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India Study and Leadership Experience
April/May 2012

Rationale

Service Learning
A unique and distinguishing component of this program is the concept of “service learning”.  Service learning can be identified as experiential education when the learner adopts a life role that provides meaningful service to a community in order to learn about oneself and others.  The pedagogical value of the service increases when the following are added to the learning:  an academic component designed to prepare the learner in terms of content and competencies relevant to the service; an opportunity to reflect upon and think critically about the experience; an element of adventure and challenge; an international and cross-cultural context; and an alignment of individual, placement, and system goals. 

Affiliation
This program is supported and will be facilitated through the cooperation of the Loretto Sisters and the Jesuit Fathers. These organizations have been offering social welfare ministries and, in particular, educational programs and schools in India for many years.

Participants
Approximately 15 adults will be selected for admission to this program and will include both university/college students, students at faculties of education, and adults.  This number has been governed by the practical exigencies of traveling to this area of the world.  Participants will be selected according to the following criteria: 

            1.         Trustworthiness and reliability
            2.         Respectfulness of other people and cultures
            3.         Adaptability to new experiences
            4.         Fitness
            5.         Pleasant disposition

Interested individuals are invited to submit an application and two letters of reference attesting to their suitability according to the criteria cited above.

Code of Conduct
Each participant will be expected to pledge commitment to a Code of Conduct,  which will be designed to ensure that respect for each participant, his/her property, and well-being is safeguarded.  This code will preclude harassment and abusiveness and will prohibit the use of alcohol and drugs.  Above all, the rights and responsibilities of all participants will be clearly defined so that the objectives of this program may be achieved within a healthy and safe environment. 
 

Adult Supervision
Adventure Learning Experiences will supply the pre-trip educational program and health and safety preparation. A leader will accompany the participants to India and will stay with the group for most of the duration of the trip.

Interviews
Each applicant will be invited to a private interview with the Directors to assess his/her suitability for the program. This will also give the applicant the opportunity to determine if the program serves his/her needs and interests. Students will be asked to bring their letters of reference to this meeting.

Program Design
The program will consist of a learning program, conducted before departure, followed by the trip to India. The pre-trip program is meant to sensitize participants to issues involving this part of the world, develop rapport between participants, and deal with health and safety concerns. Participants will be asked to select and explore a topic of personal interest related to an Indian theme (history, politics, geography, wildlife, spirituality,etc) and share it with the group.  This is not meant to be burdensome but rather is intended to give participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of India and thereby maximize their experience. There will be 4 meetings arranged according to the following schedule:

Reading List
A short reading list will be provided at a later date.


Journaling
Daily journal writing will be an essential component of the program. A composite journal with volunteer submissions from all participants will be compiled and offered to all participants at the end of the experience as a memory of our shared experience.

Faculties of Education may also designate specific demonstrations of learning to fulfill course requirements.

Service and Leadership Opportunities
There will be a number of service opportunities made available to participants. In particular, for those who are completing their Faculty of Education Internship requirements, students will be placed under supervision in schools that reflect their teaching subjects. These placements will be in the Darjeeling area of West Bengal, and will be in schools administered by the Loretto Sisters and/or the Jesuit Fathers.

For those participants not attending Faculties of Education, alternative service placements such as orphanages, daycares, and sustainable development projects will be arranged.

Travel dates 
April 27 - May 28, 2012

Itinerary:  

Travel Arrangements

Transportation
Local transportation will be organized and provided by the Me to We lorry/bus. International air travel will be provided by a reputable national carrier.


Accommodation
In India, the accommodations will be provided by the Loretto Sisters and local hotels. These hotels will be modest by Western standards, but will always be safe and clean.

Finances
Participants will be charged a single fee of approximately $3895, which will cover return airfare from Toronto to India, all travel expenses within the country, meals, accommodations, training materials and donations to the local communities.

Payment will be made by regular installments according to the following schedule:

            $445             Deposit accompanying application
            $1150           December 6, 2011
            $1150           February 13, 2012
            $1150           April 14, 2012

Note: Participants are asked to submit a series of postdated cheques according to this schedule. Cheques should be made payable to Adventure Learning Experiences Inc. Payments may be made in the form of personal cheques and/or money orders. Cash will not be accepted for security reasons.

Fundraising

Fundraising activities will be supported by the authors.  In particular, the principal endeavour will be a booklet which will describe the features and participants of the program.  The sale of advertisements in the booklet will be directly subtracted from the fee charged to individual participants, with a nominal charge for the cost of printing the booklets. 

Refund Policy
For withdrawal before December 1st, a refund of $400 from the original deposit will be provided.

For withdrawal between December 1st and March 1st, a full refund minus the original deposit will be provided.

Other Costs

The only other costs that are not included in the above price are the following:

            Passport (this must not expire within 6 months of departure)
            India Visa (to be obtained in Toronto before departure)
            Out-of-country health insurance                                                 
            Inoculations (depending upon one’s private insurance coverage)
            Private expenses

Health and Safety
Careful attention to sound health and safety practices will be an important part in the preparation of the program.  This will involve mandatory immunizations, learning  healthy eating and drinking habits, and understanding effective illness prevention practices.  An attempt will be made to have a registered nurse accompany each group.  For maximum benefit it is recommended that participants, in general, be in good health and achieve a sufficient level of fitness prior to the trip.  Physical and dental check-ups are highly recommended prior to the departure date. 

Immunization

a)           The following are ordinarily administered through one’s family doctor in the course of                normal Ontario health care.  All participants are asked to ensure their protection with                inoculations against the following diseases:

               Tetanus – Diphtheria
               Polio
               Measles-Mumps-Rubella

b)            Protection against malaria is by tablet and is taken on a regular basis prior, during, and                following the trip.  The exact regimen will be prescribed by a travel clinic. 
               All participants will be expected to bring a mosquito net and protective skin lotions. 

c)            Inoculations against the following may be required: 

                        Tetanus
                        Typhoid
                        Hepatitis A
                        Hepatitis B
                        TB skin test

The cost of these inoculations are not covered by OHIP but may be included in private health plans. 

NOTE: Each participant will be expected to visit a travel health clinic for professional medical information and inoculations and prescriptions.

Precautions

As indicated above, careful preparation prior to departure about safe eating and drinking habits and illness prevention practices will be undertaken.  Participants will be expected to purchase “The Travel Doctor” by Dr. Mark Wise (Firefly Books, 2002) as part of this preparation.  A close working relationship has been developed by the authors with Dr. Mark Wise.  Dr. Wise is a family physician in North York whose medical practice includes a travel clinic. He  is considered a leading authority in tropical and parasitic diseases.  Dr. Wise will conduct a 90 minute training workshop about preventative health practices for our students prior to departure and will make recommendations about appropriate inoculations.

Our groups will greatly benefit from the local contacts which the authors have established in India with the Jesuit Fathers and Loretto Sisters in the event that medical care is required. Each participant will be expected to purchase out-of-country health insurance. In addition, Dr. Lato and Mr. Rogers are both members of the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT). 

It is most strongly recommended that each participant seek proper medical advice for all potential health concerns at a travel health clinic prior to departure. 

Each participant will be asked to complete the Consent to Medical Treatment Form in the event that urgent and emergency care is required.

• Teaching/Service opportunities in Kolkata and Darjeeling schools and Lolay
  
  
• Learn about the ministry of Mother Teresa and the Loretto Sisters
  
  
• Experience the beauty of northern India's Himalayan landscape