Volunteering in India

Fakira

Have been looking up volunteering organisations in India and its surprising that you have to pay to serve and help people in India.

Am looking at doing some full time volunteering.

Does anyone have information on this... Organisations to work with, where you can just volunteer without having to pay?

rangers

Hey
its very starnge and nice point u have marked about doing volunteering.its a business .
Do u wana work exchange with us at a lovely bayside forest resort promoting rural activities.
then join us anytime.
smiiles

Alan D

Which charity are you involved with Rangers? To the best of my knowledge you are running a business.

__________________
What a long strange trip it's been!

Muss

Try VCDS in Tamil Nadu, as far as i know they dont charge.... i only have the vcds english web site, but it will giive you the contact e-mail etc. www.vcds.org.uk
Working with the disabled and street children of tamil nadu.

rangers

I sorry Alan, I have no information regarding your knowledge about me.
I work with around 30 different organisations in Orissa.
A field worker on rural tourism and try to create a honourable employement in organic farming.
Its free from any funding agency and self suffiecient,
Travlers many all over the world come here though in small in nos. and we have always preparing plans for the human values.
Rangers as listed in this site is a base station where one has to pay.Coz we bring students from schools for a free environmental session.Therefore we offer scopes for other travelers to interact young students.

To know more about me you better get informed from local news papers and magazines.

I can suggest you hospitalityclub.org made by Mr.Veit to undestand little more about Rangers and read travelouges in Indian publications.

And I come from a succesfull family of industrialists in Bhubaneswar.

Am sure this will help you to improve your knowledge about me.
If you are ready for more please let me know.
smiles
sanjay

I hope these infos will help you

Casey

After an article in our local paper, I was looking at various organizations that have been set up for "volunteering", many of them in areas hit by the Tsunami. I found many of them charging $2000 US (airfare not included) to go help for a week in Thailand. I think there are some unscrupulous people making a large amount of money from the tragedy of others. On the other hand, some places can't afford to feed their volunteers, and therefore, have to charge something so that it doesn't cost them for your help. I am sure you will be able to find something that fits with what you are looking for.

Alan D

Sanjay

Many of us long term members on the forum know that you run a guest house and camping site just outside Puri. I believe from what I have seen on another website that you also organise tours. For me this constitutes running a business.

As you don't mention this in your profile, the OP would be unaware of this fact. The OP wanted to know about volunteering but you mentioned work exchange. How exactly does this work? Does the volunteer receive free food and accommodation in return for their work and what kind of work is involved?

Normally I wouldn't encourage advertising on this forum, but I would like to hear from you what exactly you are offering, so consider yourself free to post on this thread.

rangers

Hi Alan,
I beleive information here and there (in web) doesnt necessarily explains a PERSON.
Ground reality and sustainbility when comes with truth,it hurts few.

if u remeber in the season of 2003 when I post about non available of rooms at Puri and suggested Imers coming here to come rangers for staying free(shoutbox time),there was a remark on my post.
1st.yes there are rooms and subsequently the same person here clarified that I was right.
2nd.I have been warned not to offer anything free for students.

Recently when I requested IM to put a sign of this website on my campsite,I was offered a place to listing of hotel site.

Yes my guest house cahrges money from outsiders as i have to feed 12 of the villagers working in conservation and helping any tourist in trouble in this drive of 35 Kms from puri to Koanrk.(tourist assistance centre).This is India and u know better as a veteran how people here need employemnt.

And you problaly know best that when one wants to volunteer,its a expensive job coz I beleive its big business for few organisations.And u may be knowing better .(see casey post).I am persoanlly not against it,but whenever I see someone wants any alternative I put my idea of work exchange.It means either they can work assist my boys in making beach treks and campings more meaqningful.
At times I offer them to interact with school children who comes to me for ECO ADVENTURE .And you wont believe how beautiful exprience this becomes both for the traveler and the kids.in summer I do parasailing..so few join as assitance in thrillig exprience.In exchange I provide them free stay.Thats how I replied to Fakira( is I searched thru unanswered themes?)
Please dont get an idea that I need to advertisemnt for my campsite in your website.
perhaps I try to give informations than just cheap gossips.As I believe thats why we tell many to visit IM to know more about REAL India.

Perhaps One day I will like to have you as my guest at rangers.
smiles
sanjay

Alan D

sanjay

I spend a lot of time on this forum trying to keep it free of self promotional posts and I have seen a lot from you here, and also on another forum.

However, I was unaware until very recently that you were doing some promotion for Indiamike.com so that changes the situation. I was not informed about this.

Thanks for the invite - I would like to see exactly what the set-up is at your place, but I doubt if I will make it back to Puri in the near future.

cyberhippie

Calm down rangers Alan was right to ask, otherwise how can we ban other travel agents or hotels from advertising here, we have to be seen to fair remember!!

Sounds like a lot of fun what you're offering and well worth looking into. I just hope you don't get flooded with people now that you have offered free accomodation and food (which in the field of volunteering is just great by the way)

I saw a picture of your place sometime back and thought it looked really nice is it right on the Beach and do you have a website??

rangers

Hi Alan,
World is becoming a global village.And in my mind I am convinced that through travel and communication this even becomes smaller.
And somehow I feel travellers to this part of India has always have a good chance of clearing thier confusions(cultural/social watever)if they know about this site,given a chance to meet a local Imer.
To this extent even they can avoid getting cheated or going back with a bad exprience.
Meeting people is my pastime and above said reason urges me to welcome other Imers to meet or contact me.
So my post on other sites and here if u think tries to attract someone to give me any finacial support I may say that is not my idea.
Yes I am dedicating this oasis called Rangers in the marine drive to this site and wish everyone this way should know about this noble site.
smiles,
sanjay

PinkoTrash

I'm volunteering for a year with an organization in Tamil Nadu doing work with tsunami survivors, widows, orphans, and the elderly where you don't have to pay--you just have to kick in money for your food. It is a rural organization, but they are mostly looking for people who are willing to make a relatively long commitment. Check out the website: www.indianssi.org.

There is another organization doing similar work in the region as well--I don't know as much about them, but they check out the "youth exchange" section on their website: www.sevai.org.

__________________
Help with tsunami rehabilitation in Tamil Nadu:
[url]http://www.active.com/donations/campaign_public.cfm?key=issitsunami[/url]

anilkhare

hi,

It is unlike u think that all volunteer work is pay and work.
First criteria for volunteering should be...identify the field you relate to and are passionate about and what input you could provide rather than just be a lord sahib .... sometimes we have to humble when we volunteer cos we learn a lot through experiences than lectures and when we are humble people take us under their wings and entrust more tasks and responsiblity thereby making it more challenging and satisfing.

First identify which field you want to volunteer:
Relief operations
Rural upliftment
Street kids rehabilitation
Animal Welfare
Women Empowerment
Orphanges
Old Age Homes
Schools for special children or with disabilities


Then u could really justify your work as u would relate to the cause.

I could then suggest u some organisation then

take care

rangers

Yes Anil, I go completely with you about how should be the way of thinking when One need to donate his time and spirit.I wish and hope the spirit goes on and on.

hannavdv

Hello,
I just had my bachelor in France and next year for more or less 5 months, i would like to volunteer in India. I've been there when i was younger and it just couldn't get the country out of my mind... I've already been looking for some propositions, but it is not easy to find my way. Not earning money yet, i can't allow myself of choosing for a paying organisation, and i would prefer not being involved in any religious program.. Someone could help me finding a way out?
Thank you a lot
Hanna