Wahoe Commune

Started by a family in Baljeet Nagar, Delhi, with one classroom, providing lessons for children in the local community. This family project has blossomed into a multifaceted NGO that aims to increase the life opportunities of the poorest members of communities throughout northern India.

We have many projects on the go, with the majority of them falling under four categories: TEACHING CHILDREN; WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT;COMMUNITY KITCHEN; VILLAGE EMPOWERMENT. Volunteers can help out in any way they can. With children, this mostly means giving classes in English. For women's and village empowerment, if you have a special skill to share, such as jewellery making, or sewing, you can give classes to share this knowledge with the local people, ultimately providing underprivileged families with the means to future self-employment.

We currently have three offices: New Delhi; Manali and Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. To start your volunteer experience, please come to one of these offices. From our offices, you can move onto one of our regional projects. For more in-depth information on the work in each area, please see below.

DELHI OFFICE THE DELHI OFFICE ORGANISES PROJECTS WITHIN DELHI, AS WELL AS REGIONAL PROJECTS IN RAJASTHAN AND NAUTANWA (NEPAL BORDER).

Delhi If you choose to work with us in Delhi, you can help out either with children's education, or women's empowerment. At the main office in Baljeet Nagar, Delhi, we run classes of extra tuition for the local children. Additionally, every afternoon, we head to a slum area, and teach children who otherwise would receive no education at all. Our women's empowerment programme in Delhi aims to provide women with practical skills they can use for self-employment in the future.

Rajasthan The specific focus of our project in a village outside Jaipur is women's empowerment and women's education.

Nautanwa (Nepal border, Uttar Pradesh) Through the education of women and children, we aim to improve the situation of Nepalese immigrants.

SHIMLA OFFICE LOCATED IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, THE SHIMLA OFFICE ORGANISES RURAL PROJECTS WITHIN THIS PROVINCE

Siri village Our concern at this remote northern location is village empowerment. Similar to the women's empowerment projects, our work in Siri village aims to teach practical skills to the villagers, which they can later use for self-employment.

Galot village Here, volunteers stay with a local family, and give classes in English to village children after school. Located just 25km outside Shimla, this place is within easy reach of our office.

Manali Children's education is one of our concerns here. Our other focus in this beautiful Himalayan town is conservation. Helping out by clearing trash is much appreciated. Although organised through our Shimla office, you can alternatively choose to come here straight from Delhi if you wish. Our Manali guide, Vikas Chauhan (P: 8894191132) can help you out in any way you need.

Kotgarh This new project, in what is known as 'Apple Valley', looks to educate the children of Nepalese immigrants, to help their situation in life and broaden their future opportunities.

ACCOMMODATION For a small fee, we are happy to provide you with simple, neat and clean accommodation. Of course, in Delhi, you may alternatively choose to find your own accommodation, and commute to here.

DELHI In Delhi, we run a community kitchen, providing food for those who would otherwise go without. We also provide brunch and dinner to our volunteers here. You will also have free internet access and wifi 24 hours a day.

VILLAGES In the villages, you will be welcomed into a family home, provided with a place to sleep, and two meals a day. During your homestay, you will truly feel like part of the family and will be very well looked after.

ITINERARY Volunteers are required to work for three to four hours a day. In their free time, they can go sightseeing. In Delhi this could involve visiting the Red Fort, shopping in bazaars, or going on a slum tour, the last of which we can organise. For those staying in a village, hiking, bird-watching, rafting, and attending local festivals, are all popular activities.