India DEEP (In-DEEP)

< Part of Visit a Project (DEEP Exposure Experiences)

Come on a life-changing journey with TEAR that will stretch and inspire your understanding of faith, poverty and development:

For nearly 30 years, TEAR Australia’s In-DEEP program has been shaping the hearts and minds of Australian Christians. In-DEEP is not a tour, it is not a course and it is not work experience. In-DEEP is a seven-week immersion in the culture and chaos of India, with the opportunity and privilege of hearing stories of hope and despair first-hand from marginalised families and communities across India.

In-DEEP is a unique opportunity to spend seven weeks living in India learning directly from TEAR's longest standing partner, Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR), about what it looks like to bring "good news to the poor". Inspiring EFICOR staff will be your local hosts, mentors, and facilitate the 7 week program. TEAR staff will attend some of the program and conduct pre-departure briefing and de-briefing on return in Australia.

Note: Next trip dates have not been set as at June 2019. Please express your interest and we will be in touch.

Express your interest

Program details:

• Daily devotions
• Introductory Hindi classes
• Lectures and group discussions led by prominent Indian academics, theologians and EFICOR senior management (Kennedy Dhanabalan, Kuki Rokhum, Ramesh Babu) on topics including:
  • Overview of Wholistic Mission in India
  • Political and economic structures in India
  • An Indian Christian perspective for involvement with the poor and marginalised (CB Samuel)
  • Indigenous groups in India, Dalits and their struggles
  • Gender issues and the condition of women in India
  • HIV&Aids in India
  • Urban poverty, including a project visit to an urban slum
  • Rights-based approaches to development in India, working with the Government
• Project visits to some of the most marginalised communities across India, sitting and hearing stories of hope and change first-hand, and seeing for yourself the amazing transformation God is bringing through sacrificial Indian Christians.
• Visit to the Taj Mahal, Agra
• Time to debrief, reflect on your learnings, pray and develop a personal response to issues of poverty, oppression and injustice and what that might look like for you when you return to Australia
• A well-supported briefing and de-briefing process with experienced TEAR staff in Australia

Approximate Costs:

The cost for In-DEEP is likely to range between $3700 - $4200 (plus your flights), this cost includes accommodation, meals, local travel, briefing materials and coordination costs. Exact costs will be determined in August.

The cost does NOT include including flights from Australia, travel insurance, vaccinations, visa and spending money.

Requirements:

Applicants for In-DEEP should be:

• an Australian resident
• 18 years of age or older
• willing to live and travel simply in a cross-cultural situation
• ready to listen, learn and contribute positively to a small group environment
• prepared to commit to in-depth study during the DEEP, as well as pre-trip reading and preparation
• willing to fundraise at least $1000 for TEAR projects in India prior to going on InDEEP
• willing to become a TEAR Ambassador and assist TEAR with our educational work on return

Participation in In-DEEP is a great privilege and opportunity and in return TEAR requests that participants consider giving regularly to TEAR, fundraise for TEAR’s projects in India prior to departure and make tangible commitments to be involved in TEAR’s work on return to Australia.

About our Partner EFICOR

EFICOR is a leading Indian Christian aid, development and relief organisation that serves the poor, socially excluded and marginalised in situations of poverty, injustice and disaster. EFICOR also works towards influencing the churches in India to address issues of poverty and injustice.

EFICOR has been operating since 1967, running bottom-up, grass-roots projects designed to empower community members with tools, knowledge, confidence and resilience to bring about their own lasting development, across a range of sectors including maternal and child health, HIV & AIDS, disability, agriculture and climate change and urban poverty. The EFICOR staff have an inspiring commitment and sense of calling to work in the most marginalised and socially excluded communities, especially Tribal and Dalit communities.

Interested? Contact us:

Email or call us for any queries: [email protected], 1800 244 986.