Responsible Tourism

Goa Volunteer Holiday - charity refurbishment

» For more information, reviews and availability, click here «

Highlights of this tour.

Make a difference - volunteer to help a Bombay charity make habitable a bequeathed Goan house
to get the destitute and orphans off the streets into a loving and safe home
Experience the cultural melting pot that is Goa with its meeting of races, religions and cultures of East & West
See the architectural splendours of Goa's temples and churches
Relax beach-side in the "Pearl of the Orient" beautiful tropical paradise
Great responsible tourism career break, voluntourism trip or ethical travel adventure holiday to Goa.

A brilliant opportunity to see a different side of India. Goa offers fabulous beaches and its friendly people and multi-hued lifestyle make it a very inviting destination. Our trip combines 2 weeks in Goa (as much exploration, beach time and relaxation as you want!) with project work at the Mother Teresa's Roses Welfare Centre, where we are helping to renovate, decorate, clean and generally help out at a large house in need of much work, in order to provide a safe and secure home for neglected street children of Goa and Mumbai. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy activities with the kids as we provide valuable help to get their home up and running.

 
Introduction

Not long ago Sister Christobel, a catholic nun who works with the extreme poor and needy on the streets of Bombay as part of the "Mother Theresa's Roses" trust she founded, was bequeathed a large house in Goa.

It was left to the trust by an Indian lady who died without issue and wanted her property to go to charity. A fantastic gift. On the downside, the property has not been lived in for 13 years and is pretty decrepit. It has no kitchen, no bathrooms, no (safe) wiring, no furniture ... but it did initially come complete with rats, snakes and white ants!! That said, for Sr Christobel, it is a dream come true - for her, a gift from God. And she is determined that it will be a safe and loving place for street children/ orphans and the destitute.

Example Itinerary.

Day 1 - UK - GOA, India
Fly from London to Goa (Dabolim).

Day 2 - Candolim (Sept 2007) / Baga (Dec 2007)
Upon arrival in Goa you will be met at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Once settled, there will be an introduction to the project.

Days 3 - 13 (Sept)/ 3-9 (Dec) Candolim/Baga (B)
Spend your time between relaxing on the beautiful Goan beaches, exploring the local area (or further afield!) and doing volunteer work at the Charity House.

You are free to do as much, or as little, volunteer project work as you want to.

Day 14 (Sept)/10 (Dec) - GOA - UK (B)
Today we will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.

The difference you make by taking this tour.

The Volunteer Goa Project

The rats and snakes are gone and already Sister Christobel has taken 15 children and 5 women there. When the children arrived Sr Christobel had managed to get her hand on some small red plastic chairs (the kind you can buy for a £1!) and she gave each of the children one of them. They take them everywhere, inside, outside - even sleeping next to them at night. For most of the children they are the only thing they have ever owned... She has persuaded a contractor to start work on the place - promising that one day she will have the money to pay him. But there is much more work to be done to at least make the place habitable and there is certainly no money for ‘luxuries' - furniture, toys, clothes, paint, proper kitchen ... the list is endless.

We'll flexibly work at the house, probably in the mornings until lunchtime, sometimes doing activities with the children, with the afternoons and evenings for exploring and socialising.

» For more information, reviews and availability, click here «