A willing volunteer

colinlaidlaw

Dear all

From the end of July I will be travelling through India, Nepal and Myanmar for one year and am looking for opportunities to do volunteer work.

I have strong skills in teaching English, project management, IT and film making.

Can you please let me know of any organisations that are worthwhile. There seems to be a wealth of them out there that want to extract my money, but which ones are any good?

Any advice greatly received.

col

bijapuri

well, lots of orphanages will gladly let you play with the kids and such,if you don't mind that.

Not sure if your skills will be realisticaly useful. It takes time and effort and resources on the NGO's part to utilize anyone who has those skills, whether they are paid or no. For you to come in for anything like less than 6 months and then leave, might take more effort than is useful.

If you're willing to make that kind of commitment would mean that for 6 months you'll be doing no traveling, working long hours in, most likely, an urban setting. Are you really willing to make that kind of effort?

I make these comments not to deter you, but as a result of 16 years of involvement with a NGO in BLR.

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Brisso

Be careful Col - I have seen one volunteer program (where you paid for the privelege) that turned out to be labouring in a quite middle-class northern agricultural village - no indications of poverty or disadvange that I could see. Volunteers caught on pretty quickly and left - only to be replaced by the next batch of starry eyed young folk.

mazha

Hi Colin,

Check out this site, it contains stories about positive work. They are all crosschecked by the editor, and provide contact details. Not all of them provide opportunities for volunteering, but it may give you a start.

http://goodnewsindia.com/index.php/gni

M

Diana

Hi Col, if you make it do Kerala we can talk about whether or not you'd like to make a movie staring our preschool kids.

As for "paying to volunteer"...that is a touchy subject around here. Some places are just big businesses that make their money (corporations) from placing volunteers. Other places, like my small NGO, do charge but the "fee" basically covers the cost of housing, feeding, transporting, and insuring (which you have to do) volunteers + about 15% for the trouble and to help the NGO become sustainable. Regardless, the western tourist gets a fantastic deal and access to a real community and families as opposed to being a "guest" in a hotel or elsewhere.

I don't like so called "charities" that are just out to take advantage of western tourists' good will. On the other hand, I don't like western tourists' who feel the honor of their presence and some help at an struggling NGO is so valuable that said struggling NGO should give said tourist a free ride when their objective in hosting volunteers is to help both volunteer get a good experience and to help the NGO survive in developing country. I've seen (and heard) both types of situations and it irks me when someone wants me to take from the kids at the preschool to host them while they travel in exchange for a bit of volunteer work. Make sense?

Anyway, good luck and joy on your journey! It will be a wonderful year to remember all your life!

Diana

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Nick-H

Diana expresses very well why we have felt it necessary to change our site rules to regard charities as commercial organisations and not to allow any promotion or requests for donations or volunteers (sorry Diana, that includes yours). It is a sad state of affairs.

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Diana

I certainly understand Nick. Not a problem. (Actually, I prefer to think of the school as a school rather than a charity...but until the government decides to do their part, I guess charity it shall be...)

colinlaidlaw

Thanks all for your help and nice words.

I have actually now been approached by The Railway Children charity based in Mumbai and hopefully will be able to do a stint with them. I may even be able to get sponsorship for the stay, which, lets face it, is always handy.

Diana, even though you got your fingers slapped by the powers to be, I admire and appreciate your response. If I get down to Kerela it would be nice to meet up and see your school. Who knows what can emerge from such encounters.

Namaste.

col

Diana

Thanks col! You are welcome anytime. I love to show the place and people off.

I looked at The Railway Children as I'd not heard of them and it looks like they are doing some excellent work with street kids that populate the stations. You are a very special person to want to help and I wish you very best of luck. Have an amazing time!

Diana

navinkurian2002

sounds interetings http://www.railwaychildren.org.uk/article.asp?id=421
Local Partner:Saathi
http://www.sathi-india.org/Childrenissues.html

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kjluke

col,
I am teaching at an (Jahangirabad) Institute of Tech here in Uttar Pradesh outside of Luchnow for a semester. They are searching for professors/lecturers (a Western background or experience helps). I am essentially volunteering although I am getting a small stipend. There is a need for faculty and lecturers-- I have a business background and am teaching to MBA students--I have never taught before. There is an MBA program and a Mass Communications Degree Program, where I imagine your filmaking or photography skills, etc could be a fit. The second year starts n September. You could teach for three weeks or more, they provide room, board, etc.

I don't want Nick to slap my hand but if you want to hear more let me know.

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praks

You could visit www.karmayog.org to get a list of NGOs where you could volunteer. There is a section on volunteering too.

dan lyndon

Like Colin I can offer similar skills (I am an advanced skills History teacher from London with 15 years of experience of working with students from all around the world, and have also been involved in film making), and am planning to spend 6 months in India from Sept, with a significant chunk in Kerala (prob 2 months). I would love to be able to do some volunteer work with young people, but am not getting too far with responses. Any replies would be much appreciated.

Dan

cooksisters

Hi Dan,
i know of a small residential school in the lower himalays, in a small lake town near Nainital who host volunteer teachers. They will provide accomodation and food. I am not sure about a stipend though-- if you are interested pm me or send me a mail and i will give you more details.
by the way -- i too am in london -- 07905683341.
cheers
mg

mazha

Contact this place: http://www.chetanamedia.com/index.html