Media/Radio Technology Development

Background

Dharamashala is secluded, embedded into nature with diverse local communities. Media has the potential to reach the masses with real-time information and challenges. Radio specifically has the power to appeal to masses, since it’s cheap even for the vulnerable communities.

Challenge

Dharamshala has a very diverse community of people, living together.  It is also the shelter-home to hundreds of monks from Tibet including his holiness the Dalai Lama. The radio schedules are monotonous and aren’t able to capture the attention of the audience. The staff at these radios and media channels are also local people with minimal educational and professional qualifications. Hence, the radio and media product quality is being compromised.

SBB Intervention 

Radio has the power to bring awareness and enable education through its mass reach in the vulnerable societies. Through our work with a local NGO which runs a radio in the local dialect. We cover various social awareness topics with the aim to bring a change in a society which has a lack of access to information and knowledge-sharing. 

Volunteers are needed to support the media work, the technology-friendly can help in technology development and other relevant volunteers can help in content making and more. SBB is looking for international volunteers to improve the radio product quality and bring innovation and new ideas to the projects. 

    Main tasks of the volunteers:

  • Observe the local team work and make suggestions for improvement
  • Help the team in production of media materials
  • If technologically skilled then assist the team in radio broadcasting process
  • Help in content creation, if interested
  • Improve the radio program quality with new ideas and innovations

We would be happy to hear and find ways to implement your ideas! 

  1. Program Base: Dharamshala
  2. Project duration: 1 month – 24 Weeks
  3. Joining dates: Open throughout the year
  4. Arrival date: Saturday or Sunday are preferable, if not weekdays will be managed
  5. Arrival airport : Dharamshala Airport or Delhi International Airport with bus transfer to Dharamshala
  6. Beneficiaries:  Local communities and radio listeners
  7. Working days: Monday to Friday, Weekends are off
  8. Total volunteer hours: 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, generally 25-30 hours per week depending on the workload
  9. Weekends: Free to do sightseeing or travel
  10. Requirements: volunteer needs to have good command of English, having academic/professional background is obligatory for technical roles.
  • Pre-arrival assistance
  • Detailed pre-arrival orientation and cultural awareness info
  • Pick-up from Jaipur International Airport
  • A detailed orientation about India, project, cultural responsibility and things to remember in India, SIM card assistance
  • Accommodation with host family (single or dual occupancy) or volunteer house
  • All meals (Authentic Indian meals) Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Resource materials to use on project
  • Weekly market visit to shop for your necessities
  • Cultural workshops: 1 Hindi class, 1 Indian dress workshop, 1 professional Yoga class, 1 cooking class
  • Airport drop at Jaipur International Airport
  • Logistics & program assistance if required
  • Emergency support

Host family: Indian local family which is ready to receive you like a family member, share food and space with you. Chances of having single or dual occupancy are there as we don’t keep more than 3 people in one room in host families. Host family accommodation is best to discover the local culture and to enjoy tasty home-made Indian food. Food includes breakfast, lunch and dinner made by the host and includes vegetarian authentic dishes like chapatis, daal, vegetables.

Facilities include:

  • Shared bedroom (max 2 people)
  • Western washroom with toilet & shower
  • Hot & cold water
  • Filtered water
  • Common Fridge
  • Common semi-automatic washing machine
  • Kitchen access to cook food if wished so
  • Wi-Fi or internet Data access
  • Family environment
  • Comfortable & safe stay option

Volunteer House: This is a common accommodation for our foreign participants to share and experience each other’s culture as we have participants from all over the globe. To ensure understanding and security in this accommodation we have some basic rules to follow to make sure everyone is convenient here. Rules are no smoking inside the accommodation, no night outs, no outsiders allowed. Food in the volunteer house includes breakfast which is self-service (make your own coffee or tea, toast, oats), lunch and dinner are ordered by our coordinator staff with delivery from hygienic and decent restaurants or chefs. Food is vegetarian authentic meals like chapatis, daal, vegetables.

Facilities include:

  • Gender based division of participants
  • Rooms with max 4 people in
  • Western toilets
  • Shower
  • Kitchen to cook
  • Hot & cold water facilities
  • Wi-Fi facility
  • Semi-automatic washing machine
  • Fridge
  • Filtered water
  • Hindi class
  • Indian saree workshop
  • Professional Yoga class
  • Indian cooking class
  • Air fare
  • Visa
  • Insurance
  • Local transportation (mostly on walking distance or support from coordinators)
  • SIM card
  • Personal expenses

For costs and further details please contact us on info@stepbeyondborders.org