Heads-up for students: Opt for community-driven internships this summer
What's the story
Internships are increasingly becoming important for students. But what if you could help an entire community while adding to your marks?
You could get trained in Kangra style of architecture to make mud-and-water houses, or build composting toilets, or teach students at 7,500ft.
This list of community-driven programs, which are also open to non-students, will enrich your life in more ways than one.
Ready?
Dharmalaya's internship is on building sustainable homes using mud, water
Himachal Pradesh-based Dharmalaya Institute offers an internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture, where architects and architecture students learn how to build Kangra-style sustainable homes using mud and stone, primarily.
There is a process through which students get selected for this physically-taxing program.
For applying, one must complete two years in a college-level degree program related to architecture, art, engineering, design, ecology, sustainability-related studies, or social studies.
Strict culture
Full expenses on you, mandatory commitment of minimum 4 months
The self-funded program that would be held during June 12-29 requires one to commit for four to 12 months.
The training will be in two parts: workshops and practice periods.
They have a strict work culture, which might not leave you a lot of time to explore the beauty of Himachal.
But Dharmalaya guarantees you will emerge a better and stronger person.
Haji Public school
Haji Public School in J&K: Volunteer to teach, learn, stay
Want to volunteer to teach at a school located above 7,500ft?
Head to Haji Public School (pictured) in Jammu and Kashmir, which would give you the scope to teach as well as learn the local culture of Breswana in Doda district.
You'll be provided free meals and boarding in the village for 3-months or more.
An English-medium and privately-owned school, it follows J&K syllabus.
What ambience!
Apart from academics, students learn music, movies, sports and more
The school was started in 2009 with just 35 pupils; now it has grown to over 450.
All 20 teachers of this school are volunteers and they not only teach letters or numbers to students but also train them in music, movies, theatre, sports and games among others.
The roads leading up to the school aren't even motorable, but the ambience is so serene!
Social work
How about building toilets to help a whole village?
Want to do something for the core rural population? How about building toilets for them?
A group in an Uttarakhand village enables you to do that.
ROSE along with JPGU are doing loads of work for the villagers of Sunargoan.
If you wish to volunteer, you'll be roped in to build twin-tank toilets, where it'd produce compost that can also be used in farming.
Why wait?
Any person with any skill will do for Uttarakhand-based Aarohi
Active in 57 villages and catering to 34,000 villagers, Uttarakhand-based organization Aarohi wants volunteers from all professional verticals, be it from health-care, art, teaching or administration.
They believe that anyone with any skill can bring a change, and involve volunteers in a variety of social work.
Built in 1992 by Oona Sharma and Dr. Sushil Sharma, Aarohi has made countless villagers self-reliant and skilled.