FAQs

1. Where will I stay?

Volunteers are provided with free and clean accommodation close to the School during their stay with us.

2. Will the School provide my food?

The School provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner are an Indian meal with rice, indian bread and curries. You will need to cater for your snacks and tea.

3. What will be my work schedule?

You will have to stick to the school hours of 8:20am to 5pm, six days a week. But depending on your work, your timings may change.

4. How will I get to the School each day?

It is a two­minute walk from your accommodation to the school.

5. Where is the School and where is Ongole?

The School is about 3 kilometres from the town of Ongole. It is located next to the village of Pellur. Ongole is in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Ongole is the district headquarters for Prakasam District.

6. Can you tell me a bit about Ongole?

The town of Ongole (pop. 2,00,000 approx.) is an urban town which is not overlaid with the tourist industry nor is it a pilgrimage centre. It is very rare to see a Westerner here. This gives the volunteer a unique experience of real Indian urban life. It is a safe town with friendly, helpful people who can speak and understand a little functional english. It is 13 kms from the coast where there is a fishing village. One can also experience small rural villages, surrounded by paddy fields and filled with very friendly people! The language spoken is Telugu. There are several decent restaurants in town. Local movie theatres show Telugu and Hindi movies. Generally the town becomes quiet after the shops shut at 9pm.

7. Where can I buy groceries and provisions?

You can buy them in Ongole at a supermarket. If you need to go into town you can catch a local bus, a passing rickshaw or co­ordinate with our school bus.

8. Are there any nearby attractions?

13 kms from Ongole is the coast where there is a fishing village of Kothapatnam. Here you can easily request a fisherman to take you out on his boat. If you go further north, you can find the quiet, pristine estuary and beach of Surya Lanka. Andhra Pradesh has many ancient Buddhist sites. One of which is Amaravati, about 3 hours from Ongole. For bird­ watching, the famous Pulicat and Nelapattu bird sanctuaries are about 250 km from Ongole. These sanctuaries offer a stunning multitude of birds during the migration season. Ongole is about 350 km from the city of Chennai, which is the nearest metropolitan city and has an international airport. You can also go to Hyderabad, 8 hours by train to experience this historic city which was ruled by the Nizam dynasty. Explore and relish in the fascinating bazaars and the delicious cuisine.

9. How do I reach Ongole?

The nearest international airport is in Chennai. From the Chennai railway station, you can catch one of the frequent trains to Ongole. It’s a 5 hour train journey through rural India. When you arrive in Ongole, you will be picked up by the School representative at the railway station and taken to your accommodation.

10. Is there a dress code that I need to know about?

India in general has a conservative dress code. In Ongole, it is important for women to cover their shoulders and ankles. Sleeveless tops and shorts are not considered appropriate. It’s best to wear loose- fitting, cotton clothes that cover well. For men, cotton shirts and long pants are appropriate.

11. How is the weather in Ongole?

It is generally hot and humid for most of the year. The most comfortable months are between November to February.

If you have any more questions or queries, please feel free to write to us at info@saibabaschool.com