, I had the ability to stay with a host family tha basically adopted me, and made me a member of the family. The accommodated every request, they also said, I was the queen of the family.
My last question, Claire, please can you tell me three ways to describe, the India, that you’ve seeing here?
The India that is here, or…
…that you have seen…
That I have seen? Just chaos, is one. But I would say, quite beauty, another, that’s just two words, but that’s too bad. Because there is beauty in every heart and in every corner, but there is just só much to discover. I think, also, embracing the culture, and expected it to be chaotic, there is so much beauty around.
Happy volunteers after a barbecue in Rio de Janeiro
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Iko Poran runs it’s own projects in Rio de Janeiro, and therefore is most affordable. The local staff is always available and will guide you through your volunteer experience. Nathan and Lindsey from USA, first went for a volunteer trip to Argentina and worked on a building for a community, and then to Rio, for sports volunteering.
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Colombia – Free Volunteering!
If you are looking to volunteer for cheap, there is nothing better than a free program! Teach English in Ibagué, and explore this fascinating country!
Rio de Janeiro – Cidade Maravilhosa – An authentic trip to the wonderful city and unbelievable affordable
Iko Poran runs it’s own projects in Rio de Janeiro, and therefore is most affordable. The local staff is always available and will guide you through your volunteer experience. Nathan and Lindsey from USA, first went for a volunteer trip to Argentina and worked on a building for a community, and then to Rio, for sports volunteering.
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Ecuador – Immersion in a Community in the Andean Cloud Forest – some of the cheapest volunteer trips!
Ming from China never will forget the smiles on the faces of the children at school. She has been teaching English and enjoyed her stay with her host family. There are also environmental projects in the cloud forest available, or you dive into an experience with local arts and crafts, developing your creativity.
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South Africa – Make a Dream Come True, volunteer for cheap in this wonderful country!
A dream came true for Isabella from Brazil, when she first went to Cape Town, to care for the children at Doreen’s Crèche. A volunteer trip to South Africa is much cheaper, than you may think!
Michel teaching Samba for the Children at a Daycare in South Africa
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India – Exciting Volunteer Projects and a Week of Free Cultural Activities!
When Odette Crisp from Australia came to Jaipur, she was overwhelmed by the Indian culture. In the first week, she took part in many free cultural activities, including Yoga, learning Hindi, baking chapati. There was even a dance workshop! Having this in mind, this trip is really cheap regarding everything which is offered. Then Odette started teaching English to children and to women. Claire soon followed in the women empowerment project, and now even a woman from Colombia wants to come and help the women in Jaipur.
Teaching at school in India: Patricia and Rui from Portugal
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Lailana from Australia caring for children in India
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Argentina – Community Building, Football Coaching and more at very affordable prices!
In this last chapter, we come back to Nathan and Lindsey who started their trip in Buenos Aires. Read here about the exciting experiences. If you are into football, Argentina is the country! Coach boys and girls at school, and maybe, even discover a new Messi.
Lucy and Takara serving Meals for children and families in Buenos Aires
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A week of Cultural Activities in India for our Volunteers in Jaipur
During the first week of your stay as a volunteer in India, we have included cultural activities and incredible trips in Jaipur for you. Since we want to introduce you to the Indian culture, we offer Hindi classes, Yoga classes, a dance workshop and more. You will even learn to bake chapati.
Heena Tattoo Workshop
Odette Crisp from Australia took part in the cooking workshop, learned Indian dances and even made chapati for an elephant.
You will learn about religion as well, experience Holi and Diwali celebrations, and even draw Mandalas! With this short introduction to India and the “Pink City”, as Jaipur referred to, we believe, you are ready to go ahead with your volunteer project.
Have a look at some of the recent volunteer experiences in India
Teaching at school in India: Patricia and Rui from Portugal
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Lailana from Australia caring for children in India
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Find out more about volunteering in India
Visit our page with the volunteer projects in India, read about experiences of our volunteers and choose your project.
Claire starts her Women Empowerment Project in India
Claire Herbert is starting her Women Empowerment project in Jaipur. She has already made her observation visit to the school where the women empowerment project runs. Find here some of the pictures from her arrival, traditional welcome and project.
Claire's first day
Claire is Donating Sewing Machines for the Project
She donated sewing machines to the project and will be teaching English and stitching to the women. Within stitching she will be passing her skills of making sanitary pads-a very common hygiene issue here in India as poor women can’t afford them.
Odette’s Experience with the Women Empowerment Project
Odette Crisp, from Australia, traveled to India, and worked as a volunteer on women empowerment in Jaipur with IKPVA. In this interview she tells us, how she had the idea to do something different, apart from tourist travel as usual. Before departure, she shaved her hair to raise funds for the women and the children who were her beneficiaries. When she arrived in India and met the women, she found out pretty soon, that what they wanted most, was to learn English. She ended up falling in love with India and had an amazing experience with the women in Jaipur.
Feel inspired to volunteer in India?
You can find the women’s rights project in India on our Iko Poran’s official homepage, and how to sign up.
Visit our page with the full program information about volunteer work in India, and proceed with your application.
Read more testimonials from our volunteers with Women’s Empowerment:
Karen’s Volunteer Trip to India: Friendly People, Solid Organisation, Unique Experience!
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Iko Poran Women’s Empowerment Project India – AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
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Interview with Claire: Women Empowerment in Jaipur
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Women Empowerment in Jaipur – Interview with Odette Crisp
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Odette Crisp volunteering on Women Empowerment in India
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