Any chance of doing voluntary work ?

My wife looking to do useful charitable work .. anyone have any ideas ?

Or any other good ideas how she can keep busy at first .?

She can keep herself busy by :

Joining Yoga classes,
Learning local dancing
learning some interesting musical instruments
Teaching French
Clubbing, Gym Or sports etc

or if.... She really can do some socially useful work then I would advise her to join a NGO and work for humanitarian causes.

If your wife enjoys doing volunteer work then try this organization Udavum Karangal

The Overseas Women's Club of Chennai is a good way to meet people for your wife. They also have committee who does charity work and they are chronically short of people. You can check out www.owcmadras.blogspot.com for more details. There is also a coffee morning for new members once a month. The next one will be on May 28th at 10 AM at Anokhi on Chamiers Road.

Your wife might find that simply setting up house - keeping the utilities going, getting internet, phone, TV, etc. - takes a lot more time than it does in a first-world country. It took several months before I felt like I had time for volunteering.

SAHM

if she still has time after ^^ then she can look at volunteering at The Banyan (www.thebanyan.org)