I have just returned from spending 6 weeks volunteering with the Women's Empowerment Project.This project was very enjoyable. This is an afterschool program where young girls aged 7 to 13 come to improve their English and computers skills outside of mainstream education. The hours of volunteering were quite short , only 3 hours a day, that was out of volunteers control as it is afterschool ( 3 to 6) and I suppose teaching is quite limited to those hours. So volunteers must make good use of there time teaching.
I had an amazing teaching assistant who was there throughout my whole time with Sankalp. She supported me in my teaching and provided guidance concerning topics to introduce. She really was a lovely person and I felt she made my time with the charity run very smoothly. I had the opportunity to teach the girls important topics such as body image and peer pressure. Whatever skill or topic you are interested in teaching the girls check with Pranay or Amita first , and Asha ( teaching assistant) but really volunteers are encouraged to teach different topics. The only negative thing I can say is that supplies at this project are non existent. Myself and another volunteer had to buy materials for a lesson as there was nothing there for paints and crafts. I would suggest to the charity buying more paints and craft materials and locking these away after each use at the project, so that the girls can get good use from them.
The volunteer accommodation:
The accommodation provided by Sankalp is basic but homely. Beds are comfortable and the house has many recreational areas. Food provided by the house manager was really tasty and plentiful.
The house is located away from the tourist area in Jaipur which was great as it was safe and had a small neighborhood feel.
I would recommend the Women's Empowerment Project to future volunteers .
I must advise future volunteers to manage there expectations when they do arrive. There is WiFi which was intermittent, there is no heating and no washing facilities, but these are small petty things which do not reflect upon Sankalp.
Do volunteer with this charity and have a life changing experience.