A Day in The Life of a Snehagram Volunteer

 

The experience a volunteer can gain during his or her stay is absolutely unique yet extremely satisfying. The major goal is to create a difference and provide assistance in the teaching and the development of the children staying there.

The visit is initiated by the introduction to the regulations and expected behaviour at Snehagram, which include certain guidelines that the volunteers must abide by in order to provide a fulfilling experience for themselves as well as a nurturing development for the children that they are interacting with. The volunteers then stay in comfortable and humble housing facilities within the campus itself, at short distances from the learning and eating quarters. This ensures easy access as well as mobility so that they can stay on schedule and fulfil the primary goals and tasks at hand. It is important to note that the volunteers also interact with the children outside the classrooms. They communicate and talk to the children during the lunch and dinner times in the canteen zone.

The day begins at 6 am for the volunteers and the faculty mentors. As a part of a leisure activity, they take a walk outside the campus and stroll around the area for refreshment. They then proceed to eat breakfast outside and return to the campus for the first section of classes. This includes the first batch of academic learning that takes place. Volunteers not only teach the students, primarily psychology but also interact with them, sharing tips and techniques in order to write well as well as memorize or accurately understand important concepts and terms. This is followed by a short break, wherein volunteers often change classes, batches and co-volunteers. Post the break, the volunteers once again focus on the academic development and also the general understanding of the subject for the children, who listen attentively as well as demand certain techniques to enhance responses and attention. The volunteers and students then disperse for lunch, which they have together in the canteen area. This is again followed by two more batches of learning that have slightly different teaching patterns or group activities. Lastly, the volunteers once again interact with the children during dinner, post which they retire to bed, either to continue a similar routine the next day or to end their visit at Snehagram.

- Anushka Nair

CHRIST (Deemed to be University)

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