Short term volunteer travel programme in India
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our project in India is led by our local partners Ibex Expeditions, who are committed to being environmental caretakers and seek to attain high standards of `minimum impact tourism'. Ibex has signed the Himalayan Code of Conduct issued by the Himalayan Environment Trust whose Trustees include Late Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Chris Bonington, Junko Tabei, Rheinhold Messner, Maurice Herzog & Capt MS Kohli. Ibex led the formation of the PATA India Chapter Environmental Code and are members of The International Ecotourism Society.
The Ibex Directors are members of the World Wide Fund for Nature, India, the Bombay Natural History Society and other Environmental NGO‘s. Ibex is the first company in India that became a UIAA environment label holder and time and effort is put in engaging in several forums nationally and internationally for the cause of eco sensitive travel.
All clients are made aware of the pledge to allow an `open audit' system by the client displaying sincerity towards this cause.
The pledge below reflects a travel ethic which the conscientious traveler joins for long term sustainability.
•Limit Deforestation: We will not create open fires and discourage others from doing so. Where water can only be heated by scarce firewood, we will try not to use it so that villagers may utilize it for their livelihood. Wherever possible, we will choose accommodation that uses kerosene or fuel-efficient fire-wood stoves.
•Plant Saplings: We will take saplings and encourage our tourists to help plant them near our campsites or off the trails.
•Non-biodegradable Garbage: We will leave campsites clean and take back all non biodegradable litter to the road head/ towns for proper disposal. We will only bury
biodegradable food waste.
•Keep Local Water Clean: Toilet facilities will be pitched at least 30 metres away from the water source and all waste will be covered properly. We will not allow detergents to be used in streams and springs.
•Plants left in their Natural Environment: We will not take away cuttings, seeds and roots that are illegal in many parts of the Himalayas.
•Respect Local Cultures: We will promote the appreciation and preservation of religious places and local villages by never allowing clients to buy religious objects or heirlooms from remote villages.
•Alternate Source of Energy for Fuel: Where possible, we will convert to solar power such as solar lanterns, solar cookers etc.
•Stationery & Other Publicity material on Recycled Paper: We will introduce/increase the use of recycled/hand made paper for our stationer and other publicity items such as brochures, etc.
Community
In recent times, many of our clients have expressed an interest in engaging in the communities of the destinations they visit, and learning more about the local environment and the challenges faced by the host country.
We have tailor-made a number of volunteer experiences which involve clients participating in the projects we support throughout the world. All of our projects are locally managed and have been created by local communities, for the benefit of the local community. Any support given by our volunteers will compliment local labour and resources and not compromise them. The objective of this volunteer travel initiative is to offer an experience which will be mutually beneficial for both host and visitor.
Working closely with our partners people and places we ensure that our clients are well-prepared and have a clear understanding of the project they are about to engage in. We aim to match the skills and experiences of the volunteers with the needs of the various projects we offer to ensure that a meaningful experience is enjoyed by all involved.
It is important that our preparation process is mutually beneficial, insofar as both the volunteer and the project are furnished with useful information on the other party. We have an in-depth conversation with the volunteer to understand as much about their professional skills and personal experiences as is relevant. All clients must undertake a Criminal Records Bureau check as many of our projects involve working within a childcare initiative. We furnish all of our volunteers with information about the local culture and the local community, including basic language skills. We set the client’s expectations regarding his or her engagement in the project and tell them about the project’s history, its objectives and how it operates.
We share information about the traveller with our local project managers so that each party is able to make the most of the volunteer experience. Due diligence is undertaken on each of our projects to ensure financial accountability and transparent, effective governance.
By working with local people you can inspire and be inspired - sharing skills and leaning valuable lessons. In Deogarh you will learn how the Rawat family (the local royal family) are working with local schools to build a better community and will engage in income-generation initiatives for the schools as well as meeting many of the parents and local dignitaries.
