Volunteering in public health

Seattle2India · May 12th, 2007, 23:16

Does anyone have any suggestions for someone wanting to volunteer in the area of public health, HIV/AIDS and/or infectious disease? I don't have any formal education in these areas, however, I am looking to make a career change and need volunteer experience in these areas before applying to educational programs here in the US.

I am also concerned with aligning myself with a reputable organization, one that will be able to verify my time with them for reporting to schools here in the US. I would prefer not to join in with a very costly organization or one that requires money to volunteer at all, and, I am looking for a program that lasts anywhere from 3 months to a year. Lastly, the ideal location in India would be Hyderabad as I have accomodation there, though I am open to other cities. Thanks!

P.S.- I have a ten year tourist visa but I don't know if that will allow me to volunteer and what happens if I find a program that lasts for a year? Is there another type visa I need to get for volunteer work?

eater · May 28th, 2007, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle2India

Does anyone have any suggestions for someone wanting to volunteer in the area of public health, HIV/AIDS and/or infectious disease?

Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty in the news recetly about the "kiss'...do a lot of work in India on HIV/AIDS....

Why not send a e-mail or something to these two, I am sure the organisation they work for is quite large in India...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=60761
http://film-stars.suite101.com/artic..._gere_effi gy

wonderwomanusa · May 28th, 2007, 12:12

Even with a 10-year visa, you will have to leave India every 180 days and then return for a new entrance stamp. You don't get to stay for 10 continuous years.

evilnyberg · Jun 2nd, 2007, 12:37

sorry for the time lag, seattle2india... didn't spot your post until today.

volunteering on your tourist visa really shouldn't be a problem (i am!) though i'm sure that there is some other bureaucracy you need to go through officially. i wouldn't worry about it.

i am living in hyderabad and volunteering for a health ngo and my experience was that, though it was really difficult to locate good volunteering opportunities in hyderabad from home (over the net, etc), it got easier once i actually got here...

if you're willing to go ahead and take the plunge, i'd suggest hopping on a plane and then contacting the local ngo's when you get here. that way, you are much more likely to find an organisation that is willing to take you on for free (i.e. not some expensive volunteering prog for gap year students where they want you to pay a fortune per week for working for them and then insist on 'holding your hand' throughout the whole thing).

you could do some searching online and contact hyderabadi ngo's directly. here are some links that may be useful for finding organisation listings and advertised volunteering ops -

http://www.propoor.org/
http://www.bethechange.org/
http://www.indiasocial.org/
http://indianngos.com/districts/hyderabad.htm
http://hyderabad.andhrapradesh.takin...=Search#search
http://www.indiserve.org/Opportunities.php?catId=15
http://yellowpages.sulekha.com/hyder...ations/252.htm
http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/...Types=APPROVED
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/india.html
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/...rm&rc=3&cc=ind

importantly, i am of course assuming that you have some useful skills to offer an indian health ngo...?

good luck and let us know how it goes!?

a

May 12th, 2007, 23:16	#1
Seattle2India Mike Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 9	Volunteering in public health Does anyone have any suggestions for someone wanting to volunteer in the area of public health, HIV/AIDS and/or infectious disease? I don't have any formal education in these areas, however, I am looking to make a career change and need volunteer experience in these areas before applying to educational programs here in the US. I am also concerned with aligning myself with a reputable organization, one that will be able to verify my time with them for reporting to schools here in the US. I would prefer not to join in with a very costly organization or one that requires money to volunteer at all, and, I am looking for a program that lasts anywhere from 3 months to a year. Lastly, the ideal location in India would be Hyderabad as I have accomodation there, though I am open to other cities. Thanks! P.S.- I have a ten year tourist visa but I don't know if that will allow me to volunteer and what happens if I find a program that lasts for a year? Is there another type visa I need to get for volunteer work?

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May 28th, 2007, 12:12	#3
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,253	Even with a 10-year visa, you will have to leave India every 180 days and then return for a new entrance stamp. You don't get to stay for 10 continuous years.

Jun 2nd, 2007, 12:37	#4
evilnyberg Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: london Posts: 101	sorry for the time lag, seattle2india... didn't spot your post until today. volunteering on your tourist visa really shouldn't be a problem (i am!) though i'm sure that there is some other bureaucracy you need to go through officially. i wouldn't worry about it. i am living in hyderabad and volunteering for a health ngo and my experience was that, though it was really difficult to locate good volunteering opportunities in hyderabad from home (over the net, etc), it got easier once i actually got here... if you're willing to go ahead and take the plunge, i'd suggest hopping on a plane and then contacting the local ngo's when you get here. that way, you are much more likely to find an organisation that is willing to take you on for free (i.e. not some expensive volunteering prog for gap year students where they want you to pay a fortune per week for working for them and then insist on 'holding your hand' throughout the whole thing). you could do some searching online and contact hyderabadi ngo's directly. here are some links that may be useful for finding organisation listings and advertised volunteering ops - http://www.propoor.org/ http://www.bethechange.org/ http://www.indiasocial.org/ http://indianngos.com/districts/hyderabad.htm http://hyderabad.andhrapradesh.takin...=Search#search http://www.indiserve.org/Opportunities.php?catId=15 http://yellowpages.sulekha.com/hyder...ations/252.htm http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/...Types=APPROVED http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/india.html http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/...rm&rc=3&cc=ind importantly, i am of course assuming that you have some useful skills to offer an indian health ngo...? good luck and let us know how it goes!? a

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