Long term volunteering

Anyone have any experiences with volunteering long term? I am able to spend a year or more(10 year visa)if room and board are provided or at least partially subsidised. Is this common or even possible?

I have looked on many NGO sites and cannot find any concrete information about this for persons with no medical training. I have tutoring and informal teaching experience and am willing to work in almost any capacity.

Ideally I would like to work in West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh or Ladakh but realistically I would be willing to give my time almost anywhere.

Allan

Hi Allan!

Why don't you contact the NGOs directly? Just send them an email with a short profile of your qualifications and tell them about your wish. Or call them. There are so many NGOs in different fields, there will be something suitable for you. Some of them will answer, some not, but it's definitely possible to get something after sometime That's my experience.

I normally never answer these extermely frequent volunteering posts. But something tells me here is a genuine person.

If you are here for so long, just meander around the Country and keep your eyes'n'ears open for Charities/Hospices/institutions etc. As long as you dont demand a salary NOBODY will deny you bed and board in India cuz they are given as a matter of righteous dharmic duty (for a night or two). The Vedic injunction sez atithee devo bhava (guest is to be treated as God).

There are many genuine NGOs Non NGOs all over. See where the vibes feel right to you. Your vibes/thoughts should match theirs. Leave the rest to the Divine Spirit which prompted you to volunteer in the first place. Very many huge NGO's in rural India DO NOT have internet/web exposure so you will never meet such on the net. If you see them in person, it will be a revelation. Make a rough decision about the Geographical region and the area of your work which you are mentally contemplating. This will help you to identify an opportunity as it arises.

All the best. May you be loving help to other humans.

Thanks AvidTrekker! You hit the nail exactly on the head for what I was asking about in my convoluted manner.

Allan

I have a work in Madras - we're doing our best to educate children in the slum areas - we've just started - june 03 - Indian run and it's very basic. BUT we're desperate for teachers. - If you're interested and willing to work voluntarily please contact us through our site - www.anopendoor.org. - info there at the moment is on Uganda - travelling to Madras in Nov, so will be able to update with photo's etc after that.