We highly recommend you start your trip with a comprehensive cultural immersion week followed by one of our community projects. It will help you settle in by meeting new people and understanding great aspects about the country you are visiting. Search other activities for week two onward in the ‘Nearby Trips‘ section.
This program lets you explore the life and style of Goan people. This is a very important step that will prepare you for your stay in India. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to ask all your questions about the organization, the programs, the country, the culture and anything else that might come to mind.
Moreover, there will be language lessons, cooking classes, yoga sessions, sightseeing, visits to authentic Indian homes, workshops that will introduce you to the culture, visits to our project locations and much more!
You will also have the opportunity to learn about the projects which you will be participating on and training will be given to your prior to beginning your project the following week.
Local language communication will be part of this program, hands-on Indian cooking class, yoga sessions, visiting scenic sights and surroundings, and project training workshops. All these encompass this week making your entry to the Goan life.
Aims & Objectives
The purpose of this program is to help you get an understanding of the manners, norms, and etiquette that is inherent in Indian society as well as show you around and introduce you to your new surroundings.
Schedule
Monday
7:00 – 8:00 – Breakfast at the Center
8:30 – 9:30 – Introduction to the program including code of conduct and Do’s and Don’ts (House Rules).
9:30 to 11:30 – Visit to Old Goa and Spice Plantation
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch at Spice Plantation
14:00 – 17:00 – Mapusa city visit and the local Market
18:00 – 19:00 – Dinner at the Center
19:30 – 20:30 – Relax for the evening
Tuesday
7:00 – 9:00 – Self Defense classes
9:15 – 9:45 – Main Course Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 – Join a practical session of Indian Cooking
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch at the Center
14:00 -17:00 – Sightseeing tour to visit Candolim & Sinquerim Beach
18:00 – 19:00 – Dinner at the Center
19:30 onwards Culture shock, discussion about safety and transport.
Wednesday
7:00 – 8:00 – Breakfast
8:15 – 10:00 – Yoga session
10:30 – 12:15 – Local Language Lesson, (Alphabets, sentences, phrases, names of fruits and vegetables, numbers); a short break to learn making Indian Chai (tea)
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch at the Center
15:00 – 19:00 – Anjuna Beach and market visit
19:00 – 20:00 – Dinner at the Center
20:30 onwards Enjoy a Bollywood movie at the Center
Thursday
7:00 – 8:00 – Breakfast at the Center
9:00 – 12:00 – Project visit (Disability care, Kindergarten, Old Age Home, Animal Shelter)
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch at the Center
14:00 – 17:00 – Project Visit (Community Outreach project and women empowerment)
18:00 – 19:00 – Dinner at the Center
19:30 onwards Orientation on projects which includes a Power-point presentation. Training on Project activities and group discussion along with an explanation about project structure
Friday
7:00 – 8:00 – Breakfast at the Center
9:00 – 12:30 – Go on a local bus ride to the capital city called Panjim. Walkthrough the streets of the capital, visit markets, churches, malls and more
13:00 – 13:30 – Lunch at Centre
14:00 -17:00 – Relax for the week followed by feedback of our Culture Week.
18:00 – 19:00 – Dinner at the Center
19:30 – 20:30 – Group activities.
This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) Check
It is required that participants complete a CRB/DBS (Criminal Records Bureau) check in order to take part in this project. We can provide this service for you at an additional cost because some people may already have one that is valid (please get in touch for more details).
