< Back to Odyssey Framework

PROGRAM

Overview

A Fresh Chapter heals the emotional scars of cancer by blending meaningful volunteer travel with programs designed to reframe adversity, foster connections, and promote personal growth and development. Through the India Odyssey, we want to empower you to expand your story beyond cancer while giving back. You will have the opportunity to learn about a new culture, gain a broader perspective on cancer in other parts of the world, and come home inspired to get more involved in your local community.

You will volunteer side-by-side with local community based projects and you will be placed at a volunteer assignment based on your skills and interests as well as the needs identified by the local community. Our partners will transport you to and from your volunteer assignment at a carefully selected community organization for approximately four to five hours each day.

A Fresh Chapter has a facilitation team on-site to help support the emotional needs of all participants. Throughout the program, A Fresh Chapter facilitators lead a variety of group activities designed to help you heal the emotional scars of cancer and reimagine the next chapter in your life.  These activities could include (but are not limited to) reflections on the impact of volunteering, journaling, group discussions about the emotional impact of cancer, cultural activities designed to promote personal development, and the introduction of other tools and resources to help you build a strong sense of community with each other and the projects you will serve.

Participants

Our India program is open to both caregivers and patient/survivors. The program will have 12-14 participants, women and men who have been impacted by some type of cancer as a patient/survivor or caregiver.  Program participants typically range in age from mid-20s through late-60s. We’ve found this diversity creates a more enriched experience for everyone.

Accommodations

• All program participants will be staying at a guest house in the middle income area of Hauz Khas. While basic, the guest house will have everything you need. You can expect to have 1-3 roommates in a room with a shared, en-suite bathroom (each person will have his/her own bed – no bunk beds). Both women and men will be housed in the same guest house but will not share rooms. We will eat most, but not all, of our meals at the guest house. There is Wi-Fi and cafes and restaurants within walking distance that also have access to high-speed connections.
• All meals will consist of delicious, healthy, and nutritious options freshly prepared by a partner of AFC.
• Food allergies can be accommodated with advance notice (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.)
• All transportation to and from our volunteer placements and to cultural activities will be provided. Transportation for optional activities and excursions is the participants’ responsibility.

Itinerary

The international volunteer component of the India Odyssey program runs from February 23-March 9, 2019. Selected participants are expected to arrive in New Delhi, India on Saturday, February 23 before 9 p.m. and to depart at any time on Saturday, March 9.

• Saturday – arrival
• Sunday – orientation and sightseeing
• Monday – Friday: morning volunteering and a combination of cultural and A Fresh Chapter activities in the afternoon and evenings
• Saturday – Sunday: travel to Agra, India for a Once-In-A-Lifetime experience at Taj Mahal
• Monday – Friday: morning volunteering and combination of cultural and A Fresh Chapter activities in the afternoon and evenings
• Saturday: departure at any time

While there will be some pockets of free time for rest and reflection, we recommend that you come early or stay after the program if you want free time for exploration in India.

As note above, our activities are designed to address the deeper emotional scars of cancer – the emotions around the shared struggles of cancer.  This is not a traditional support group and so there are no organized activities around sharing your specific story of cancer (e.g. on May 5, 2000, I was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, etc.) While our programs do not follow the typical support model, there are some elements that may be familiar to those who have attended support groups.

All A Fresh Chapter activities are required, as is volunteering each morning.  There are some cultural activities that can be optional but are recommended in order to have the full experience of the program.  Accommodations can be made for those who need more time to rest such as individuals in active treatment or those affected by post-treatment fatigue.