SUPAERA alongside Éthiket Magazine are proud to present our newest partner Saheli Women. 

In support to  Saheli Women  we decided to share with  you the finest internship and volunteering opportunities in Rajasthan, India in 2020. Come take part into the world of  traditional craftsmanship and community building with Saheli Women’s artisans in rural Bhikamkor!

 

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INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

 

 

Saheli Women offers unique and exciting internship opportunities to socially involved individuals from around the world who are passionate about ethical fashion, rural development and women’s empowerment.

 Candidates may apply to one of our two programs: the IPHD Livelihood Program internship or as a Saheli Women Student Partner. Saheli Women Student Partners have the chance to bring their own designs to life and/or teach practical income-generating skills to women in the village.

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IPHD Livelihood Program

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"Interns in our Livelihood Program will work for our parent nonprofit organization, the Institute for Philanthropy and Humanitarian Development (IPHD), in Jodhpur, India.

The position is ideal for individuals interested in fashion design, fashion business management, ethical marketing or developing rural artisan skills.

Livelihood Program interns will be responsible for managing relationships with our fashion house and designer partners, reaching out to new potential partners, posting on our social media and assisting with operations at the Saheli Women clothing and accessories production facility in Bhikamkor village.

Interns will also design, plan and implement a sustainable project with IPHD’s assistance.

Interns will gain valuable experience in the ethical fashion industry and learn how a sustainable value chain works from the pre- to post-production phases.

Students also form bonds with the women who work in the village, along with our international partners in the ethical luxury fashion industry.

 

This internship is unpaid and interns are required to pay a program fee that covers educational workshops, job training, basic Hindi language lessons, housing, food and project costs.

All candidates must commit to the position for at least six weeks.

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Interested in applying? Check out the box below . 

Please specify in the application that you are interested in working with Saheli Women.

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Saheli Women Student Partner

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Saheli Women Student Partners are treated as any other fashion house or designer partner. This gives students the unique opportunity to produce their original designs through an ethical process. Student partners may also lead sessions teaching sewing, stitching or embroidery techniques to women in the Saheli Community Center.

Student partners must come to India with designs for clothing, accessories or homeware that they wish to have our women make. IPHD will then assist student partners through the process of sourcing locally-made fabrics (organic cotton, vegetable-dyed cotton, block print, silk, satin or ikat), preparing a sample with a local tailor and teaching women in the village to create the designs.

The position is unpaid and interns are required to pay a program fee (production costs are not included in this fee). Students may apply for our short-term program (two-five weeks) or our long-term program (at least six weeks). The program fee will vary depending on the duration of your stay and the nature of your project.

 

 

 

 

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY  

 

Engage with ethical fashion beyond a consumerism standpoint. This artisan workshop tour is a week-long trip for those who wish to get a behind the scenes look at our approach to ethical and sustainable fashion. On this trip, you will be taught the traditional embroidery techniques our ladies use while being immersed in Indian culture. Visitors will split their week between Jodhpur and our adopted village, Bhikamkor where they will participate in workshops on traditional embroidery techniques and Indian culture. Accommodations will be with a local Indian family for an authentic Indian experience.

Travelers accepted on a rolling basis. Let us know your dates and we can accommodate. Must have at least 2 travelers for a trip to take place. 

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ITINERARY

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Day 1: Arrival 

Upon arrival in Jodhpur, have a welcome dinner at IPHD founder Madhu Vaishnav’s house and enjoy chai and fresh local food. Meet host family at Madhu’s and transfer to host family after. 

*Meals included: dinner 

 

Day 2: Jodhpur 

Breakfast at your host family’s followed by a survival Hindi class and Indian cultural and caste workshop. After having lunch, proceed for sightseeing at the Mehrangarh Fort, followed by a walking tour of the Old City. Dinner will be at a Indian rooftop restaurant in the Old City.  Overnight at the host family. 

*Meals included: breakfast and lunch

 

Day 3: Jodhpur + Eipad

Breakfast with host family followed by a day trip to visit a studio specializing in block print and vegetable dyeing. In the afternoon, you will have a workshop on Indian history then a rooftop Bollywood movie screening with a family style dinner after. Overnight in the host family.

*Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

Day 4: Jodhpur-Bhikamkor 

Breakfast at your host family and drive to Bhikamkor. On the way to Bhikamkor, stop to explore Osian, an ancient town in the Thar Desert. After Osian, visit the Saheli Centre and meet the women who work there and share a group lunch. Take part in painting a mural in the children’s library. Then, watch the sunset over the dunes. Spend the evening with chai and rooftop dinner.

*Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodations will be rustic rooftop tents under the Rajasthan stars. 

 

Day 5: Bhikamkor-Jodhpur

Begin the day with breakfast proceeded by a full day of learning embroidery techniques with an organic cotton khadi scarf. In the afternoon, lunch will be served followed by a forum discussion with the Saheli ladies. In the afternoon we will drive back to Jodhpur. Dinner will be enjoyed with the host family. 

*Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

Day 6: Jodhpur 

Free time to explore the local vintage markets and favorite textile shops of the IPHD team in Jodhpur.

Farewell dinner followed by a folk musician with host family in the evening. 

*Meals included: breakfast and dinner

 

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast at your host family and transfer to the airport. 

 

*Meals included: breakfast

Book your trip Here

*Please note that a travel visa is required for US and European citizens to visit India and must be acquired in advance. 

 Cost: $750 per USD per traveler 

The cost of the trip covers accommodation, transportation, and most meals. A portion of the fees will go towards funding our girls’ education project and our health project.

The above cost includes:

• Accommodation: Local middle-class Indian host family 

• Meals: Food cooked with entirely organic ingredients using fresh local produce and traditional Indian recipes

•  Transport: We employ a local driver who can safely take us to and from the airport and other destinations.

• Educational Workshops: We will provide all the essential materials for the embroidery workshops, which can be taken as a souvenir at the end of the trip. 

• Guides: The local IPHD team will lead the tour group and provide all the necessary support before and throughout the trip. 

The above cost does not include:

• Flight to India

• Incidental costs 

• Indian tourist e visa: For US citizens the cost is $100 USD. For European citizens, the cost is $80 USD. 

• Travel insurance: We recommend all travelers obtain personal travel insurance. This covers illness, flight cancellations, theft, etc. 

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Who This Trip is Perfect For

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• Designers looking to source materials from Indian suppliers

• Fashion Design/International Studies/Business/Social Work university students looking for a short term experience 

• Groups of friends and/or family looking for a uniquely Indian cultural experience