Program Dates: July 20th – August 27th, 2010
Program Fee: $1899
(including all group meals, transportation, accommodation, excursions, etc.)
(excluding flight)
Fundraising Donation: $1000

Operation Groundswell is excited to announce OG India 2010. Namaste and Vannakam! These greetings in two of India’s most widely used languages, Hindi and Tamil, are just a few of the many amazing things that participants will learn in India in the summer of 2010.

After a pre-departure orientation in Toronto, the group will fly together to Chennai, India for the in-country orientation. The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai will show the group one of the most developed areas of South India.

The next stop will be a two-week stay at the Sadhana Forest located in Auroville, Pondicheery. The Sadhana Forest started its ecological revival and sustainable living work in 2003. The vision of its founders is to transform 70 acres of severely eroded, arid land on the outskirts of Auroville. In the spirit of human unity, their aim is to introduce a growing number of people to sustainable living. Their energy and resources are focused on the creation of a vibrant, indigenous Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF). Participants will work Monday-Thursday from sunrise to midday (because its much too hot after that). We also plan to take a trip to the beautiful landscapes of Kerala, a neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.

The group will then head north to the largest geographical state in India known as Rajasthan. This historical and culturally rich state will provide participants with a taste of the ancient Indian way of life. Here we will be working in the city of Ajmer, about 2 hours from the capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur. We will work for two weeks with the Sudhan Subha, an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of the economically compromised. Participants will have various options of places to work, such as, the Mayani hospital (which it runs), a social home dedicated to women in need, a local elementary school, and an orphanage.

While in the northern part of India, we plan to embark upon one of wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, approximately 5-6 hours from Ajmer, this man-made masterpiece will surely be a breathtaking.

After completing both placements, participants will begin Independent Travel Time (ITT) – a staple of all Operation Groundswell programs. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if desired but most participants chose to travel in pairs or groups in previous years. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants will be given emergency contact numbers of the trip leaders during ITT for advice and any safety concerns

It will then unfortunately be time to depart, but before doing so, we will travel to the capital of India, Delhi. Home to the 2010 Commonwealth games, Delhi will definitely be one of India’s most rocking cities. The group debrief known as the ‘Disorientation’ will allow everyone to share their personal experiences and discuss plans for the future.

For more info on how to apply, please visit the Apply page