Other Information:-
Laundry and water: you can use water for washing once in a day .Drinking water and 2 hours/day wifi available ( maximum 4 person at a time) are available in house. Please cooperate with the local members.
Medical : All volunteers are requested to look after their own medical expenses and other personal expenses(transportation, medical cost, medicine cost, communicational cost, gift, toilet papers, laundry, drinks or anything that are not mentioned in the living cost section will be volunteers’ own responsibility) . Volunteers are also requested to carry your own medical and travel insurances.
Water: Please do not waste water / electricity.
Weekends : Free, You are welcome to travel nearby places but you are requested to join the Monday morning project on time.
Weekends attraction: Darjeeling, Bodh gaya, Puri, Sundarban, Digha etc.
Hospitals: There are many good hospitals available near center kolkata ie: Woodlands [24567075-89]; Bell vue Nursing Home[Ph: 2472321].
Tourist Information centre: 22289898.
Railway Booking centre: Foreigner Reservation Counter at Fairlie place near BBD Bag,very near from Esplanade area,Ph: 22206811 ;
Airport : Netaji Suvash Chandra International Airport ,Kolkata[ 8 km away from SMILE office and your accommodation].
Weekend Trip: There are many weekend trips organized (against extra cost) by our travel partners. For more details please contact your camp In charge Ms. Kamala.
Head Office location: It is located at Madhyamgram ,which is around 20 k.m away from the centre kolkata but just 8 km away from the Airport.
Accommodation : Madhyamgram ( 20 km away from center kolkata).
Nearest Rail Station: Madhyamgram
Nearest Bus stand: Madhyamgram
Nearest Market : Just 1.5 km away from the accommodation. There are some western type of markets also available ie: A.C Market, Forum, city centre , New Market around Esplanade and park street etc.
Tourist places: Museum, Victoria Memorial Hall, Kali ghat [ Goddess kali temple],Maidan, Howrah Bridge, Ganges River[ Most pious river among Hindus] etc.
Internet & Phone : There are many internet café and phone booth at city centre..
Introduction: When you are volunteering with SMILE, you are joining a family of fellow volunteers and NGO staff. Everyone is considered equal, and we are all committed to helping each other and most importantly, helping children. Cleaning room,toilet,dining place,living building are mandatory for every volunteer.
Transportation : You will have to use the local available group transportation organised for the camp during your term. Airport transfer would be available as per information.
Emergency Contact :- 00919830150249,
[email protected]
Orientation: Soon after the Volunteer arrive , they will be taken to host family place for orientation and to get refresh and take bit of rest before the orientation meeting take place. After the Orientation meeting volunteer will be transferred to their room.
There would be 2 days of orientation.
First day theoretical and second day practical orientation would be given.
Services that will be offered to all volunteers :---
1. 3 times local veg food (organized by the local service providers).
2. Shared /dormitory accommodation ,non Air cond. (simple type living standard either at hotel/guest house/school building /community house/host family as per available on arrival organized through the local service providers).
3. Airport pickup (volunteers are requested to meet our rep at the meeting point on time .Meeting details would be given through this info sheet. Train station pickup or hotel pickup are not available. Pickup service and accommodation may not available in case of early arrival. If any volunteer comes late then he/she should contact our office (email preferred) in advance and wait for our next available pickup service. Sometimes pickup service may not available on the same day if anyone miss their meeting time and in these cases volunteers are requested to wait for the next day pickup service. Volunteers are requested to stay at the airport lounge if they arrive at night. If any volunteer wish they can stay at any nearby hotel also. (There are plenty of hotels available on the road called V.I.P road ,within 2 k.m from the airport gate).Any cab driver can easily drop the volunteer at any nearby hotel. In these cases volunteers are requested to purchase pre paid taxi from the airport inside only.
4.Local staff will be available at every project site.
5.Emergency telephonic assistance are available.
6.Emergency personal assistance available (in case of major medical emergency cases only).
7.Normal available transportation (to and fro to project site from accommodation only) would be only be available. Some cases the distance could be 20-30 km on each side.
Services that will not be offered to volunteers:-----
1. Volunteers should not expect any special food ,fruits or drinks.
2. Air conditioned room or personal room or room of your own choice or changing room or changing project would not be available.
3. Medical cost, hospitalisation cost, medicine cost, personal cost, personal transportation, air ticket, visa fees, entry fees, vaccination fees, entertainment cost, weekends trip cost or any other that are not mentioned in the "service that will be offered "section will not be available. All volunteers are requested to have their own medical and travel insurances available up to date with them.
4. Personal physical assistance outside of the project site are not available. Weekends trips and transportation are not included.
What to bring: You can follow traditional packing lists, but here are several items that would be particularly helpful for this volunteer experience:
A bed sheet
malaria medication
flashlight
umbrella
mosquito repellent with DEET
sunscreen
alarm clock OR watch with alarm clock
journal
sleeping bag
Any games or craft items like Origami would be great for the kids
Rain coat
Snacks from your country
Music/ dress / special souvenir from your country
Medicine and first aid supplies for emergency personal use
Any special food and traditional dress of your country would be nice.
Clothing: - fibrous (ex: linen or cotton or anything that is COOL and dries fast in natural sun)
- for women, bring conservative clothing that covers the shoulders (ex: shirts with capped sleeves) NO shorts, bikinis, sleeveless clothes outside your own bed room (strictly).
sandals
head covering (bandanas, hat)
towel that dries FAST.
Living cost : Euro 200/head for minimum 2 weeks duration ,(maximum 6 weeks) ,every extra week cost Euro75/head/week for this group special camp only. In case of privet transportation requirement ,Euro 25/ head / week would be extra cost add with the the living cost given above for such special arrangement . Living cost includes 3 times local food, shared room at local host family,public transportation(train) to and fro project and accommodation,Airport pickup on arrival, drinking water , local coordinator support at every project,2 days orientation , work shop training ( Mon-Fri) , Pre departure orientation , emergency support ,local language training on arrival during orientation also included.
( cost excluded :- Flight ticket, visa,medical cost if any personal cost ,weekends trip,special trip at the end of the camp ,gift,any special food / drinks ,Home to Airport transfer)
Important Points :-
****Interested Group for package trip,cost would be as per trip type and facilities provided . Our trips are all organised by professional travel partners.****
***On confirm application every volunteer will receive INFO SHEET of the applied project with further minute details,pickup information,emergency contact etc.***
*** Living cost for all programme goes directly to the Local host in full, against their living arrangement services for volunteers .SMILE receive NO Registration Fees OR donation In any form ,from any International Volunteers***
*** Any Workcamp place or type of activities can be changed as per Camp In- Charge decision depending on last minute situation without any prior information or last moment information. NO cancellation of any Camp date will be there in SMILE :) but projects can be merged with other ongoing project at any single place with different work types in case of less than 50% volunteer arrived in any Camp .Partners and volunteers are requested to cooperate. Thanks for Your kind understanding.***
*** Living cost is a Non refundable and non transferable amount paid to the host representative by cash on arrival for full duration applied***
*** Once applied for any project ,it can not be cancelled or altered ***
*** On arrival ( Kolkata Airport (ccu ,India ) volunteers are requested to wait at meeting place . Pick up service available on the first day of the project at 12 noon outside of the kolkata airport 4A exit gate . Any problem Volunteers can contact our emergency email or phone given with the acceptance email .
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