To volunteer or not to volunteer?

flowerchild

I'm looking to do voluntary work with kids in India this autumn to spring 08.

Unforutnately I haven't been too impressed with a lot of the websites offering to arrange placements. I don't object to paying my own costs or an arrangement fee but they do seem very money oriented and more of a specialised holiday system. eg some arrange 2 week placements - I would have thought you need longer to be of any use and kids involved would need more continuity?Others are combined with holiday time - fine if this is what you're looking for.

I visit India fairly regularly & personally am not looking for the holiday experience. I'm ultimately looking for a career change to work with kids so only want to do this if I can get some solid experience and be of some use...Can anybody suggest any suitable orgnisations? Does India really have the opportunities for someone like me to help?

johnyoga2

If you are willing to give two months to one place, Ramana's Garden in Rishikesh accepts volunteers to work with their children. You can google Ramana's Garden or go to www.sayyesnow.org. Go to "help us" and then click on "Interested in Volunteering". Very worthwhile place. Very dynamic lady runs it. Might be just what you looking for.

Drews60

In of the understanding that at the Missionaries of Charity you just have to show up at the Mother Teresa House as a "walk in". They will be glad to use your talents.

Email the organization(s) you are interested in. I doubt if you need a middle man. I don't get a good feeling from "voluntourism" packages.

Diana

I'm sending you a PM...

Madhu10

I have a similar question. I have a business background and would love to support a charity that is looking to expand, to fine tune their operations etc. I would love to be able to share what I have learned in my 10 years of experience in logistics, process engineering and analytical work.

I'm tired of working in the corportate world here in the US and before I dive into the Non Profit sector, go to school again for this etc etc would like to see some field work.

I can pay for all my expenses. And I will not pay to volunteer! unless the fee is nominal and covers some admin costs from the NGO's end.

Are they any Non Profits out there that help management of charitable orgs in India.

Please send me an email if you feel you have a lead mreddy10@yahoo.com

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evilnyberg

i've been volunteering from an ngo in hyderabad for the last year and just wanted to add that - depending of course on how much time you've got to spare... as well as your sense of adventure i guess - actually waiting to decide on which organisation to volunteer with until you come to india can work pretty well.

i found that contacting ngo's once i arrived worked well... there were plenty that were interested in some help and, actually being here in india (able to visit, etc), i believe i was able to make a more informed choice... about whether an organisation was right for me, if i felt i could really support their work/ethos/etc, and (last but not least!) to what extent i actually had something to offer them.

so... for those of you looking to volunteer in india for longer than a month or two, i'd recommend considering taking the plunge and just coming over! (tho a little bit of prep work researching ngo's in the area where you're planning to settle is obviously a good plan!)

good luck, a

flowerchild

Thanks for the tips. Deciding on a base and researching organisations in that area, with a view to going and seeing what they do and what you can offer them sounds really sensible advice...

ruthie1

Hi, I was wondering if you had made any decisions about where to base yourself in Indi. I am in a similar position in that I am looking to volunteer with children for the next 6 months or so. I am heading to Jaipur in October to stay with a friend and she has recommened a organisation who work with street children www.i-indiaonline.com
They don't charge anything and look fairly well organised. If you have found any which you think look suitable, please let me know!
Good luck

navinkurian2002

If you would live to volunteer in ladakh you can check out secmol where you can stay as long as you like and choose what you wanna teach.I was really happy with the welcome and teaching the kids were awesome .Here are some videos from my stay there

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vireya

When in Jaipur last year we visited Ladli, which is part of the i-india organisation mentioned. It seemed a really lovely place, it had a really nice atmosphere, and was dealing with young girls from the streets. There was a young woman volunteer working there teaching the girls who I think was from Denmark - she was staying for 6 months or so I think.

beachsellersdelight

Children Walking Tall on Goa do very good work - they have a website you can contact them through .

flowerchild

Hi Ruthie1, I am actually thinking of basing myself in South India (probably Kerala or Tamil Nadu). Somewhere along the way I read that a lot of so-called children's charities/orphanages are dodgy in some way (this person said up to 50% in their experience) - this is quite a sweeping statement but I interpret it broadly as anything from ripping you off as a volunteer (eg a large fee) to the sheer criminal. I am not paranoid, just not naive and I don't want to give my time and energy to the wrong thing. That's why I am enthusiastic about evilnyberg's advice (above) about actually deciding once in India - I hope this will mean a more informed decision. The other track it set me off on was to come at this from a slightly different angle: look at known charitable organisations which have a branch that works with kids. eg When in Kerala, I plan to contact the Mata Amritanandamayi Center (the lady who gives you a hug) as I know they run an orphanage in Kollam. Are ideas for S India any use to you? I am pulling together a list of contacts for when I get to India: some from the Indiamike folks, some my own research. If it's of interest I can post it. I checked out the Children Walking Tall website and it sounds a fantastic place, but when I last looked they didn't need volunteers until May - not sure if this is still the case. Good luck!

poipleshadow

Hi Guys...

Yes, sorry we're all full up.... I also think it's a good idea to wait till you get to India to make your choice... Although you can't always tell from first looking whether some are good or not (know from expeirence) - the best thing is to get local opinions on the ones you are thinking about... Possibly visit local hospital / schools they might send children to etc...

Just a thought.... There are lots so just find one that shares your views on things...

navinkurian2002

Chech out the asha projects at kerala

vpsingh

People can always contact the European/American agencies like Oxfam etc. working in India. It is much better than going to a middleman arranging for volunteer-tourism. The latter just defeats the helping purpose.
Even in India, why not join a big NGO like CRY or Missionaries of Charity if one is not sure of any particular organisation.

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