{"id":2714,"date":"2017-02-11T00:40:14","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T00:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/?page_id=2714"},"modified":"2018-02-17T10:05:44","modified_gmt":"2018-02-17T02:05:44","slug":"india-darjeeling-volunteer-vacation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/?page_id=2714","title":{"rendered":"India Darjeeling Volunteer Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Volunteer\"Volunteer\"Owner<\/p>\n

Fourth generation tea estate owner, Rajah Banerjee<\/strong>, has created an agricultural community respected around the world for its organic products and sustainability.<\/em><\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\"Seniors<\/p>\n

Story & Photos by Sophie Ibbotson with Max Lovell-Hoare<\/h2>\n

\nAs the tiny blue engine of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway puffs and pants its way from the plains of West Bengal into the mountainous foothills, I feel as if I am entering paradise. Arid brown fields and clouds of dust suddenly give way to lush rainforest in brilliant jade, and thousands upon thousands of emerald green tea bushes emerge. The beauty of the landscape and the warmth of its people draw me back time and time again, as a writer, a film maker, and a friend. In Darjeeling, paradise has a name: it is Makaibari.<\/p>\n

This tea estate is an ecologist\u2019s dream. My first visit coincided with the discovery of a type of caecilian, a tail-less amphibian that scientists had believed to be extinct for the past 120 years. In fact, it was alive and well among the tea bushes of Makaibari, attracting the attentions of a CNN film crew.<\/p>\n

Makaibari has been run in accordance with bio-dynamic principles since the 1970s and has been certified as organic for over 20 years. This gives a huge boost to the local wildlife. Over a thousand acres of virgin rainforest provide ample habitat for a Bengal tiger, cloud leopards, rare deer, over 300 species of birds, and an infinite variety of insects. Today, 70% of its area is under forest cover. I rose at dawn with Barbara, a retired social worker from London, in a bid to catch sight of one of Makaibari\u2019s pied hornbills, vast birds of prey with wingspans 10ft wide. We were not disappointed. <\/p>\n

\"Article<\/p>\n

Tea fields are framed by virgin rainforest habitat on the estate where rare indigenous wildlife thrives.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
\nTake five minutes with the estate\u2019s visionary owner, Rajah Banerjee<\/strong>, and \u2018sustainability\u2019 will be the word on your lips. For Rajah, Makaibari is not just a tea estate or a commercial endeavour, but a living, breathing organism at the heart of his community. \u201cNo man can be an island of prosperity in the sea of unhappiness,\u201d he explains. \u201cFreedom is the ultimate desire of all human beings, and sustainability \u2013 in economics, in politics and in the environment \u2013 is the way for us to achieve that. India has 800 million marginalised farmers. If they can become grassroots entrepreneurs, this will make India truly shine and, when India shines, the world will be radiant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rajah lives the mantra he preaches. He has made each of Makaibari\u2019s workers a stakeholder in the estate, and since 1994 a joint body of elected workers (predominantly women) has decided how profits should be spent.
\n\"India<\/p>\n

Each estate family has two cows to provide milk and manure for organic fertilizer.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

One of their most important policies has been to give each family on the estate two cows to care for. The cows provide milk, which can be consumed or sold for profit in the local town, and they also produce copious quantities of manure. This manure can be sold back to the estate as organic fertiliser, and also poured into communal bio-gas converters to use as fuel for cooking. Women no longer have to spend long hours collecting firewood, and so the forests are also preserved.<\/p>\n

\"Article<\/p>\n

Selected organic teas from this estate rate as the best black tea in the world and the most expensive at auction — quite an achievement!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"International
\nThe people of Makaibari are proud of their estate, and rightly so. Since 2008 they have been running the Volunteers in Makaibari (VIM) program<\/strong>, inviting visitors from around the world to engage in their unique social and ecological project, to contribute skills and expertise, and to learn something beneficial that they can take back to their own communities. Makaibari is a model for sustainable agriculture and sustainable communities, and a key part of this role is spreading the word.<\/p>\n

In the two years that the program has been running, well over 200 volunteers have come to Makaibari, staying and working for anything from a few days to six months. Most volunteers hear about Makaibari through word of mouth and prefer to offer their time directly to the estate, ensuring that the money they pay for food and accommodation goes straight to the workers rather than to an intermediary company. The estate does not charge volunteers a registration or administration fee: recognizing the donation of your time and energy as most important.<\/p>\n

Makaibari\u2019s four primary schools, library and IT suite, as well as the health center offer diverse volunteering opportunities, but sometimes visitors want to try their hands at something a little different. Barbara, my bird-watching companion, is a volunteer with the UK\u2019s Carbon Trust and keen to see how Makaibari might better use alternative energies. She spent her time identifying potential sites for solar panels, analysing how efficient they would be.<\/p>\n

On her return home, she intended to approach alternative energy providers in Europe to sponsor the conversion of a village from standard electricity to solar power. \u201cThere is so much potential here,\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone is so ambitious and open-minded to new ideas. Many of the ideas I had before I arrived were actually already in place \u2013 I had to keep coming up with new ideas to keep up with the pace of innovation here!\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Women<\/p>\n

Tea estate women have benefited greatly from this sustainable community model of living and working.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Older volunteers are particularly valued at Makaibari because they have experience and skills to share. Although no specific data has been kept, it\u2019s estimated that almost 60% of VIMs are over 50 years old<\/strong>. A small team of volunteers from the US with engineering and construction experience has designed and built water pumps and water storage tanks so that women no longer have to walk to the river for water. Health care professionals have trained a team of physiotherapists who now rotate between Makaibari\u2019s seven villages, and business people have supported female would-be entrepreneurs in areas such as book keeping, marketing and computer literacy.
\n<\/p>\n

\"SchoolMakaibari Tea Estate’s Community in a Nutshell:
\n 1574 acres, two-thirds of which is virgin rainforest.
\n Founded in 1859 as the world\u2019s first tea factory, it has been in continuous operation ever since.
\n In the foothills of the Himalayas, 4500 ft above sea level.
\n Population of 1730 people, divided between 7 villages.
\n All school-age children are educated in one of Makaibari\u2019s four primary schools,
\n A health centre staffed by a doctor and team of travelling \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0health worker.
\n A community library and computer center.<\/p>\n

\"Homestays
\nAll VIMs live with a family during their time on the estate. Homestays, which cost US $25 per couple per day and include all meals, bring an additional income stream to the families, who take great pride in their homes. Each host family has taken a small loan from Makaibari\u2019s development fund in order to equip their home with western style toilet facilities, and, as constant building around the estate shows, the scheme has already been hugely popular. Homestay guests can expect their own room with basic facilities.<\/p>\n

The homestays are well-maintained and very clean but you should not expect all western comforts \u2013 refrigerators and satellite television are rare luxuries. As well as being conveniently located, the homestays give volunteers an opportunity to genuinely experience local culture, in a manner that a hotel cannot possibly provide. <\/p>\n

\"Homestay<\/p>\n

Community members have been trained as homestay hosts and given small loans to create for volunteers basic facilities and furnishings within their homes.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

My host family was eager to teach me a little Nepali, the children didn\u2019t laugh too hard at my pronunciation, and I was proudly introduced to friends and local traditions. Each meal was freshly prepared with organic produce grown at Makaibari and cooked over gas from the cows in the barn next door. You can\u2019t get fresher than that.<\/p>\n

After each long day out and about in the clear mountain air, a cup of Makaibari\u2019s Darjeeling tea was my much-awaited treat. I\u2019d seen the tea growing in the fields, watched the women carry it to the factory for processing and now, best of all, was able to appreciate its flavor. The focus on community involvement in, and benefit from, every stage of the tea production process enabled Makaibari to become the first Fair Trade tea estate in the world. <\/p>\n

The effort has clearly paid off, not only for workers but also for tea drinkers: Makaibari\u2019s Muscatel (2nd flush) tea has been rated as the best black tea in the world<\/strong>, and the estate\u2019s patented Silver Tips Imperial is the most expensive tea<\/strong> ever to have been sold at auction. It is purchasable on the Makaibari website for $20 per 50 grams (1.76 ounces). <\/p>\n

\"Tea<\/p>\n

Tea processing has added more sustainable jobs on the estate as well as development of valuable new skills.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Makaibari draws me back because it is unique in so many ways: as a location, an eco system, a business, a community, a volunteering opportunity and as a holiday destination. It is a sustainable model that can, and should, be replicated not only in the third world or in agricultural settings, but wherever there is a need for greater inter-dependence between communities and the environment in which they live — in short, everywhere. If the relationship between people, or between people and the environment, is not sustainable, none of us can claim to be truly free or prosperous, as is the Rajah Banerjee vision. We must work together, contribute what we have learned, and share what we know. This is the message of Makaibari.<\/p>\n

\"Follow<\/span>To volunteer at Makaibari<\/strong>, or to get more information, visit www.makaibari.com<\/a>, email makaibarirajah@gmail.com<\/a>. It is also possible to stay at the tea estate without serving a volunteer.
\n
\nGetting there:<\/strong> The nearest airport to Makaibari is at Bagdogra (IXB), an hour\u2019s drive from the estate. Domestic flights arrive daily from Kolkata (CCU) and Delhi (DEL), both international hubs. If arriving by train, there are sleeper services from Kolkata and Delhi to Siliguri, from where you can catch the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to Kurseong, the town overlooking the Makaibari estate. Volunteers and homestay guests will be met at the station or airport and driven to Makaibari.
\n
\nAlso in Travel with a Challenge<\/em> feature article collection<\/strong>, we invite you to enjoy other richly-illustrated India travel stories: Darjeeling’s Miniature Himalaya Railway<\/a>, India’s Peacock Village<\/a>, and The Matriarchs of Megalaya<\/a>.
\n
\n\"Incredible<\/a>With Incredible Indian Tours<\/strong>, discover India or Nepal on your trip of a lifetime, blending cultural and heritage experiences to amaze and enthrall. We also offer specialist tours for women only or for country festivals and events. 60% of clients are over 45. www.incredibleindiatours.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Sophie Ibbotson<\/strong> is a freelance journalist and photographer who lives and works in Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. She has a particular interest in politics and economics in the region, and advises government bodies and NGOs on international development and co-operation. Sophie first visited the Makaibari tea estate in 2008 while producing the Tracing Tea television documentary, and retains a strong relationship with the estate and its workers. www.tracingtea.com<\/a>.
\n <\/span>
\nMax Lovell-Hoare<\/strong> produces and directs the Tracing Tea television documentary. His interest in Makaibari was piqued by the estate’s micro-finance and micro-enterprise models, subjects on which he advises government departments and NGOs in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Max has lectured on tea and his travels to the Royal Asiatic Society and the Royal Society for Asian Affairs and will this year launch the Tracing Tea brand of organic and ethically traded teas. www.tracingtea.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Feel free to explore other stories about volunteer vacations well suited to senior travelers, their families and friends. Click on the titles below to read each inspiring article.
\nVolunteer to teach English in Crete<\/a><\/span>
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\nGiant pandas need our help<\/a>
\nHawaiian Islands volunteer vacations<\/a>
\nCheetah volunteer vacations<\/a>
\nOlder travelers love volunteering<\/a>
\nVolunteering in Rural Tanzania<\/a>
\nMonitoring the health of Australia\u2019s Great Barrier Reef<\/a>
\nEarthwatch volunteers in Barbados<\/a>
\nUS Native volunteer vacations<\/a>
\nVolunteer vacations worldwide<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fourth generation tea estate owner, Rajah Banerjee, has created an agricultural community respected around the world for its organic products and sustainability. Story & Photos by Sophie Ibbotson with Max Lovell-Hoare As the tiny blue engine of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway puffs and pants its way from the plains of West Bengal into the mountainous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2714"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2714"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2714\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10236,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2714\/revisions\/10236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelwithachallenge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}