Volunteering
Cuckoo has been a completely volunteer-based movement till now. We have had volunteers from different parts of the country for varied activities. This time period of volunteering is a crucial time in the journey of Cuckoo.
Seeking volunteers
to support us in the leap,
to get their hands dirty,
to water the plants,
to create magic,
to star gaze,
to listen,
to smile,
to cry,
to be.
Simple vegetarian food and basic accommodation would be provided on campus for volunteers. More details would be provided via mail for shortlisted volunteers. If you have gone through the above content and you consent to volunteer.
Who can Apply:
If you are someone willing to adapt, learn…who can work physically on the ground…with a group of lovely people, you will ever meet…eat simple vegetarian food…sleep on the floor with stars as roof …enjoy sunrise and sunsets…always have a smile on your face…please go ahead and fill the form.
This is not meant for someone who wishes to take a break from their busy schedule and come on a vacation.
Here are a few general pointers for Volunteers to be aware of
Daily Activities
6:00 am – Morning Practices
7:00 am – Morning Circle (To discuss on works of the day)
7:30 am – To begin the work on decided activities of the day
1:30 pm – Lunch Break
4:00 pm – Street Library
6:00 pm – Evening School
8:30 pm – Debriefing Circle (To discuss on learnings of the day)
9:00 pm – Documentary Screening
This is a tentative flow and bound to change subject to priorities and weather conditions of the land. During weekends the children from villages would come to Cuckoo and the flow would change accordingly.
Medium of Communication
Children communicate only in Tamil. Most inland volunteers can communicate both in Tamil and English, depending on the convenience of participants. Participants can choose to express themselves in the language they are comfortable with.
Accommodation and Food
A very basic accommodation, separately for men and women will be available within the campus. You will have to sleep on the floor with a floor mat, in a shared space. There are no individual rooms or dormitories. Simple vegetarian food will be provided. Please do not expect any luxurious food to suit your taste buds. You will have to adapt to whatever is available.
Things to Bring Along
>A refillable water bottle
>Book to write (minimum A5 size) and pens.
>Coconut oil (to beat the dryness)
>Torch (not on the phone)
>Regular Medication (if in case)
>Sanitary pads/cups for women (as there are no shops nearby)
Cuckoo has varied weather conditions, beyond predictions. Depending on the existing weather conditions please do carry along, according to seasons.
>Blanket/Sweaters/Mufflers
>Cap / Hat
>Poncho / Raincoat/Umbrella
And finally, lots of energy and smiles...
Things NOT to bring
>Snacks or eatables.
>Any expensive jewellery/gadgets. (We would not be able to safeguard your belongings and hence we would not take up the responsibility if there is any loss.)
Disciplinary Guidelines
>Drinking, smoking, drugs / any form of substance abuse is strictly prohibited inside and around the campuses.
>Anyone found indulging in the above practices, will be immediately terminated from the program.
Medical Guidelines
>Participants are requested to inform about any medical physical or mental health conditions beforehand as there are no hospitals in the immediate vicinity.
>Any situations of emergency cannot be attended to immediately.
How much should one pay?
How much ever you can from your heart.
We are not looking for something beyond your capacity.
If you can cut down on your single chai and donate that Rs.10 to the land,
the value of that is priceless.
Cuckoo is a completely voluntary-run organization with no support from corporates or the government sector.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to reach Cuckoo?
‘Cuckoo’ is located in the foothills of Javadhu, at the junction of Singarapettai where the state highway from Tiruvannamalai bifurcates to Uthangarai and Tirupathur.
By Bus:
Take a government bus, as private(town) buses take more time to reach.
– From Tiruvannamalai: Take a bus towards Bangalore / Salem / Hosur / Tirupathur and get down at Singarapettai.
– From Salem / Bangalore: Take any bus headed to Tiruvannamalai, get off at Singarapettai and
take an auto (Rickshaw) to Cuckoo Forest School. Auto is charged at Rs.200/-
All the auto annas are familiar with Cuckoo and are safe to come with them at any point in time.
By Train:
– Nearest railway station is Jolarpettai / Thirupathur / Tiruvannamalai / Samalpatti
By Flight:
– Nearest airport is Bengaluru / Chennai.
By Road:
Please follow this Google map.
From Tiruvannamalai – Krishnagiri Highway – Singarapettai – Puliyanor Village – Cuckoo
Is there a dress Code in campus?
For both men and women, As the campus is situated among rural villages it is essential to respect the local culture but also be in comfortable clothing. Any loose clothing that covers the upper arm, midriff and knees at all times is mandatory for both men and women. (Shorts, and T-shirts not allowed). Please avoid tight-fitting clothes such as leggings and jeans. This is not to disrespect any clothing style/culture, but to ensure the comfort of work and respect for local culture. If it rains, there may not be space to dry clothes. So please do bring enough clothes for the entire duration of stay.
Can I use mobile phones?
Please refrain from indulging using phones. Take this as an opportunity for digital detox. You can use your phone to the minimum possible. The best would be to switch off your phone for the period of stay.
Can I leave halfway through the program?
No. Only in case of a valid emergency and after a discussion with the organising team, one may be permitted to leave halfway through the program.
More details would be provided via mail for shortlisted volunteers.
If you have gone through the above content and you consent to volunteer.
For clarifications please call on
+91 82702 22007 or mail to cuckoochildren@gmail.com.
Cuckoo does not have active network connection/signal strength. The number may only sometimes be reachable/answerable. Please leave a WhatsApp / text message and we will call you back.
Leaping Forward in Hope
Family of Cuckoo