Global Xchange is just what the name suggests – it is an exchange of young and thinking people like you, between India and UK for a period of 3 months each.

Rural-urban  is not the only way to look at issues of development. Do you have another way of looking at it? Tell us about it. Meanwhile, we can give you yet another way to get yourself involved and exposed through GX.

Xchange? It is not just what you are thinking. In GX you will get to live and work with a group of youth in their own country and then in turn host them in yours. So it means this is much more than an exchange – you are a guest and a host – leaning and giving all the time. You not only get to engage in the issues of your country but also get a much larger perspective of a completely diverse culture. Imagine the interactions and learning you can have with this kind of exposure. Not to mention the fun you can have along the way.

Who can apply: If you are between 18 and 25 and this seems another way to address issues of development, then come aboard in GX.

Click here to downlaod the application form for the GX batch of 2010. Send in your completed applications to lokasish.saha@pravah.org

Pravah partners with Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) in providing this 6 month program. A group of 18 volunteers (9 each from India and UK) will get to work in pairs throughout the internship period. Together, each pair will live in a host home in the community and work on a project that contributes to the lives of the people in the host community. One day in a week is reserved for the team to come together, share their varied experiences, and learn about the community- its culture, places and issues among other things, from them. Two project supervisors (one from each country) will guide the team through out the six-month programme. The Xchange will pay for travel, accommodation, food, visas, medical costs, training and an allowance.

Click to learn about the Subprograms

Click to know about the structure of GX

SUBPROGRAMS

Training

All the 9 selected Indian volunteers will be expected to take part in 3 training sessions:

1.Introductory Training Course (ITC): This will prepare you for the arrival of the overseas volunteers and will also look more specifically at preparing you for working in a cross-cultural environment.

2.In country Orientation: The ITC goes directly into the in-country orientation, which starts with the arrival of the overseas volunteers. The training then focuses on building supportive and trusting relationships. There are more opportunities for training, reflection and review throughout the programme during educational activity days, mid-phase reviews and de-briefs.

3. Returned Volunteer Workshop: 4 weeks after returning home, the Indian volunteers are invited to attend a returned participant workshop. Its purpose is to support returned volunteers in their 'life after GX’ by giving them the chance to reflect on their experiences and to help them focus on their future plans.

Structure of the programme:

The programme is structured around five 'core components' that are applicable to both, the UK and India programmes. These core components are: 

• Counterpart Pairs: Each volunteer has one counterpart from the exchange country with whom they live. They may also have another counterpart from the exchange country with whom they work.
• Host communities- In both countries, the volunteers live and work in a community that is new to all of them. In India, the community will be a rural area in Rajasthan.
• Host homes- Each pair of volunteers will be staying with a family in the host community. Just as we look for diversity in our volunteers and communities, we also encourage variety in our host homes.
• Work placements- Work placements are structured so that the volunteers are able to have maximum take aways about the community and its issues and at the same time make a positive and practical contribution to community initiatives. The placements are chosen such that they respond to the needs of the local community and enable the volunteers to make a tangible contribution.
• Educational activity days (EADs)- Usually held once a week, EADs provide the volunteers with an opportunity to come together and engage in active learning about community development issues in each country. Each week, different counterpart pairs run the sessions.