The post that got the ball rolling!

Hello, listserv! We would like to invite anybody interested to participate in an amazing volunteer project in Andhra Pradesh, India during Golden Week. We are planning to work with the same organization that we did last year which is ARV, Association for Relief Volunteers.We will be working in villages belonging to the lowest caste of India, most of whose members are landless. Last year the project included reparations to and creation of the wells, planting of trees (for villagers to sell leaves as medicine), construction of a school, teaching English, playing with the children…however the biggest gift given to the villagers was obviously LOVE. Really, I am certain that is what the villagers remember most, is how they were accepted and treated by the volunteers.Tentative plan and costs:April 26 Depart Sapporo in evening, fly to Tokyo, sleep at NaritaApril 27 fly Tokyo-Taipei-Delhi, leaving early in the morningApril 28 fly to Hyderabad in the morning, then bus to villageApril 29 – May 5 work in villagesMay 7 arrive Sapporo in the eveningFlights: 121000 yenVisa: Americans 11250 yenOther 8500 yenARV fee: 40000 yen(includes hotel and all food, daily transport, food for several community meals prepared by volunteers, all materials necessary for projects in the village, and gifts-new saris for women, school supplies for children etc.Here is the building communities blogspot which provides more information about the project. http://building-communities.blogspot.com/Please contact us if you have any questions and are interested in volunteering!Tim McInerny & Theresa Hill