LASALLIAN SERVICE INTERNSHIP 2014 LOCATION: Keesara, India La Salle Bishop Joseph Thumma College Campus (BJT Junior & Degree College, St. La Salle English Medium High School, and St. Benildus Hostel for Boys & Girls) Kanchikacherla Mandal, Krishna District Keesara, Andhra Pradhesh 521 185, South India BJT School and College and St Benildus Hostel in Keesara, Andhra Pradesh, offers primary, secondary through to tertiary education and caters to almost 1,000 students. The school and college target poor and disadvantaged children and young people. This includes 30 special needs students. The school accepts all students regardless of caste, color, faith or creed. St. Benildus Hostel was started in the year 1993 as part of BJT College catering for secondary school/college students - separate boys (226 residents) and girls (97 residents) hostels - which caters to students aged 16 -19 from more remote rural villages. Some of the hostel residents are orphans, semi-orphans, and special needs youth. The hostel is very pastoral in nature and targets the overall development of the students. PHONE: +91 98481 89460 WEBSITE: www.lasallebjt.org (under construction) For more information, also see: http://www.lasallianfoundation.org/page.aspx?pid=339 SITE DIRECTOR: Brother Alex Soosai, FSC, Director LSI CONTACT: Brother Alex Soosai [email protected] +91 789 330 2112 +91 98481 89460 Skype: alex soosai1 SUPERVISOR: Students will be supervised by Brother Alex Soosai or another La Salle BJT Brother. Students will not have a Saint Mary’s College supervisor for their month of service in India. # OF STUDENTS: 2-4 (a mixed group of male and female students is preferred) LASALLIAN SERVICE INTERNSHIP 2014 SERVICE WORK: The students will work with youth between the ages of 4 and 21 and will be asked to engage in teaching spoken and written English, painting, art work and computers in the school. They will join the college students in the evening for sports and games. QUALIFICATIONS OR SKILLS REQUESTED: Students should be able to communicate well in English. Students who are good at art, painting, or sports would also be most welcome. ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF COURSE: $2496 $185.00 – Materials Fee (includes $35 insurance fee) $1552.00 – Airfare $125.00 – Transportation to La Salle BJT College Campus (Students will fly into Hyderabad International Airport and be driven by someone from the service site 6 hours to reach Keesara) $308.00 – Room and Board $150.00 – Cultural Events and Trips $76.00 – Visa $100 – Estimate of exchange rate fee [Passport costs – dependent on if student already has passport – approx. $110] VISA/PASSPORT: A valid passport is required A valid visa is required VACCINATIONS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that travelers to any foreign country are up to date on their routine vaccinations. These include measles-mumps- rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. In addition, travelers to India are advised by the CDC to get the following vaccines because there is a risk of these diseases: Hepatitis A - CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in India, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Polio - You may need a polio vaccine before your trip to India. If you were vaccinated against polio as a child but have never had an additional dose as an adult, you should get an additional dose. Adults need only one additional dose in their lives. If you were not vaccinated as a child, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. LASALLIAN SERVICE INTERNSHIP 2014 Typhoid - You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in India. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. Complete information can be found on the CDC’s “Heath Information for Travelers to India” webpage that can be found at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/extended_student/india In addition, please consult your personal physician regarding any additional steps you should take to protect your health. The Brothers of La Salle BJT recommend that students speak to their physicians about concerns regarding Malaria and Dengue Fever. ACCOMODATIONS: Students will stay in the Brothers community and have their meals with the Brothers. There are 4 rooms available with attached toilets. The rooms have beds along with bed sheets and pillows. There is also a desk in each room for the students’ use. The Brothers car would be made available for traveling short distances. RISKS/EMERGENCIES: The International Airport is in Hyderabad, which is 4 to 5 hours drive from the campus. The road conditions are very good. The campus is just on the National Highway. There are hospitals only 8 minutes away from campus for minor health problems, and for any major heath emergencies, students would be taken to the hospital Vijayawada, which is 45 minutes away. COMMUNICATION: Students will be able to use the phone, the Internet, and Skype in the community house. Also students may use these on campus after office hours. COURSE WORKLOAD: Requirements as listed on the syllabus Includes four required 2-hour seminars and possible additional meeting for further information on this particular location BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS Students must respect the following guidelines: Due to the fact that there will be no Saint Mary’s College supervisor present, a high level of maturity and independence is expected No formal dress is required, but wear full-length pants while visiting and attending services in the local church or Temple LASALLIAN SERVICE INTERNSHIP 2014 T-shirts and shorts may be worn on campus for work, games, shopping and certain outings Comfortable shoes should be worn; Wearing sandals is the usual local custom Old clothes and shoes can be worn for physical work; old gloves should also be brought for physical work Students should be aware that shaking hands is NOT comfortable for most people they will meet No alcohol or drugs A full orientation will be given upon students’ arrival CULTURAL AWARENESS: The people are always welcoming and hospitable It is customary to greet people by bowing with hands together (not a hand shake) Students should be aware that, as customary, male and female students at La Salle BJT will be separated The customs and gestures of the local people are different than students will be used to The local people are accustomed to Westerners, as they receive frequent visitors to their campus Most of the students La Salle BJT are Hindus and Muslims; Very few students are Catholics and Christians FOOD: The students will be exposed to typical south Indian food as well as light food. They would be happy to provide a special menu on request if required. EVERYDAY LIFE: Students will be taken on excursions and exposed to rural villages where the students come from to have direct contact with the people to better understand their lives. The students should expect to meet any expenses. .