India Corporate Brochure

India Corporate Brochure

CORPORATE TRIPS

Change lives together. Grow stronger together.

Ecuador Find adventure and a warm welcome from the local Kichwa people in the Amazon

India Connect with the people and culture of Rajasthan, nestled in the ancient Aravalli Mountains

Kenya Meet the Maasai and Kipsigis Communities, and discover the beautiful Mara they call home

WE.ORG/TRIPS | [email protected] | 1.855.959.8330

Introducing ME to WE Corporate Trips

When you give back, the benefits are endless. On a ME to WE Corporate trip, your team will have the unique opportunity to bond over meaningful experiences while making a profound difference. From building a company culture that does good to creating a sense of community, purposeful travel has an unparalleled way of engaging everyone at work. When colleagues make a difference, they’re empowered and inspired as a team to help your organization succeed.

We build better travel experiences.

Our expertise comes from over 20-years of working alongside communities around the world. With years of experience, on-the-ground knowledge and our passion for doing good, we offer a travel experience unlike any other.

Hands-on experience

Discover a new country and learn about the issues its residents face by experiencing daily life and engaging in thought-provoking discussions with our knowledgeable facilitators and local staff.

Adventure & discovery

From safari excursions to jungle hikes, dive into incredible new experiences. Plus, we offer exciting extensions to create the perfect trip for all!

Volunteering We understand that every organization is unique. That’s why our trips are customizable to meet your company’s needs; however, activities such as school building and water walks are always included for a truly authentic, genuine experience.

Community immersion Our itineraries are designed to actively demonstrate the WE Villages sustainable development model. Guests will participate in new experiences, meet a community and get to know a new culture firsthand.

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We didn’t start as a travel company—we started as a movement to change the world. For over 20 years, we’ve worked hand in hand with communities in Kenya, Ecuador and India, helping to empower them with the tools to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Along the way, we’ve met remarkable communities who have welcomed us into their homes and lives, sharing with us their stories. Today, we’re privileged to call them our friends and family, and because of that, they’re welcoming our travelers, too. Forget tour groups and buses— your team will have the opportunity to experience the joys and challenges of daily community life, along with getting to know a country and its people through an extraordinary, unforgettable lens. We invite you and your team to join us at our signature lodges in Kenya, Ecuador and India for a travel experience you won’t find anywhere else. Go beyond a safari to walk in the footsteps of families in rural Kenya, trek the Amazon jungle to meet the indigenous communities who call it home and discover India’s vibrant culture through the eyes of locals. With our over 20- year history of working with our charity partner, WE Charity, we’ve formed close bonds with local communities around the world, giving us the honor of offering our travelers an authentic, immersive travel experience. Our travelers connect with the people and places around them—joining families to collect water, participating in cultural traditions and even having the opportunity to contribute to a local project. This is a travel experience that stays with you. Meaningful. Purposeful. Downright unforgettable. What makes us unique? Our story.

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Why we work in India We are inspired by every country we work with, but India in particular holds a special place in our hearts because it’s where our work first started with WE Charity. • More than a quarter of India’s population live below the poverty line. • Nearly half of all children in rural areas are underweight. • Thirty-five percent of women are illiterate. • Child labor impacts at least 12 percent of children. • Only half of girls attend secondary school.

POPULATION 1.27 billion

CURRENCY Indian rupees ( ₹ )

TIME India Standard Time (GMT/UTC plus 5½ hours)

LANGUAGE Hindi, English (official languages)

India

Our work in India We’re partnering with communities in the Rajasthan region to implement WE Charity’s five-pillar sustainable development model that includes projects like:

WATER 9 community wells rehabilitated

HEALTH 3000+ people have been provided with medical care.

OPPORTUNITY 23 women’s groups have been established and over 725 goats have been distributed.

12 partner communities

India

Travelers from all over the world visit India for the vibrant colors, delicious delicacies and beautiful sights like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort. On a ME to WE Corporate Trip, you not only get to experience everything that India has to offer, but we also bring you beyond the sights, onto the beaten path and into the communities that live there.

EDUCATION 100+

FOOD 200 farms participating in food programming

schoolrooms have been built including classrooms, teacher offices and libraries.

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Trip highlights

Meet local artisans

Have the chance to learn about the origins of tie-dye and block printing as you try your hand at creating colorful masterpieces.

Get hands-on

Visit local projects, including schools and water well where you will contribute firsthand and give back to the places you’re visiting.

Community discovery

Indian cooking class

Walk side-by-side with women as they fetch water, care for their goats and cows, and cook chapatti for their families—learning what it takes for a community to thrive.

Join our chefs to learn how to prepare traditional favorites like butter chicken and samosas.

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Framed by the pink-hued Aravalli Mountains, Araveli makes the perfect retreat offering delightful spaces to recharge and refresh after a day of volunteering and exploring India’s vibrant culture. Accommodations: • Private cottages and luxury tents designed with authentic Indian décor and royal Rajasthani flair. • Modern conveniences including hot water, electricity and en suite bathrooms. • Nearby hiking trails in the scenic mountain foothills. Food: Enjoy the rich flavors, aromas and spices of Indian cuisine, prepared fresh by our chefs. Savor each meal on our al fresco dining platform, which offers an incredible vista of the landscape below. Pricing: Starting at $3,995 USD per person...during high season. Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp

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Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

• Say alavida (goodbye) and indulge in a special farewell breakfast.

• Arrive in Delhi and meet your ME to WE guide upon arrival at the airport.

• Take a morning flight to Udaipur.

• Watch the sun rise over the nearby Aravalli Mountain Range with an optional yoga session.

• Join local women to share in their daily activities like

• Enjoy sunrise yoga.

• Volunteer on a community project.

• Say a farewell to the community.

• Take part in sunrise yoga.

• Take part in a community project.

collecting water, feeding animals and preparing chapatti.

• Travel to Araveli in the heart of rural Rajasthan, a two-hour drive northeast of Udaipur.

• Learn a few words of the local language, Hindi.

• Spend a leisurely afternoon at Araveli. Relax, reflect or play cricket or volleyball.

• Meet locals taking part in goat-rearing initiatives with WE Villages.

• Visit Kumbhalgarh Fort, which boasts the second-largest wall after the Great Wall of China. • Enjoy a “dinner cart extravaganza” meal, with a selection of colorful stalls at

• Transfer to your hotel and settle in for the night.

• Experience a community welcome with local students and families.

• Try Bollywood dancing, then join local artisans for traditional crafts like tie- dye and block printing. • End the day with a colorful performance that will showcase local folk dance traditions.

• Try traditional Mewari painting.

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• Take part in a poja—a traditional Hindu prayer ceremony that marks the beginning of an auspicious event.

• Be welcomed to Araveli by our team.

• Take part in a community project.

• Settle in and enjoy a delicious dinner.

• Enjoy a lunch back at Araveli, followed by jhapki, which is Hindi for siesta.

Araveli serving some of India’s most amazing gastronomic dishes.

• Explore the nearby mountain foothills with a guide on an optional nature hike.

• End the day with a colorful performance from a local dance troupe.

*Please note that this is a sample trip itinerary and details are subject to change. We are happy to work with you to customize an adventure.

Customize your trip with an India extension

After a week of meaningful activities, treat yourself to a special cultural excursion marked by authentic Indian hospitality. Explore the Taj Mahal, a must-see on any traveler’s bucket list, or visit the marvelous sights of the Golden Triangle.

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE: JAIPUR AND AGRA Discover the regal splendor of Jaipur and Northern India with magnificent forts, palaces and landscaped estates. From the aristocratic grandeur of Deogarh Mahal to the mighty ramparts of Amber Fort, royal Rajasthan will pamper you with hospitality and luxurious splendor. End your adventure with a visit to the world-famous Taj Mahal.

TA J MAHAL Explore the hidden wonders of Agra, made famous by the Taj Mahal. With the city’s surviving art, culture, architecture and royal cuisine, contemporary Agra can only be described as a grand experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is the weather like in India?

A: December to February offers pleasant temperatures during the day with cooler temperatures at night. April to August is when it begins to warm up, with June being very hot. July is monsoon season, a beautiful, transformative time in India. From February to March and September to November are the perfect times for visitors who are fleeing colder climates! Q: What time zone is India in? A: India is on IST (India Standard Time), and is 10 or 11 hours ahead of EST (Eastern Standard Time), depending on the time of year. Q: Can I bring a laptop, iPod, expensive camera, etc.? A: We suggest traveling as lightly as possible to minimize the risk of damage to or loss of your possessions. For essential items, Araveli Cottages and Tented Camp provides a small safe in every tent and cottage. Q: Is there filtered water? A: We provide filtered water for our guests to drink. We bring jugs of purified drinking water to the camp and then recycle them after each trip. We recommend bringing along a good reusable water bottle that you can fill up as you head from our lodge for your day trips to the community. Q: Will I have access to phone and internet while in India? A: Both phone and email communication is easily accessible in New Delhi. Internet and phone access are not readily available at Araveli. In Udaipur, you will be able to use your phone if it is activated for international use. Q: How is the food? A: Participants will have the opportunity to sample a range of traditional Indian and Asian cuisines. Participants enjoy their meals from local restaurants that are regularly visited by ME to WE and are pre-arranged by ME to WE facilitators, as well as meals prepared on site at Araveli. The majority of the food we will be eating in India is vegetarian, as it is the local custom. Don’t worry—there will be lots of protein options as well as Western favorites available at all times. Q: What is the electrical voltage in India? A: Electricity will be available in New Delhi and while in Rajasthan. The voltage in India is 230–240V/50Hz. There are two types of Indian-style plugs. The first has two circular metal pins while the other has two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin. Please make sure to bring a converter with you. Plugs C and D are used in India. Q: Can I bring gifts for the kids? A: We ask that you do not, as we work in solidarity with our partner communities. Put simply, your gift is your presence. We ask that our trip participants do not bring candy, toys or presents for community members, as we would like to promote fairness for all children. A portion of your trip cost goes to in-country communities to support their basic needs.

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We build better travel experiences.

Your safety is our first priority.

• Professional Facilitators with first aid certification will accompany you for the duration of your experience. • All transportation provided upon arrival at the airport by in-country teams and trusted private providers. • 24-hour Risk Management team on call while you are in- transit and on the ground. We provide an 24/7 phone number in advance of your experience should you or your loved ones need to connect immediately in the event of an emergency.

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Join us! ME to WE Corporate Trips Katie Yigitoz Director, School & Corporate Engagement

[email protected] 1.416.964.8942 X1547