Volunteer/Internship Information

 Welcome to the Spiritual River Center! 

Volunteers are welcome to come and experience our experiential classroom environment and cultural immersion activities. Real life is our classroom.  Our Center supports interested parties as they enter into collaboration with local communities, while being a part of NGOs and village life around Varanasi.

Volunteers have freedom to begin immediately.  We prefer volunteers who can give at least a three week commitment to us. Volunteers/interns can choose to live in the city (Varanasi) or a village 45 minutes outside Varanasi.  It is your choice whether you want to volunteer in Varanasi or outside the city.


Here are some of the things the volunteer could do:
Participate in ongoing activities at schools around Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh such as:

1) Lead singing, music and movement activities with school children to help develop their social, emotional and cognitive growth.  Please see website for more on the music program:
www.musicalspark.blogspot.com
Child centered education is lacking in India, as teachers tend to be very rigid and strict with children.  Musical activities are a tool to let children be free to express themselves.

2) Participate in workshops on exploitation and misuse of power in relationships

3) Right to Education and anti-corruption campaigns.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill the form below:

Spiritual River Center Volunteer/ Internship Program
Application form.  Please click below
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ABAWsUe4LoL-18HgYuo7l5eLElpDv6RqUlRGkeUGRNE/edit?usp=sharing


If you are interested in volunteering or interning at an NGO,  please fill out the form above and send it to susanemnewman@gmail.com.  We have relationships with NGOs all over India (not just Varanasi), so you can tell us the location you want and which projects you want to participate in and we can match you to the NGO that fits your preferences.


Who will be there guiding you during your time in India?
Susan, an American singer and educator has been doing various music and movement activities with Asha in Chandigarh and Varanasi, India.  She has been with Asha for two years.  Susan has lived in India almost 4 years.

Sirish, has lived half his life in America and half in India.  He offers extensive knowledge of Indian politics, exploitation and corruption and can explain these loaded topics from a western perspective.  He has taught at Indian Institute of Technology and Banaras Hindu University, and has more than 8 years experience in participating in psychology workshops. In the past, he was Director of Projects of Asha for Education, a US and India based NGO working on education in rural and suburban India.  He has over four years experience coordinating internships for American students going to India.