imon and I stayed and worked at Uma Nivas for a month from mid February to mid March and were able to help out with teaching, gardening and IT training as well as working with other volunteers on a film project.
We both had comfortable rooms and were very well taken care
with delicious food and frequent treats of hot milk and biscuits (I think we may have both put on a couple of pounds during our stay…).
The bathrooms were very clean and the girls made doing the laundry a lot of fun finding the fact that my male partner was getting on his knees and scrubbing our clothes hilarious.
The children at Uma Nivas were an absolute joy to work with. We were both a little apprehensive about teaching but found the kids to be incredibly polite and well mannered and SO keen to learn that we really didn't have anything to worry about.
We also got to spend time visiting the nearby village and to socialise with some of the teaching staff which offered an insight into rural Indian life which we would not have been able to experience travelling alone. The volunteers also made the work a lot of fun and we have made lasting friendships.
I really couldn't recommend Uma Nivas highly enough. The Didis, children and villagers all made it an amazing experience which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.
