Join us! ASTEP is getting ready to send a team of 12 artists next month to deliver an arts intensive camp to the students of Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project – a residential school for economically and socially disadvantaged children outside Bangalore, India.

“You have a choice about how to see the world. There is no limit to what you can do.”

We are looking for artists to lead Musical Theatre, Filmmaking, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, and Storytelling classes to help this camp thrive. Be a part of our team that brings the beauty and power of the arts to this very special community! 

Email Sami Manfredi at sami@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Dates: September 5th – 17th, with an optional retreat September 3-5th

Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, just outside of Bangalore, India

*Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists.

Help us make a difference! This Spring, we are sending a team of Volunteer Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Southern India to deliver a multi-week arts camp that focuses on visual and performing arts including music, filmmaking, dance, and musical theatre.

Shanti Bhavan translates from Hindi to English to mean “Haven of Peace”, and we believe the work of our teaching artists will help to create just that. Join us in bringing arts education and application to these students from India’s lowest castes, where we are able to provide them with the space and time to practice communication, collaboration, empathy, and creativity. With ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan, your work will foster a symbol of hope, providing the students with the skills necessary to create and thrive in a brighter, better tomorrow.

Dates: May 23 – June 10, 2018
Application deadline: February 15, 2018
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project just outside of Bangalore
Who: You! All artists with a passion for making a difference!

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Sami Manfredi at sami@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Last September, I had the opportunity to join the ASTEP team headed to Shanti Bhavan in India as a visual arts teacher during a two week arts camp. Those weeks on the ground changed my life! I had no idea that it was even possible to fall in love with so many different souls in just a week. I also didn’t go into teaching at SB thinking that I would learn so much from my students. They taught me how to be joyful, grateful, considerate, open, innovative and so much more.

The students were so driven, well-behaved, and willing to try new things. These students are a part of a completely different culture than mine, but they had the biggest hearts and were some of the coolest kids I’ve ever hung out with. This was my first time visiting India, and the staff and students of SB made me feel right at home.

Aside from working with the brilliant students of SB and their kind staff, I learned so much from my co-teachers and volunteers that lead the program with me. We participated in a plethora of different team building exercises including meditation, group lesson planning, photo challenges, writing exercises, and more that enhanced my teaching and leadership skills a great deal. Spending time at SB has made me a better teacher, a better mentor, a better team-player and a better student.

If there are any artists looking to impact a beautiful group of students while learning just as much as you are teaching, SB is a haven of peace that will love you as much as you will love it.

Rosco was part of ASTEP’s Fall Arts Camp at Shanti Bhavan in September 2016.

** Email Aaron Rossini at aaron@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more about the volunteer experience.

Step outside of your comfort zone and make a difference in the world this year with ASTEP. This spring, we are sending a team of Volunteer Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in Southern India to deliver a multi-week arts camp that focuses on visual and performing arts including music, filmmaking, dance, and musical theatre.

ASTEP believes poverty is defined by a lack of choice. Our team of Teaching Artists, along with the faculty and staff at Shanti Bhavan, use their art, their passion, and their talents to teach students that they have the power to make choices in their lives.

We will show our students that their ideas have value and that they are capable of making positive transformations in their country, their communities, and their world. By bringing arts education and application to these students from India’s lowest castes, we are able to provide them with the space and time to practice communication, collaboration, empathy, and creativity: all skills necessary to live and thrive in a world where their voices matter.

Dates: May 24 – June 12
Application deadline: February 25, 2017 (EXTENDED)
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project just outside of Bangalore
Who: All artists! We need a diverse team and hope that you are a part of it!

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Aaron Rossini at aaron@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

“One of the best things about volunteering at SB was waking up every morning and starting my day with the preschoolers. They are so playful, smart, and filled with smiles; they overwhelmed me with joy every single day. ”
–Kaila Galinat, ASTEP Volunteer Teaching Artist

We are excited to announce a new, elite opportunity to work with ASTEP as a full time music teacher at Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in rural India!

Teaching Artists in this position will lead general music education classes for primary school students in grades Pre K through fourth, and will lead choir rehearsals for upper school students. Teaching Artists will also organize and facilitate private lesson for students in a variety of instruments. All applicants should feel comfortable teaching piano and voice lessons to beginning and intermediate level students.

This position will be available year-round, but to be considered for placement in July, August, September or October, applications must be received by Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

To be considered for this position, please send a completed ASTEP Volunteer Application and current resume to lizzy@asteponline.org.

The accepted fellow must be available to teach for a minimum of 3 months, and will receive $800 towards their flight purchase and a stipend of $500 per month. Room and board is provided on site.

We look forward to hearing from you!

This summer ASTEP is sending a Volunteer Teaching Artist to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in India to lead our year-round music program. This Teaching Artist will lead elementary students (Kindergarten-6th grade) in general music classes, lead choir rehearsals for students in upper grades, and organize and facilitate private lessons for interested students.

In this position, an ASTEP Teaching Artist has the opportunity to introduce students to all that music has to offer. ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan work to develop the whole child by using the arts to introduce confidence, creative problem solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration. By giving them these skills, ASTEP Volunteer Teaching Artists are able to transform students’ lives using the most powerful tool they have: their art! Apply today to be part of the magic.

Dates: 2 – 6 month commitments starting as early as May 30
Application deadline: ASAP
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project near Bangalore, India
Who: All Musicians

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Lizzy Rainer at lizzy@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Want to use your artistic talents to inspire joy? Ever wonder what Southern India is like in the spring? Then ASTEP might be just what you’re looking for!

This spring ASTEP is sending a team of Volunteer Artists to Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in India to deliver a two-week arts camp that focuses on music, theatre, dance, and visual art. Together, ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan teach students that their voices matter, that their ideas have value, and that they are capable of transforming India and their communities. By bringing the arts to these children from India’s lowest castes, ASTEP provides students with the opportunity to develop their social and emotional skills and to imagine a world where anything is possible. All volunteers receive room and board and live on campus with the children.

Dates: 16 May through 6 June 2016
Application deadline: 15 March 2016
Location: Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project near Bangalore, India
Who: All artists! We need a diverse team and hope that you are a part of it!

** Room and board is provided by ASTEP and Shanti Bhavan for all Volunteer Artists
** Email Aaron Rossini at aaron@asteponline.org or give us a ring at 212.921.1227 to learn more!

Engage in the transforming power of the arts!

ASTEP is currently recruiting musicians, dancers, and visual artists for our three-week arts camp at Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project, a school and home for economically and socially disadvantaged children outside Bangalore, India. With a team of 5-10 volunteer artists, ASTEP’s arts camp transform the school into a place of creativity, performance and ol’ fashioned silliness for the 300+ students at who live there.

Application deadline: July 17, 2015
Dates: September 6 – 23, 2015

Email Lizzy Rainer at lizzy@asteponline.org to learn more!

+ Want to find out more about our partnership with Shanti Bhavan?

+ Check out photos from our most recent camp in May!

Thank you to our incomparable team of Volunteer Artists who led our May 2015 Art Camp at Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project: Kalee Burrows, Gabby Deede, Carolyn Fry, Harrison Fry, Brian Gnojek, JJ Krehbiel, Lauren Morris, Lizzy Rainer, Midori Samson, Aaron Umsted! Working together for three weeks in May, these volunteers helped wind down the academic year by transforming the school into a place of play, creativity, and ol’ fashioned silliness for the 300+ students at Shanti Bhavan, a school and home for children of the lowest caste, located south of Bangalore.

The camp theme: Celebrate, Explore, Create!

The volunteers taught classes in the visual arts, music, dance and theatre with concentrations in areas such as musical theatre and even comic-book creation class! In addition to the classes, there was a focus on “camp-fun activities” such as scavenger hunts, water balloon fights, and even roasting s’mores, a first for the kids!

Beyond simply teaching artistic skills, the focus of ASTEP’s Art Camps provide the children with a safe space to develop important life skills such as creative problem solving, self-confidence, leadership, and collaboration — skills that will help them on and off the stage. Plus, a chance for a child to truly be carefree and play will do so much for their overall health and wellbeing.

The art camp culminated with Shanti Bhavan’s graduation ceremony where the students showcased their artwork and special performances for the community of staff, family, friends and supporters!