I will not mention the names of local businesses, adults or children in this review. Permission is granted to publish pictures. I spent two busy weeks in Jaipur in Rajasthan, northwest India. I took a train to Jaipur from Jaisalmer, from the desert, right on the border of Pakistan. As a rather unconventional idea, I found on a website I followed where the international volunteer organization Volunteering Solutions forwards job offers to different parts of the world. By chance, by changing my travel plan a bit, I got this two-week “Renovation Project in Jaipur” opportunity arranged for my trip to Asia. The local volunteer organization took me off the train for guidance, and the coordinator guided me to the accommodation. I had hoped in advance that I would be offered a homestay instead of a dormitory, but it was not available, so I stayed with three women in their twenties in a nice, spacious apartment. Of course, I got my room. Commune life is familiar to me from my student days – 40 years ago – and it hasn’t changed since then. The two-week volunteer retreat cost me a lot, but it included everything I needed: accommodation, food, guidance… Two Norwegian young women were longer-term social work interns who were part of their studies, and an American worked as a volunteer for a more extended period. I never found out exactly how much I paid ended up at any level of activity. The project turned out to be painting a classroom at a local school. The relatively large classroom had been left unrenovated due to running out of resources, and the walls needed better shape. I had completely free hands to plan and implement the project. Of course, the plans were approved in a multi-stage and hierarchical Indian process. The attached pictures show how the project progressed. I was able to work mostly alone, which suited me well. The coordinator helped from time to time and delivered the necessary materials. I went to the paint store myself when the budget started to be spent. The school director’s son and his friend were helping out in the afternoon after school. They also flew kites with me over the rooftops of Jaipur after the day’s work. The project was completed faster than anticipated, and I received another job offer at the organization’s afternoon club. In the afternoon, the small room is filled with local children, some of whom have been at school in the morning, but most do not attend school. The area is technically a “slum”. The sides of the street are full of partly unlicensed rickety buildings – however, 2-3-story apartment buildings – with small apartments without amenities, where up to 15 people, a couple of families, live in each. I went to work in the morning to finish the day’s work before two, and the club opened. A few children appeared from the street to accompany us, and soon, a dozen of us were painting! At first, I was a little hesitant to give them the responsibility of painting, but they were really careful and learning. I painted the outlines and kept order so that everyone could paint. There were half a dozen “Me, mee, meee” reservations in line, and the painting areas had to be reduced so that there was enough for everyone. It took longer, and the quality was grittier, but the process was excellent. These kids took on the job without being asked. When a brush was used, it was washed in a flash, and the water changed, running there and back. English was also learned, as well as a few words of Hindi. Two different projects fit into a couple of weeks: one independent ended with official thanks, the school’s table standard, and thanks from the leaders, the other with cards made by children, laughter and wishes, “See soon!” (“You” was missing for many; they only learned English in this afternoon club.) One of the boys also wished, “Thank you for anything!” but the confusion, when their teacher corrected it, was resolved with a smile and thumbs up. Well, I’ll be back – because the murals have to be maintained from time to time. And there are certainly other things to do in that area.