India Project

Dates

February 14 - 25, 2018

Location

India

Participation Fee

$1,250

Download Info Pack

* Maps may indicate region where project will take place, not a specific site location.

Overview

Join Maranatha in the fascinating country of India! There is a great need for churches and schools throughout the entire country of India, and volunteers on this project will be able to help answer prayers for the ED Thomas Memorial Adventist School in southern India.

The school is located on approximately 50 acres of a mango plantation filled with beautiful trees near the town of Thanjavur in the state of Tamil Nadu. It was started in 1953 with just eight students, and has since grown to a full elementary and secondary boarding school. Recently, enrollment has started to decline due to poor infrastructure. The dorms and classrooms are leaking, and there is no place on campus that can accommodate the entire school body inside for assemblies.

The local Adventist conference has reached out to Maranatha’s assistance to build an Education and Evangelism Center for the school. This large building includes a large gymnasium that can be used for assemblies and community events. It will also include new classrooms for the elementary students. The structure is built with insulated panel sheeting walls. This type of construction involves a team that will peel protective sheeting off of the panels and prepare the edges as well as a team that will assemble the structure and attach the prepared panels.

In addition, the group of volunteers will reach out into the local community to conduct outreach projects such as children’s ministry programs and health education.

Scope

Insulated Panel School Construction

Community Outreach

Wednesday, February 14

Arrival in India

Thursday, February 15

Work Days

Saturday, February 17

Worship with the local congregation

Sunday, February 18

Work Days

Saturday, February 24

Worship with the local congregation

Sunday, February 25

Departure or Optional Excursion Travel to Delhi

Monday, February 26

Optional Excursion: Travel to Agra, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort

Tuesday, February 27

Optional Excursion: Travel to Jaipur, City Palace

Wednesday, February 28

Optional Excursion: Amer Fort, Evening Departures

ARRIVALVolunteers will arrive in Tiruchirappalli, India (airport code TRZ) on Wednesday, February 14.Please wait for confirmation from Maranatha before purchasing your airfare to ensure there is still space on the project.

DEPARTUREVolunteers will depart from Tiruchirappalli, India (airport code TRZ) on Sunday, February 25 or continue on the optional excursion by traveling to Delhi and departing for home in the evening of Wednesday, February 28 from Jaipur, India (JAI) .

Lakshmi Hotel

VIEW ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Volunteers will stay at the Lakshmi Hotel in Thanjavur, approximately 25 minutes from the ED Thomas School. The rooms are very comfortable with a mixture of twin and queen beds. You can expect double occupancy rooms with private bathrooms. All bedding and towels are provided; however, washcloths are not commonly provided in India, so you should plan on bringing your own. The hotel has hot water and air conditioning. Wi-Fi is available, but can be intermittent and slow. The groups will have meals at the hotel where skilled Maranatha cooks will oversee all the meals. Together, the group will travel to the school each day by private transportation.

Volunteers should plan on staying in double occupancy rooms with a roommate. If you would like to room with someone in particular, please let us know. During the project, there may be some single occupancy rooms available for an additional cost. If you are interested in a single occupancy room, please email volunteer@maranatha.org or call (916) 774-7700.

For more information about the Lakshmi Hotel visit http://www.lakshmihotel.in

Travel Information

Volunteers will purchase their own plane tickets to Tiruchirappalli International Airport, India (TRZ) and send a copy of the itinerary to volunteer@maranatha.org. Maranatha representatives will meet volunteers upon arrival. Please wait for confirmation before purchasing your airfare to ensure that there is enough space on the project. More information, including the optional excursion flight information and arrival/departure windows, is available in an information packet (download above). Booking outside these windows could result in additional fees and missed portions of the project.

Travel Resources

CI Azumano Travel:
800-454-4099 or by email with Erle or Azumano Team at corporatetravel@ciazumano.com

Butler Travel:
503-879-5005 or by email with Nathanael at nathan@butlertravel.com

Kayak:
www.kayak.com

When contacting the Azumano or Butler travel agencies, make sure you mention Maranatha for discounted booking fees.

Golden Triangle Tour - $585

After the project, February 25 – 28, volunteers can join the optional excursion to the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, often referred to as India’s Golden Triangle. On Sunday, volunteer will travel from Tiruchirappali to Delhi (this ticket is not included in the excursion fee). Upon arrival in Delhi, the group will see some of the popular sites in the city before spending the night.

The following day, the group will travel south to the city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The stunning marble mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is considered one of the world’s architectural masterpieces. Agra is also home to Agra Fort, a large complex that housed and protected many generations of royalty and foreign leaders.

On Tuesday, the group will travel to Jaipur where they will spend two days and see several famous sights including Amer Fort and the City Palace. Amer Fort is located on the edge of Maota Lake and is constructed of red sandstone and marble. The group will take an elephant ride at the fort giving a unique viewpoint on the opulent construction and interesting history of the building.Volunteers will depart from Jaipur in the evening of Wednesday, February 28.

The excursion fee will cover all hotels, food, and excursions during the excursion day. The in-country flight is not included.

Contact Us Want to speak with someone at Maranatha directly? Please call our office at 916.774.7700 to speak with a volunteer specialist. Alternatively, you can send us an email.

Thank you for your interest in one of our mission projects. You have been added to the interest list, and you will be notified via e-mail as soon as more information is available and registration has been opened. Typically registration is open three to six months in advance of the project dates; although, sometimes it can be delayed as we lock in accommodations and budgets. Thank you for your patience.

Please note that putting your name on the interest list ensures that you will be notified when registration is available, but does not guarantee you a place on the project. You will still need to complete the online registration form to reserve your spot on the trip.

Feel free to contact us at anytime to find out the current status of this project.