Volunteering in Tamil Nadu

Jenni

I'm new to this forum but I'm glad I found a place where I can hear other people's experiences.

My boyfriend and I are leaving for India with the purpose of doing some volunteer work, preferably with children and in Chennai/Tamil Nadu. Our main problem is that we can stay for only a limited time (approximately 3 weeks).
Are there organizations who would take us for such a short time?

On the economic side I was wondering if these organizations usually provide food&accomodation or do we have to pay for our own?

Thank you for any advice!

ladyrunner

Jenni,

When are you planning on traveling? I am not sure if this is something you'd like to look into. But there's an organization called Rising Star Outreach (www.risingstaroutreach.org) in Tamilnadu which works with communities that have been affected by leprosy. They also have a toddler home & school and do take in volunteers who stay anywhere from 6 - 12 months. Don't know about shorter durations but I don't see why they wouldn't. I know they have accomodations for the volunteers. I can get you contact names and numbers if you are interested.

-ladyrunner.

Jenni

We are leaving between the 3rd and 10th of October (depending of my boyfriend's job).
If you could provide any contacts it would be great!

ladyrunner

Ok I'll give you the information tomorrow, as I don't have it with me at the moment. In the meantime you can look at the website and see if this is the kind of work you would like to be involved in. I have been to the toddler home, and the children are just adorable.

Muss

Hi, i was in Tamil Nadu last december, My self and partner were caught in the tsunami, we looked after post evacuation by the VCDS, amazing people working with disabled children and developing sustainable farming methods. Thay do hve volenteers working for them from Finland and france, they would be well worth contacting.
There uk site www.vcds.org.uk, although not quite finished has more infomation and contact details.
Happy Travels
ps, there are a few orphanages in Mamallapuram and pondicherry, beware, some are only there for the money and not the children. I know of one in Mamallapuram thats great for the children, and are only there for the good of underprivilaged street children.

shanthi

There are few orphanages/residential schools that would provide accommodation for volunteers. The ones that seem to do this are those that are registered with overseas agencies and have an enourmous amount of volunteers working with them all year round. The majority of them, though some may be willing to take you without the usual references etc..(most do now) will not be able to provide accomodation for you. There are loads of cheap guesthouses in Pondicherry (to name one place) where you could possibly stay for 160/- a night, and some of the orphanages in that town may have people tyhat they know who are willing to take you in to live as part of the family whilst you are working, but you would still have to pay room and board.

Failing that, you just might find an orphanage that has a small spare room - they would still probably ask for some payment for your room and board (if there is any "board") and like someone esle has said here, there are also many "directors" who are less than reliable or "Christian" as I have come across myself - but you won't find out about that until it's obvious that they're asking too much from you in the way of financial help. One place I worked at would go with me to the Nilgiris Supermarket - wander around filling up their trolley while I was getting a few personal things that I needed - plonk the trolley down at the checkout, load the belt and when a few of the things were being checked through, would disappear telling the staff that I would pay for the stuff. This happened three times - the fourth time I put the stuff back in her trolley, shoved it aside and paid only for my own stuff. After that the director didn't come near me at all whereas before she would always come up two or three times a day to chat with me. It's not the same in every Home, but you have to be aware and prepared I guess. By Western standards the amount wasn't great, probably about 12 - 20 euro's worth of goods..... each time.

citybell

Hi

Three weeks are good enough. Ofcourse some Voluntary organisations could enroll you but in general they would not be able to provide you an accommodation and food. However you can find some cheap accommodation nearer to the place of work.
If you have have have already contacted a Voluntary organisation , pls let me know as i can check for you and may try to locate some accommodation for you.

A little word of caution...some organisations would expect you to donate some money...so pls clearly make them understand in the beginning itself that you are not in a postion to donate any money if you cannot.

th3_saint

Hi Jenni and the rest of the gang

I'll be out in Tamil Nadu in the early part of next year working with a group called SEVAI (Society for Education, Village Action and Improvement) they are a Tamil Nadu based organisation that is all about Sustainable development, education and community. I have heard from a friend who has just returned, that the head man out there, Mr Govindaraj, is quite keen on individuals coming out under their own steam, rather than in big groups, because this helps integration with the local people and is better for everyone! As I understand it it's ok for people to rock up and offer their services. Perhaps send an email through the website and see what response you receive?

www.sevai.org

I got involved through a friends Mum, who runs a local charity in Brighton, UK. Called CHOICE, that works with kids in care. She's a lovely lady but not the most organised, I haven't heard from her for a few months! So the website is your best bet!

Good luck with what ever you end up doing out there!

bear

I will also be in Chennai. I will be there for several months starting in November. I am looking for volunteer opportunities and have sent requests for information, but haven't heard anything back. I am interested in volunteering in an agency that helps children and/or women. I have done this work in the past (just in the States though) and it has always interested me. Thank you for any tips that you may have.

GoldenAge

Hi guys

When I was planning my trip to India I made a search about volunteer activity, but in 99,9% you should pay money, work 1 week and then there was some 3 weeks for sightseeing

Is this an humanitary Institucion that is nice for turists...

... or is this a travel agency with humanitary tendencies ???

Sorry about this...

I did find a place (the only one) that look nice, and it was near chennai, I think it was in a place called Purur or something... I don´t remember, it was an orphanage (sorry about my english). If I go to chennai I will look for it...

Not much of a help, uh

__________________
GoldelAge wishes a Golden World

Auntyji

This is a document I received from a friend in India; I've just copied it here.

Of all the organisations listed, I know of The Banyan, Cancer Institute and Udavam Karangal.
IM member Yogagal has written at length about The Banyan and has visited it in person. The Cancer Institute does phenomenal work, and its founder Dr. V Shanta recently received the Magsaysay award.

If you are calling Chennai, you need to dial 91-44 before the given phone number. If anyone knows anything more about the other organisations listed (good or bad), please post your info. Thanks.

1. BANYAN
Founded 1993
Focus: Homeless people with mental illness
Strength 380 women from 18 to 80 years of age
Location Mogappair West (Mogappair Eri Scheme), Chennai
Contact Mathew 26530504/26531987
Email Mathew@thebanyan.org

Banyan is looking for:

Physiotherapists
People with language skills as they have women from all parts of India, some of whom understand only dialects
Someone to teach and practise yoga with the residents
People to teach them crafts
Or just about anyone who would like to spend time with the women

Gift Ideas
When you are buying household supplies you could buy a little extra and donate it
Sweets, clothes and crackers make excellent Divali gifts

2. GREMALTES

Founded Initially as a hospital exclusively for leprosy patients, now their concern has expanded to include AIDS, eye care, etc.
Strength 85 at this moment
Location Shenoy Nagar, Chennai
Contact Plus 26441840/26443411
Email gremaltes@vsnl.net

What you can do

Read out an interesting book or informative articles
Hold programmes on environmental consciousness or AIDS awareness or
Music and dance programmes

Gift Ideas
Sponsor a cataract surgery
Contribute towards costs of manufacturing special footwear
Sponsor a meal or bring them something to eat

3. CANCER INSTITUTE

Founded 1954
Focus Cancer patients
Location One center at Adyar and the other at Guindy, Chennai
Contact V. Shanta 24910754
Email caninst@md2.vsnl.net.in

What you can do

Enrol as a volunteer for social work within the organization

Gift Ideas
No old clothes please
Fruit, TV sets, wheel chairs
Donations as little as Rs.20

4. UDAVUM KARANGAL

Founded 1983
Focus Any homeless person or one in distress -that includes people with mental retardation, AIDS patients, senior citizens and people found dying on the streets
Strength Around 1800 people
Location Homes at Thiruverkadu and Velapanchavadi situated on the outskirts of Chennai
Contact Uma 9840445246/26216321
Email udavum@vsnl.com

What you can do

Play games with the residents, tell stories
Spend time with the residents

Gift Ideas
Anything is welcome- old and new clothes, nutritious food and vegetables
Sponsor a meal

5. NETHRODAYA

Founded 2002
Focus Visually impaired, college going boys and girls from low-income backgrounds
Strength 35 boys and girls who have visual impairments
Location Near Cherian Heart Foundation, Mogappair Chennai
Contact Gopi, the founder at 26565012
Email nethrodaya@yahoo.com

What you can do

Teach students to play musical instruments available at the center- drums, keyboards for example
Sing along with them to karaoke cassettes
Read out textbooks, story telling
Record textbook lessons on tape to facilitate learning

6. SMILE

Founded 2001
Focus Underprivileged people and society in general, organising everything from free cataract surgery to cleaning up the Cooum river in Chennai
Strength Around 40000 people have participated so far
Location Alwarpet, Chennai
Contact Paramasivan 98841 99824
Email thesmileworld @yahoo.co.in

What you can do

Volunteer for various projects – for example, blood donation camps, eye camps, reading support for the visually- challenged
Hold Water conservation and traffic regulation programmes

Gift Ideas
No money
Clothes for distribution to the needy

7. ANBU MALAR

Founded 2000
Focus Children with mental retardation from low income backgrounds
Strength 32 girls and boys
Location Near New Avadi Road at Ayanavaram, Cholai Amman Koil Street, Chennai
Contact P. Selvaraj at 55288915
Email assv_India@yahoo.com

What you can do

Take the children for a walk in the garden and do a bit of gardening with them
Play music to them

Gift Ideas
Anything from milk covers to old newspapers. Students make paper bags and sell them to shops
Kitchen utensils old and new
Sponsor a meal

8. SANKALP

Founded 1991
Focus: Support school to college education, professional and vocational training of girls from economically backward communities
Strength 160 girls at the moment
Location Coaching centers at Aminjikarai, Anna Nagar, and MMDA Arumbakkam, all at Chennai
Contact Kanan Verma Founder trustee 9841012062
Email Sankalpchennai@yahoo.co.in

What you can do

Volunteer as a teacher
Hold awareness programmes on social issues like environmental ocnsciousness, AIDS. Literacy, drug abuse
Hold educative, interactive programmes on your subject of interest
Vocational advice and career counseling
Story telling
Help fund-raising

Gift Ideas
Textbooks, uniforms, shoes, stationery and study material
Educative books and magazines


9. VISHRANTHI

Founded 1978
Focus Elderly women who are destitute
Strength 123 ladies from 70 to 105 years of age
Location MGR Road, Palavakkam near the panchayat Office, Chennai
Contact Savithri 24490972/24996634
Email vishranthi_trust@yahoo.com

What you can do

Teach crafts or painting
Read newspaper and present the daily news
Bring little kids to see them
Sing devotional songs with them
Take them to the temple or other places

Gift Ideas
Health related products : medical equipment, medicines, bread,biscuits, Horlicks and the like
Clothes or little games

10. HOPE FOUNDATION

Founded 1991
Focus: Projects on social issues
Strength 19 kids and 11 women are in their AIDS Home of Hope
Location Sembakkam, Tambaram next to Camp Road bus stop, Chennai
Contact Nalini Kagoo 24463394, 24463403
Email malar_prabath@hopeww.org

What you can do

Be Counsellors
Story telling
Share your talents for singing and dancing
Puppet theatre
Read the newspaper

Gift Ideas
Dhal, rice nutritional supplements health drinks, toys and clothes but NO Sweets
Sponsor a lunch or dinner

denisbrana

Pls;I am just going there to work free a couple of years for one of these orphanages.Canyou kindly tell me urgently more about that orphamage you believ OK!;thks
denis Italy

denisbrana

My email is denisbrana@hotmail.com
thks a lot for reply
waiting u r g e n t l y

Crickneck

Hi Guys/Gals

A word of caution while you exchange all those addresses etc. about orphanages and childeren's homes-- there are many paedophiles on the prowl. Many who are on the run in the west find 'volunteering' very exciting and safe here. A few have been arrested already in Bangalore and Goa

And many orphanages and other charity agencies are there ore for the money than anything and they actively connive with such charitable criminals.

The majority who volunteer are genuine and their services very needed but the fact remains and it is well documented that there are a few balck sheep.