EDMUND RICE NETWORK

INDIA IMMERSION PROGRAMME

The India Trip is a structured immersion programme, which provides an experience in a foreign culture, while working with those at the margins of society. Its main focus is to develop a social conscience to create leaders of the future.

The purpose of the trip is to:

	expose students to a different culture and to guide the students through the social process of living in a different culture from their own.
	provide opportunities for the students to work with those at the margins of society
	develop an understanding of one's role in a global world
	help develop a social conscience
	Take part in the wider Edmund Rice (Christian Brother) network

THE PROCESS

Stage 1 - Preparation - monthly meetings which include guest speakers and looking at issues raised by the India trip

Stage 2 - Immersion Bombay & Delhi - getting used to India

Stage 3 - Understanding the basis of India culture - Varanasi & Agra (studying Hinduism and the historical influence of the many peoples of India).

Stage 4 - Voluntary work assisting Mother Teresa's sisters in the homes for the dying and intellectually handicapped in Calcutta for one week.

Stage 5 - 4 days in Goa… getting India out of the system and getting into touch with Catholic culture in India

Stage 6 Follow up meetings of the group with encouragement to become involved in the Edmund Rice Network in NZ eg Edmund Rice Camps in Dunedin,

Edmund Rice Volunteer work overseas (eg Africa).

Background

The first organised trip to India was in December 1998. The second trip departed for a month on December 9^th 2000.

There have also been trips to India in 2002, 2003 (Christchurch based- St. Thomas of Canterbury College) and most recently, in December 2004.

The current trip format consists of seven adults and 22 students (including 7 university students).

The trip is open to any student from the Edmund Rice Network (Christian Brother schools and families and friends) network throughout New Zealand.

Applications to attend the next trip to India in December 2006 have since closed.

For further information on future Immersion experiences to India please contact-

Br. Paul Robertson

St. Peter’s College

Ph 0064 09 5248108 ext 313

Or

Abigail Fonseca

ERN National Support Office

Ph 0064 09 52408108 ext 370