• Good Health And Well-Being
Reopening soon

Helping with art and handicraft work

location
2 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Below average response rate

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups

About the program

The Art & Craft Program consists of helping with handicraft work which is a supplementary program involving design and production of merchandise.

The Art and Craft Volunteer Program requires participants who have experience in any form of the arts like painting, graphic design, paper mache, card making, bead work, screen printing, bamboo craft, jewelry or other craft skills. This program involves the design and production of various ...

About the program

The Art and Craft Volunteer Program requires participants who have experience in any form of the arts like painting, graphic design, paper mache, card making, bead work, screen printing, bamboo craft, jewelry or other craft skills. This program involves the design and production of various merchandise derived from the mentioned art forms which we make in our in-house studio for sale in retail outlets in and around the Darjeeling Hills. The proceeds from the sales serves as a supplementary income to run the farm and its maintenance as well as a means towards the education of some of the small farmers' children in the local schools.

We also outsource some of the merchandise production to local craftsmen who work from their own homes which retains the economy within the local community alongside propagating a sustainable lifestyle for small artisans and marginalized families.

Our Art and Craft Program goes by the name of Soul'd Out and it is truly a tribute to the Hills and its vibrant mix of cultures, celebrating every aspect of it from traditional to contemporary. We try to keep our raw materials as natural as possible and are always open to new ideas and experiments from visitors and volunteers alike.

Typical day

A minimum of 6 Hours of active participation is required from volunteers to receive free meals and subsidized boarding costs. They are free to utilize the rest of their time as they please. The farm is located on a beautiful bio-diverse landscape with various things to see and do.

Typical day

A minimum of 6 Hours of active participation is required from volunteers to receive free meals and subsidized boarding costs. They are free to utilize the rest of their time as they please. The farm is located on a beautiful bio-diverse landscape with various things to see and do.

Free-time activities

Stay with us, explore the farm and the growing food forest, eat delicious, organic local food cooked with fresh produce from our kitchen garden, gorge on wood fired pizzas and fresh homemade bread, enroll for Nepali cooking classes, swim in the river or our in-house pool under the night sky, paint, ...

Free-time activities

Stay with us, explore the farm and the growing food forest, eat delicious, organic local food cooked with fresh produce from our kitchen garden, gorge on wood fired pizzas and fresh homemade bread, enroll for Nepali cooking classes, swim in the river or our in-house pool under the night sky, paint, write, read books from our collection, laze and bask in hammocks under the warm sun,walk through the village, milk a cow, churn butter, pickle jackfruit, pitch a tent or just sleep in all day . It’s not a luxury…it’s an experience!

Attractions in and around Gorubathan are the famous Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary, Fafarkheti, Fagu Tea Garden, the popular destination of Lava, the ancient ruins of Dalim Fort originally built by the Lepcha Kings and the Neora Valley National Park which is 5kms north of the region . The community is placed at a distance of 90 km from Kalimpong, 96 km from Darjeeling and 59 km from Siliguri and 72 kms from the IXB and is accessible by shared taxis, buses and private vehicles.

We also like to have fun, relax, watch movies, play some music and just hang out. So come join us and see what life is like at the Petrichor Community!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Relevant work experience or creative bent of mind required.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Petrichor Farms

Meals, Accommodation, Utilization of all our facilities like Swimming Pool, Kitchen, Bathrooms, Studio, Movies, Library are included in the Fee.

Internet, Transportation, Toiletries are not included.

Accommodation

Our Volunteer tents are located on the farm premises and serve both requirements of being private yet close to all practical considerations. The size of the tent is 10ftx10ft and is fitted with 2 beds to accommodate 2 volunteers. They are warm and cosy and clean.

Food & Beverages

We serve fresh, organic vegetarian 'farm to table' meals to all volunteers.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Bagdogra Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Bagdogra Airport (IXB) in Bagdogra. We assist you to find cheap flights to India. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for India provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in India you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for India. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 229€
3 weeks 339€
4 weeks (max. stay) 449€
Average fees 113€/week

Program fees

113€ per week 2 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

2 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Petrichor Farms during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Petrichor Farms

Fantastic 4.5 rating (5 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2014

Verified by Volunteer World

  Below average response rate

Coordinated by

Sweta

About the project

Our current project is a cob structure installation to house a library and activity center for the community.

Meet your organization

We are a Farm community, Kitchen, Studio and Artist Residency ideal for people looking to experience a typical village life amidst nature and peaceful surroundings. We work in harmony with other small farmers of the region to build a healthy alternative where we strive to live sustainably and responsibly with each other.

Ecological sustainability is the primary focus of our long term vision and as our village grows, we want to see this ideal take shape. Diversity is an important element for us and our village consists of individuals, families and an income sharing community.

Most materials used to build the project premises are natural yields from the surrounding areas like bamboo, stone, mud, thatch, straw etc or are reclaimed, upcycled, reused from things which would otherwise have been made into landfill, hence polluting the environment.

5 reviews · rating4.5

Olive Burbank rating4.4

2016 at Helping with art and handicraft work

This quiet, jungly paradise carries a sweet lull among its greenery and the hearts of our hosts. Sweta, Sidharta and the extended family of Petrichor are the people you hope to meet when imagining friends you haven't met yet. This is a place of 'coming home'. To learn, to grow, to create. To be ...
Petrichor is such a relaxing, inspiring and creative place to be. Sweta and Sidhartha (and all of their staff) go out of their way to create a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Me and my partner stayed here for a couple of days. We wanted to stay as cheaply as possible, so Sweta offered us an ...
Petrichor Delight! Wonderful greeting and big smiles all around! The farm is beautiful, our studio was exactly as we pictured it, charming, clean and cozy. The Farm is a site to behold, your heart is planted deep down into the soil when you hear of the wonderful community involvement that is taking ...
Ien Halsted rating4.6

2016 at Local, Sustainable Farming

Petrichor I learned from my visit to the farm means: the smell of the earth when it rains. The farm is nestled within a community of farms all implementing permaculture and organic farming techniques so as to offer an experience fully integrated with nature. The structures and accommodations are all ...
Catherine rating4.6

2014 at Local, Sustainable Farming

My boyfriend and I spent one of the best days ever at Petrichor with the ultra cool and artsy Sweta. It is such a refreshing experience to be surrounded by nothing but beautiful serene nature for miles and miles around and to relax to the sounds of crickets and birds as you sit by the fresh water ...

Location

Asia > Southern Asia > India > Darjeeling

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Culture and Arts in India
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