Enjoying vacations - A different perspective

In my previous post, I had mentoined about taking vacations at little odd places. We usually take vacations at popular tourist places, or some odd places that are mostly known to many people. These places are rich with nature in some way or other, or they are rich with infrastructure (sky scraping towers, buildings, shopping malls, disney lands etc).

How about visiting the places that are rich with Humanity?

The places where there is a social work going on. Anandvan, in tribal areas of eastern Maharashtra, is one of the classic places. There are other such work going in every forest in various parts of India. There many organizations that are working in tribal areas. It would be really encouraging for them also if you visit them.
You can also contribute in some way to the work happening in that area.
Trust me, the pleasure that you will get by taking such vacations would be unmatchable compare to any other vacations. And there are many such places.
One might think of level of comfort that one would get at such places. True... But it is not really that bad a place. Even with kids, you will get a comfortable place to live most of the times. And if you have kids, I am sure they would enjoy a lot more than any other place. They would also get an exposure to a very different angle of life. Not only kids, it gives a different angle to us. Such places would bring forward the unfolded truths of life. It will make us realize how small things in urban life can be seen as luxuries (e.g. electricity) and might teach us to preserve/take care of them.
Lastly, it might give you opportunities to serve. Please remember, by providing service, we become privileged. We do not oblige those whom we provide service. In fact, we should be thankful to them who give us that opportunity to serve.

If you happen to have such vacations, do let me know and do share your experiences.

Tribal Schools run by Art of Living

I know I am quite a late in publishing this, but better late than never.

I, my son Ishan and Sandesh had been to Jharkhand during the Christmas time of 2010, rather, at the end of 2010. There were a couple of other people from other places. One of our friends, Gurpreet was already there.
It might appear rather odd to know that a vacation place was chosen as Jharkhand. Well, I will write separately on such odd vacation places later.
We were there as volunteers of Art of Living to see how the tribal schools are run, how the tribal life is, what is the situation at the schools etc. It was a very nice experience, though our stay was for 3 nights two days.

I have written already a couple of reports on the school. Still in summary -
Schools running since 1999.
Today 20 schools, 2500 students (40% girl students) studying.
All the schools are free (Education, uniforms, one time food, stationary, transport, books etc).
Most of the schools have gardens maintained by students. Some schools where there is more space, zero budget natural farming is done.
Vocational training is provided to villagers so that they can stand on their own.
Some of the passouts of these schools are taking technical training at Vigyan Ashram, Pune. Once they complete their training, they would be able to start their own business, in their villages.

Current needs include funds, donations in kind (school material, teaching material etc), infrastructure, teaching etc.
The school is currently looking for construction of Teachers' training institute. Since there was no education in the tribal area earlier, there are no teachers. The teachers need to be brought from outside and they need to be trained in tribal teaching methodologies.
Also, school is looking for mobile science lab so that students from different areas can be given better exposure to science.

To know more on this project, do write to me.
The website is http://www.aoltribal.org/

Thanks.