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The project was set up in 2003, by our Asia Director Richard Venning with the help of our local representative, Tendup, as well as guidance from Major Lyangsong Tamsang (President of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association). We are the only organisation that offers projects in this region so it is a unique experience. We interview all volunteers and discuss the project in great detail, they are also given documents about what to expect on their project from communities, school life, living with their host families to how the Lepchas respect their environment.
On arrival there is a group induction course based at the Chitrey Wayside Inn, just outside Kalimpong, to introduce them to India. Major Lyansong Tamsang (President of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association) is present during the course to talk to the volunteers about the Lepchas and their history. Volunteers are also encouraged to learn basic Nepali (the local language, along with Hindi) so they can integrate into the community.
We have strong links in the Lepcha community and we are privileged to be able to offer volunteering projects in this region. We employ local representatives to support our projects and place volunteers in home-stay accommodation, providing these families with a source of income to cover food and accommodation for volunteers. By teaching at the Lepcha ‘Night Schools’ twice a day, volunteers help boost children's confidence in English at their village primary or secondary school. This project allows volunteers to experience a unique culture and help to keep Lepcha traditions alive.
Any families hosting volunteers are all grateful to have their help. They see the benefits to their children and others in the village. Any problems for the communities or volunteers are dealt with Tendup. Every year we send volunteers to the Lepchas and so all communities are aware of whom our volunteers are and what they have come to do.
Local children benefit from extra English lessons, two volunteers fondly remember one of their pupils called Dawaden who would barely speak and could not read but has now excelled. He has learnt to read with the help of these volunteers who took the time to do extra lessons with him. He is now doing really well and after their recent visit to the village discovered him reading newspapers in English and talking to them about the news and explaining the Ghorkaland movement! Through the Lepcha night schools locals are able to pass on their customs, culture and history to help keep their traditions alive. Host families receive payments to host the volunteers.
Our long terms goals are to increase numbers of volunteers to this region and so we can provide more help at the Lepcha Night Schools. The extra English lessons provided by volunteers at these ‘cultural schools’ are a huge benefit for the children attending the local primary schools or the one secondary school in the region. Their confidence with English has grown enormously, and has been recognised by the President of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association.
Our charitable arm has donated funds to St Josephs, the only Secondary school in the region, so they could build extra classrooms and accommodate students up to the age of 16. Thus avoiding pupils having to attend costly boarding Schools in Kalimpong. There are many volunteers that choose to go on to fundraise for the Lepchas – donating school equipment, helping with funds for new or improved classrooms/facilities, and sponsoring children through education. For example last year Alex Jack cycled the Manali-Leh Highway in Ladakh to raise £5000 for classroom materials and equipment for 6 Lepcha schools.
Living with the Lepchas is a simple way of life - apart from some ginger and spice that they grow in tiny terraced fields in valleys of spectacular beauty, they farm just enough for their food needs. They certainly have much to teach the world about how to live in harmony with its surroundings and encourage volunteers to adopt their outlook. With no running water or electricity volunteers will learn to appreciate these luxuries we take for granted in the Western World.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
