Final Field Program - University of Virginia

MAU08 SERVICE VISIT: GAYASING ASHRAM HOME & CITE LA CURE NEIGHBORHOOD (0930-
1430 Thursday, 14 October) Minimum 16/Maximum 80 (PRICE: $48)
[FDP: SAVISHINSKY]
Begin with a stop at Gayasing Ashram Home, a home for male and female senior citizens, to meet some of the
residents. Next visit the sacred tomb of Father Laval, who not only came to Mauritius in 1840 to preach the
gospel, but also to establish routines of caring for the sick and looking out for the education of young Creole
(Mauritians of African descent) children. Continue to Cité La Cure neighborhood where you can meet and
interact with the children of the DLD Teen Hope Project. (The price of this practicum includes a donation to
Gayasing Ashram Home and to the school of Cité La Cure neighborhood.)
MAU09 SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE OF BAMBOU (1500-1830 Thursday, 14 October) Minimum 16/
Maximum 40 (PRICE: $45)
Visit the SOS Children’s Village in Bambou, the capital of the Black River province. A medical student, Hermann
Gmeiner, opened the first SOS Children’s Village in Austria in 1949. Today SOS Children’s Villages are in more
than 106 countries and are home to over 26,000 needy children. The village in Bambou consists of 12 family
houses, houses for the village director and the aunties, a staff house, a community hall and an administrative
building, as well as two special education classrooms for the benefit of SOS children who have no opportunity to
attend school before their admission to the SOS village. Up to 120 children will find a new home in the village at
Bambou. The SOS kindergarten consists of three classrooms, a staff room and a kitchen, as has a capacity of 75
children. Please note: The price includes a donation to the SOS Children’s Village of Bambou.
MAU10 SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE OF BEAU BASIN (1500-1830 Friday, 15 October) Minimum 16/
Maximum 40 (PRICE: $45)
Visit the SOS Children’s Village in Beau Bassin. A medical student, Hermann Gmeiner, opened the first SOS
Children’s Village in Austria in 1949. Today SOS Children’s Villages are in more than 106 countries and are home
to over 26,000 needy children. An SOS Children’s Village consists of 10-20 houses, with 9-13 children of various
ages living with their SOS mother in each house.
While providing a family environment for children who have been abandoned by events beyond their control, SOS
also acts as a bridge integrating the children into a larger society. The children attend local schools and are thus able
to keep in close contact with the surrounding community. Learn about the village organization and management and
spend time meeting and interacting with the children.
------------------------------------------------------ FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER ------------------------------------------------------
MAU11 SERVICE VISIT: TERRE DE PAIX CHILDREN’S SHELTER (0800-1300 Friday, 15 October)
Minimum 16/Maximum 40 (PRICE: $45)
Visit the Terre De Paix, an organization providing services to children, adolescents, young adults and those in
need. The children here have been removed from their families through a court process by the Child
Development Unit to protect them from a hostile environment, where children have all suffered various types of
abuse and gross neglect. Several programs support this organization. Discover the aim of the organization, see
the village and workshops, and meet the children through interactive games. Please note: The price includes a
donation to the Terre de Paix.
Mauritius Field Program – page 4