CAS Expeditions & Programmes

Community Service & Adventure in Himalayas

"Not all classrooms have four walls" - These words can't be truer, and it's time that we let our children look out of their classrooms, to learn from the world. The Community Service & Adventure Tour has been designed in order to expose the students to the beauty of the Himalayas, apart from getting engaged in uplifting a rural school environment and camping amidst wilderness. In a span of 5 days, the students will get to live in camps at the Himalayan foothills, explore tea gardens, visit the Tibetan monasteries, breathe in purity and serve the community, selflessly! They'll also get to understand the value of teamwork, and above all, enjoy their learning journey.

Highlights

• Explore the region’s natural beauty while exploring the tea gardens

• Live in a campsite surrounded by nature to soak in freshness

• Community & service learning opportunity at a rural school

• Opportunity to share creative ideas while renovating the school

• Explore Mcleodganj, visit the Dalai Lama monastery and walk along the Bhagsunag waterfalls 

• Visit Sherabling Monastery in Himachal

• Nature walk in Billing, with great Himalayan views 

Learning Outcomes

• A chance to understand the value of teamwork

• Brainstorming, in order to bring out creative ideas

• Learn to be more empathetic towards the underprivileged communities

• Know the value of living amidst nature

Programme Length 

The programme length is 4 nights/5 days however the itinerary can be customized for a longer experience as well depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Rural Exploration & Community Development in Vietnam

A week-long journey in a beautiful South East Asian country of Vietnam, this trip brings young learners close to real Vietnam, unheard of and unexplored by regular tourists. With an opportunity to live with local Vietnamese community, get hands-on work in the lush green villages of Vietnam, students also get to witness a UNESCO World Heritage – Ha Long Bay - during the trip. A culturally immersive and engaging escapade in the country, the exposure to the hustle and bustle of Vietnam will leave students asking for more. 

Highlights of the Trip

• A 4- hour long drive into lush green countryside of Vietnam traversing across paddy fields, village homes, valleys and Limestone Mountains 

• Living in a small Vietnamese village, Mai Chau, for an authentic travelling experience 

• Visit to Ha Long Bay, A UNESCO World Heritage Site 

• Opportunity to meet and engage with locals and live in a homestay 

• Exploring the bustle of Hanoi

•Help in a local community development project

Learning Outcomes

• Exposure into a new culture 

• Living with locals and learning about local traditions 

• Becoming conscious helpful ‘Global Citizens’ instead of regular tourists 

• Volunteering and working as a team, imbibing the spirit of team work 

Programme Length 

The programme length is 6 nights/7 days however the itinerary can be customized for a longer experience as well depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Service Learning, Sightseeing & Cultural Exploration

A week-long journey into the island nation of Sri Lanka, this is a one of a kind opportunity to experience an authentic, engaging and immersive travel in the countryside landscapes of the country. With hands-on work at marine life conservation, painting murals at a local school, visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites and more, students will have a rejuvenating and life-transforming time here.

Highlights of the Trip

• Starting the journey with a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Galle Fort 

• Getting to work on a turtle conservation programme 

• Exploring the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka and doing some beach cleaning activities 

• Interacting with local Sri Lankan kids and taking part in art and craft activities 

• A glimpse of Wild Asian Elephants at Udawalawe National Park 

• Hiking in the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Sinharaja Forest Reserve, another UNESCO World Heritage Site

Learning Outcomes

• Exposure to a new culture and topography 

• Learning about the history and culture of an ancient country that holds close ties with Indian culture and mythology as well 

• Learning the importance of marine conservation 

• Hands-on work at the beach and a glimpse of a simple rural life

Programme Length 

The programme length is 6 nights/7 days however the itinerary can be customized for a longer experience as well depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Service Learning & Adventure in the Rainbow Nation

South Africa is a culturally diverse country, one nation made up of many peoples. As people, they are known for their humanity - they may have come from a past filled with separation and struggle, but their future is one of unity and possibility. In true African spirit, we understand the value of a warm South African welcome, and we can't wait to welcome you to the Rainbow Nation.

There is nowhere like Cape Town. Perched between the ocean and the mountain, with a national park as its heart, it’s a place to renew and reconnect. Cape Town, the "Mother City", is the oldest city in our country and has a cultural heritage spanning more than 300 years. 

Students will spend 2 days serving in some of Cape Town’s most impoverished areas, and will have the opportunity to connect with local community all while experiencing the culture and customs of the Mother City.

Highlights 

• Travel to the South western tip of the African Continent, Cape of Good Hope
• Explore the beautiful city of Cape Town
• Work with the locals to make a difference in a community project in a Township
• Join a Cultural Traditional Dinner with the local community
• Check out awesome views of the Cape Town bay from top of Table Mountain

Programme Length 

The minimum programme length is 7 days however the itinerary can be customized for a 14 day experience as well depending on the group requirements.

Learning Outcomes for the students

By the end of this programme, students should be able to :-

• Reflect on the value of service-learning.
• Present on the poverty-related issues that many South Africans face
• Discuss key themes in South Africa’s history and how Apartheid affects present day South Africa
• Demonstrate increased cross-cultural connectivity 

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements. 

Volunteering in Valencia Region

Group programmes for school groups are offered in Valencia region in Eastern Spain. The core programme consists of Conservation Volunteer Work or working with children which is accompanied by a wide variety of fun and educational activities and excursions.

Why Valencia ?

• Valencia is a very Spanish city
• It enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine in a year
• Historic city centre with sights of many old civilizations
• Long sandy beaches
• Friendly people
• Safe environment
• Traditions and modern cosmopolitan life stand side by side

Volunteering Projects

Students participating in Conservation Projects will make a difference in conserving and improving knowledge about the environment and the Spanish natural heritage, helping promote land stewardship as a tool to protect and conserve the region and its natural, cultural and landscape values and minimizing the environmental impact of agriculture and tourism.

Students get a chance to take part in projects undertaken in the Valencia region aimed at the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems from degradation, the improvement of water resources, the prevention of forest fires, the reforestation of land with native species and conservation of natural habitats and species in danger of extinction.

Group members also have the option to join ‘Working with Children’ Projects wherein the children are in the age group of 4-12 yrs.Students get to be a part of a new community, exchange cultures, play and exchange experiences, share excursion days, help them at lunch time, serve as role models and mentors and be an international friend for the children.

Highlights

• Feeling all the charm of the Valencia Region from a different perspective, discovering landscapes that participants would not see if they just travel as tourists and contributing in its conservation, helping local projects that would not exist without volunteers, tasting the traditional flavors of its gastronomy.
• Getting to know the neighbourhood and participating in community interaction, cultural workshops and excursions
• Helping preserve a unique landscape and taking a relaxing boat trip on the Albufera´s lake contemplating spectacular sunsets
• Taking part in exciting activities and excursions

Activities and Excursions

We offer a wide range of group activities and excursions for the group to choose from. They can be incorporated in the itinerary depending on the choice of the group.

• Bike Tour
• Walking Tour
• Paella Workshop
• Boat ride in Albufera
• Flamenco show
• Fallas musuem
• Barcelona visit
• Grenada visit

Programme Length

Typical programme length is 1 to 2 weeks however we can customize the programme depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Service Learning in Kenya

Kenya’s 42+ tribal groups, spanning 3 of the 4 African language groups, along with its breath-taking landscapes, iconic wildlife, and rapidly modernizing cities make it one of the most diverse countries in Africa. As a nation, Kenya is only 54 years old, meaning that its colonial history, and subsequent independence, are still fresh in the collective mind.  Kenya’s history, its beliefs, its diversity, and its resilience have brought the country to where it is, and will continue to dictate where it heads in the future as a nation.  A country built on Muslim-Arab trade along the coast, Christian missions in the interior, and a primarily agricultural and tourism-driven economy, Kenya is now rapidly changing, providing a fascinating case study for globalization, religious influence on culture, and modernization in a growing economy. 

Highlights 

• Providing practical help with projects
• Interacting with children, care givers and teachers at community children’s centre and home
• Experiencing diverse Kenyan cultures and practical work experience in a restored African forest boasting one of the highest diversities of indigenous plants and shrubs on the continent.

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this programme students should be able to :-

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of local culture and history
• Demonstrate an understanding of challenges facing Kenyan urban society
• Demonstrate increased cross-cultural connectivity

Length of the Programme

The programme length is 7 days however it can be customized depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Service in the Land of Smiles

A learning journey can only be complete with a pure cultural immersion, where you get to meet the local people, learn to cook the local cuisine, polish your language skills and share moments of happiness. 

In this Community Service and Adventure Tour in Northern Thailand, students will get to explore Chiang Mai, a quaint town away from the chaos, attend a Thai cooking & language classes, and shower some love on baby elephants at an Elephant Nursery. Apart from that, students will also get to mingle with the kids at a Children's Home, and carry out planting, renovation work. This will encourage them for group activities as well as help them in understanding the values of team Work. We'll also take the students for a day trip to Doi Suthep, which is one of the most popular places in Thailand. The entire experience has been curated in order to give the students an insight into Thai lifestyle so that
they can develop an understanding of how the world beyond their known boundaries is functioning.

Highlights

• Opportunity to immerse in the local Thai culture
• Take part in exciting activities such as Thai Cooking class and Language Lessons
• Community Service Work at a Children's Home
• Interactions with baby elephants at an Elephant Nursery
• Explore some of the top tourist attractions in Chiang Mai

Programme Length

The programme length is 7 days however it can be customized depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.

Environmental Conservation Experience

Welcome to West Bali, a region in Bali that, until recently, has remained relatively unspoiled by human activity. This area retains vast areas of wilderness that support an incredible level of biodiversity, including home for sea turtles and mangrove forest in its coastal ecosystems.

Students will explore and experience the connection between the negative effects of consumer waste, mainly plastics, irresponsible tourist behaviour and the coastal marine environment of West Bali. Through immersion into the lives of the local people, students will learn how the Balinese people relate to their environment and understand the value of nature in Balinese culture. Within this context, there will be challenges that will allow students to discern their ability to cope and grow in an environment very different from their modern lifestyles back home.

Highlights

• Learn about Balinese culture and its environmental values
• Live within a local Balinese coastal community
• Learn about general environmental issues in Bali
• Learn about plastic issues and join hands on activity addressing plastic waste
• Plant mangroves and clean mangrove forest
• Volunteer at a Turtle Conservation Centre

Learning Outcomes for the Students 

• Learning about Balinese Culture and its environmental values
• Learn about plastic issues and join hands on activity addressing plastic waste
• Plant mangroves and clean mangrove forest
• Demonstrate increased cross-cultural connectivity
• Demonstrate an understanding of environmental challenges being faces in Bali 

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements. 

Programme Overview

Cambodia is filled with immense historical feed and cultural richness, that can't just be confined to the pages of textbooks. Thus, the Cultural Immersion and Community Service Tour in Cambodia has been curated in order to give you the opportunity to take a closer look at the ruins of Angkor, walk down the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, go on a Boat Cruise, attend cooking classes & learn to prepare authentic Khmer cuisine, meet the locals to know more about the country's past & present.

As a part of this learning journey, students will get to explore the Killing Fields and Toul Sleng (S21 Museum) which have witnessed the death of millions of countrymen during the 1970s, when the Khmer ruler Polpot devastated the lives of the people. And of course, they'll get to witness the beauty of the Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, Ta Phrom and other temples dating back to 900 AD, which are now marked as a UNESCO Heritage Sites. There will be Khmer village tours, wherein students will get to mingle with the locals and know how life's different in Cambodia. Overall, this will be an impactful journey, that'll help in broadening their worldview. 

Highlights

• Opportunity to immerse in the local Khmer culture
• Experience a boat cruise and dinner
• Explore the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng in Phnom Penh
• Meet the local children at Friends Restaurant, Phnom Penh
• Walk down the lanes of history at Angkor
• Explore traditional Khmer Villages & attend cooking classes
• Spend time with the Bayon Smile Community folks

Programme Length

The programme length is 7 days however it can be customized depending on the group requirements.

Customize your Programme

Thank you for your interest in developing a service learning programme for your school group. At Volunteering Solutions we can customize a programme that will meet your group requirements.