Volunteer opportunities in Bangalore

I'm a trailing spouse newly settled in Bangalore. I see moving here as an opportunity to get to know a country I love better. It was also a good excuse to leave the corporate world and spend more time nurturing my creative side which was crying out for attention. On leaving my former life I also decided that I've had enough of working for a client - money and prestige was doing nothing for me - and would like to give my time, energy and skills to someone who needs it. If anyone has a personal experience volunteering with an organisation in Bangalore, please get in touch with me. There are many organisations out there but I would prefer to hear about opportunities and experiences first hand.

Did you find any great volunteer opportunities? I would love to hear about them? I am looking for something just like it!

What are your skiils?

I work in marketing in Cosmetics. Read about a program that is starting to teach teens to support themselves through cosmetology. Would be perfect but not starting early enough. I I am good with kids but would love to help women that are in need. Ideally, I would be interested in vocational training. Depending what it is, I could learn simple tasks and skills very easily (basket weaving, crafts, etc.) I have heard about programs that teach girls/women to care for themselves and become self sufficient. I am looking for a reasonably prices program that has a decent amount of support and is really for a good cause. Decent accomodations (decent meaning clean water and few bugs) and some sort of orientation would be excellent! Any suggestions?! Really, I am open to different ideas that I didn't discuss here, just want to have a good experience... Thanks!

So, the Freedom Foundation looks interesting! Do they have a volunteer program for people who can't offer medical services? I saw they indicated that they can use peoples help caring for kids, making crafts, candle making, etc. but do they provide any of the stuff that I described above (orientation, accomodations, low cost, etc?!)

FF won't pay for anything like your room or board, and usually doesn't accept vols unless they are willing to make a minimum 6-12 month committment. Usually the vols we take on are affiliated with universities.

If that sounds callous, keep in mind that volunteers usually are a project in themselves for the first few months! For FF to divert hard pressed resources to integrate a vol into our system, it has to be worth it for all concerned, isn't it?

if all that still leaves you interested, PM me

Hi Frog.
U defintely have a warm wish to help.But why let your help through an organisation?
In my opnion giving by yourself , can elevate your bond in more postive way. And doing by yourself creates few "Qualty Time" with whom you share your hard earned spare savings.
For me it has worked like a human touch of feeling.Knowing the people you are helping by person.Organisation can just give a flatering certificate or VIP treatment in their function when we have no idea what happend to our money.
Going straight in country like this produces happy times.
smiles
Sanjay

Hey Bijapuri

Are you still looking for volunteers to work in your Freedom Foundation?

I knew some one from
http://www.ivolunteer.org.in/

They are good organisation. and more suited to foreigners because they are all corporatised...

They have a section on foreign volunteers too
http://www.ivolunteer.org.in/pages/f...volunteers.htm

Hope that helps