As 2010 draws to a close, the lectures and exams are at an end for many students at Charles Sturt University (CSU). However a group of social work students is preparing to embark on a trip to India later this month. “This first trip to India by social work students at Charles Sturt University aims to give the students valuable international field experience working with social workers in villages between the major metropolitan centres of Mumbai and Pune in the country’s south,” said Dr Bill Anscombe, senior lecturer from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “The local social workers are very skilled at field work and work in a variety of challenging situations. It is a great opportunity for our students to see and experience international social work. The 19 students from Charles Sturt University will assist the local staff with reporting and monitoring, and experience reality there and learn about development programs.” The itinerary includes field trips to orphanages, mobile health vans, disability services, a leprosy disability institution, as well as providing opportunities to learn about micro-credits and micro-finance programmes, women’s empowerment programmes and child protection programmes. During the trip the students plan to donate to building accommodation at an orphanage in the Malvali-Lonavala district.