Volunteer in Kolkata - Volunteer Visions Org

Has anyone volunteered through volunteervisions.org? They provide volunteer placements in Kolkata... I am looking for positive and/or negative feedback to help me make a decision!!

There is no need for you to pay to volunteer in India. These organizations are focused on getting your money only, and you can't be certain that all of it is going to the poor. Just go to India, ask around and right away you will find dozens of organizations that need your help. India is full of Christian volunteer organizations that won't charge you anything. They sincerely want to help the people. DO NOT PAY MONEY TO VOLUNTEER! Just go, you'll be glad you did.

Thank you, thank you!!!

I am wondering about IFRE volonteer organisation "Institute for Field Research & Expeditions" I really want to volonteer in a good organisation. Thanks for your advice. Here's the link http://www.ifrevolunteers.org/india

I would like to put across an alternative opinion to 'its all a scam'. It is not always a scam - some companies may scam and the rest do not. Unfortunately the ones who do scam give the rest a bad reputation.

Paying an organisation to volunteer in India means that you should (if they are a good company) get support, orientation,food and accommodation - you may get to live with a family thus experiencing more culture than in a guesthouse and nicer home-cooked food, a guaranteed placement with a reputable NGO that knows you are coming, are expecting you and thus you will be able to be useful while you are there.

If you are confident enough to roll up in India and go through various contacts you may have to find volunteer work then go for it and good luck and you may have a great time. I would just like to point out that good companies that provide services to people wanting to volunteer in India are not the scrounge of the earth and geniunely want to make sure that your experience is good and that you are useful and bring value to the NGO where you are volunteering.

I agree with everything you've said; it is unfortunate that the bad organizations ruin it for the good ones. But by Indian standards, these NGOs unnecessarily charge foreigners hugh amounts of money. Hundreds of dollars per month just to volunteer. You can have a very comfortable 'middle life' standard of living anywhere in India for $200 per month. It's not necessary to make foreigners pay $400-$600 per month, especially when they are voluunteering their time to help you.

What I meant was that it is better to go to India, find your own accomodation and then search around for a good NGO. For travelers who don't speak the language then I guess it is better and safer to pay the extra amount of money and stay with a host family. Still, I'm sure these host families are being paid just a few dollars a day.

Personally, I don't think it's right for NGOs to be charging the fees they do. I have volunteered my time to several NGOs and for the amounts of money I've paid them I haven't seen much of it go to the poor.