Volunteering in India

Enrolment form India
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

EXIS organises volunteer work in Delhi, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Palampur and Southern India.

Volunteering is a unique way to discover a country, its culture and the local population up close and personal. You must be at least 18 years old, independent, outgoing, and have the desire and courage to do volunteer work. Most work places also accept interns.

The country
India is the same size as Europe but has over 1 billion inhabitants, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. India borders Pakistan, China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh. India is the meeting place for new and old Asia.

Energy and entrepreneurship vibrate in the large cities, but the ancient culture remains part of the street scene. Here unimaginable wealth exists alongside extreme poverty in the big city slums.

There are hundreds of ethnic groups, languages, religions and gods. A constant chaos that both charms and repels and where the only thing to expect is the unexpected.
Map over India: click.

Population

The Indian population is a mixture of numerous cultures and ethnic groups. There are more than a thousand languages and dialects, but only 18 are officially recognised, the most widespread being Hindi. English is widely used in administration. 80% of the population is Hindu, but there are also large groups of Sikhs, Buddhists and Muslims. Most people still live in villages.

Climate
Most of India is in the tropical zone, but to the north, the country borders the subtropical. Because of its size and geography, the climate is very diverse.

See temperature differences:
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/India/Climate/

Delhi

With its 13 million inhabitants, India’s capital is a mix of old and new and spreads over a huge area. The city is divided in two parts: Old Delhi with its pulsating life through the crowded bazaars – and New Delhi, India’s modern capital, with green boulevards, large office blocks, the parliament etc.

See a video of Delhi traffic

Jaipur, Dharamsala and Palampur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is also known as “the pink city”, since it was painted pink to honour the British prince Albert, who came on an official visit in 1853. The city boasts many examples of impressive architecture and is surrounded by magnificent landscapes.
In the centre of Jaipur you will find the architectural wonder Hawa Mahal, (palace of the winds) once a harem watching post, as well as the Jantar Mantar observatory, founded by Jai Singh in 1728. Jaipur is 262 kilometres from New Delhi. The area is at its best from October to March.

Dharamsala is a city in northern Indian state “Himachal Pradesh”. Mcleod Ganj, a village within Dharamshala municipality, is the home of the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government. There are approximatively 20.000 inhabitants. See a video of Dharamsala: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6pxi1_dharamsala_travel

Palampur is also located in the state of in the state of Himachal Pradesh. This town is surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests before they merge with the Dhauladhar ranges. Abundance of water and proximity to the mountains has endowed it with mild climate. The town has derived its name from the local word "pulum', meaning lots of water.

Palampur is at the confluence of the plains and the hills and so the scenery shows the contrast the plains on one side and the majestic snow covered hills on the other side. Behind this town stands high ranges of Dhauladhar Mountains, whose tops remain snow covered for most part of the year. There are good possibilities for trekking in this area.

Bangalore
If you prefer to discover the South of India you can volunteer in the states of Karnataka (southwest) Tamil Nadu (south) or Andhra Pradesh (southeast).

Your stay begins in Bangalore, in the south of India, called “Garden City”, because of the many green areas, parks, lakes and wide boulevards. This is India’s most progressive city, always developing. Bangalore is known for its important industries and scientific research facilities. Here you can find fast-food restaurants, yuppie bars and trendy nightclubs.

The houses are a clash of handsome new buildings and old run-down shacks. Almost everywhere in Bangalore decay and dilapidation, chaos, junk and mess assault the eye of the visitor. The more than six million inhabitants of Bangalore include employees of modern companies and young IT students alongside the deep poverty of sprawling slums.

The Program outline and dates
All volunteers start with an orientation upon arrival. The course gives an insight into Indian society, language, culture and religion, as well as some language instruction.

Delhi Jaipur, Dharamsala and Palamur
1 week language and cultural orientation in Delhi, followed by voluntary work on the project you have chosen for minimum 3 and maximum 11 weeks.
The language and culture orientation starts every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, all year round. Arrival and airport pick-up Sunday before program start and transport to the coordinators apartment.
On Monday you will be informed about the week’s program and activities. The rest of the week you will follow the introduction program with lessons in Hindi, history, culture, religion and traditions alternating with excursions to places of interest, for example Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, Rajghat, where Mahatma Ghandi was cremated in 1948, and the city’s colourful marketplace.

Bangalore
Depending on the length of your stay the program begins with a 1-3 days or 7-10 days cultural orientation and preparation. You will be picked-up at the “Bangalore International Airport” about 45km from the city. Volunteers can decide when they want to arrive and how long they want to stay, from 4 to 48 weeks.

Board and accomodation
During your entire stay, you will receive 3 meals daily. Please note that breakfast is a light meal, usually a cup of tea and some bread.
During orientation in Delhi you will be sharing a room with other volunteers in the apartment for volunteers.

In Bangalore participants will stay in a Youth Hostel the first night and sometimes also a 2nd night before travelling to their project.

During volunteering, accommodation depends on the workplace facilities. In most cases, participants stay with a host family in a single room or share a room with other international volunteers. If you choose to work at an orphanage, you will usually stay there in a shared room with other international volunteers.

Most accommodations have electricity, but do not expect luxury. Most of the host families are educated and have experience with international volunteers. At least one member of the family speaks English.

Volunteer work (4 -11 weeks)

After the introductory program, voluntary work begins on the project you have chosen. You can work as a volunteer minimum 3 weeks in Delhi, Jaipur, Dharamsala or Palampur and 4-48 weeks in Southern India.

Volunteer placements can be in central Delhi, but orphanages are often on the outskirts of the city or further away, to give the children a better environment.
In Southern India, volunteer projects are based outside Bangalore city or further south in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh.

A short description of the workplaces:

Teaching

Delhi, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Palampur and Southern India.
Volunteers teach basic English to children between 6 and 16 years old. There are about 25 – 30 children in each classroom. Good English skills are required here. Playing, drawing, painting and organizing other school-related activities are also part of the job.
Volunteers are usually provided with a fixed-curriculum English book and supported by local English teachers. If you have computer, art, music, sports or other professional skills, you may be asked to teach these as well.

InSouthern India volunteers can choose between private schools for underprivileged children, special schools for orphans and street children, residential schools and rehabilitation centres. Most of the projects here are a live and work situation - mainly helping the younger age groups and toddlers, teaching, training, playing and living together. You will have one day off per week.
The children in these schools are socially or economically underprivileged. They are from 6 to 16 years old.

As a volunteer you will begin by assisting the English teacher, help with creative subjects or occupy the children in their free time. As soon as you feel you are ready, you can take over the class.

In Southern India March and April are final exam months. The schools are closed in April and May, the summer vacation, and one week in December for Christmas.

You can also teach English to street children in Delhi, Jaipur, Dharamsala or Palampur.
Our partner organisation has established and sponsors 6 educational projects to the benefit of the children from poor families, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go to school. Volunteers should expect to work in schools that are overcrowded and underfunded. Having volunteers on hand reduces class sizes and makes classes more controllable. Volunteers generally teach children at the schools from 9am to 2pm. Accommodation is with local host families.

Schools in Delhi and Jaipur are closed in June for summer holidays, one or two weeks in October during the Dasara festivities. During these periods volunteers can teach at orphanages or in slums.

In Dharamsala and Palampur volunteers participating in this program will work as teaching assistants on much needed educational projects in rural communities’ schools or with Tibetan refugees’ children.
Volunteers teach from 8am to 1pm. If you are lucky you may be able to meet Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.
If you choose to teach in Jaipur, you can learn Indian classical dancing located nearby in the afternoon.

Teaching Buddhist Monks in the monasteries near Dharamsala

In this area there is a monastery that does not have the financial means to hire professionals to teach English and other subjects.

You will help and teach Buddhist children who came from Tibet as refugees. You will learn about Buddhist culture and rituals. This place is located 1 hour from Dharamsala. It’s a very nice area.
Accommodation is with host families.

Local women's development program (Delhi)

Many women in India are victims of poverty and social oppression. Social organizations help poor, single and uneducated women to get on by offering counselling, schooling and learning practical skills.
On some projects women for example produce paper bags or dolls made of recycled newspapers.
On these projects in Delhi you may work with:

• Help selling the products on local markets
• Take care of the smaller children in the centre
• Teach practical skills such as sewing or embroidery
• Formal and informal options for women’s education
• Drug abuse
• Family problems
• Micro credit programs
• You may also work in administration, writing reports, as well as developing educational and training programs.

Orphanage in Delhi, Jaipur and Southern India

Thousands of children live in orphanages in India and the local aid organizations lack resources and staff. Your main job will be to teach English as Other tasks depend on the orphanage and the volunteers’ skills and interests.
You might teach hygiene, sports, art, music, dance and other activities. You may also help with homework, feeding and helping the children with their personal hygiene, cleaning the home and helping with other odd tasks that need doing at an orphanage.

In Jaipur, a small school is connected to the orphanage.

Day care centers and kindergartens

In Dharamsala volunteers can help in day care centres.
Tasks will be to teach, play and organize activities.

In Palampur volunteers can also help in kindergartens with changing diapers, feeding, playing and cleaning.
Accommodation is with host families.

HIV/AIDS projects

Southern India
Half-way houses and living communities, run by NGOs. There are kitchen gardens and workshops where the residents do leather work and sell their products at the local market. This is a live and work situation.;

Being part of the group is essential, help where necessary. There are no regular work hours. Volunteers should have a medical background with some experience with HIV/AIDS, be willing to work 8 or 10 hours a day and be available for 3 months.

Jaipur
Volunteers can work at a councelling center that focuses on prevention in the highest risk groups (truck drivers, sex workers and drug users). The Centre has operated since 1995, with support from the Indian Government and offers treatment, advice, tests, medications, HIV/AIDS prevention through education with the help of audio-visual, theatre performances and other methods. Volunteers can assist in the counselling centre with teaching HIV/AIDS-affected children, accompany them to the clinic, etc.

You will be a part of the team and help where are needed. A medical or nurse training is a great advantage, but not necessary. Accommodation is privately or in a hostel.

Work with handicapped
Delhi and Southern India

Work at homes for physically or mentally handicapped, where the residents are 5 years and older. Volunteers might help residents dress and eat, help with physical training or basic English skills. If you have creative talents you are more than welcome to arrange activities.

These homes strive to build a normal life for their residents through care and a structured daily routine, with room for work, play, free time and family.

Volunteer tasks can also include maintenance of the buildings and gardens, food preparation, serving, cleaning, keeping the residents company and assisting the teachers.

Home for HIV-positive children and victims of child prostitution
Southern India

This home accepts only female volunteers. The children are extremely vulnerable and the home gives them counselling, teaching and psychiatric care. A medical or nursing background is a great advantage.

You work and live at the home, become part of the team and help wherever you are needed. Tasks vary, but most important is daily life together. You will help the children live a life that strives to be as normal as possible.

Work with blind or visually impaired children

Southern India
This centre is for children and teenagers up to 16 years old. You will work 6 to 8 hours per day.
Volunteers will mainly help teaching English. The main purpose of this program is to improve the education and welfare of the children. Tasks vary from centre to centre, and depend of course on your skills. You can expect to teach English, art, music, dance, sports and other activities.

You may also help clean house, feed the children, help with personal care as well as any other odd tasks necessary in an orphanage.

Delhi
Volunteers with experience and knowledge of Braille can assist at a home for blind children. You read aloud to children, help with education, give them moral support and encourage them in their education. The staff will give you guidelines and support throughout your stay.

Hospitals and Local Clinic Projects

Delhi
Although no previous background is required, volunteers who plan to study medicine or who have already have begun their medical or nursing studies are best suited for this project.
Volunteer tasks will depend on capacity and skills. Volunteers will assist nurses and doctors caring for patients, taking their temperature, blood pressure, observing operations, checking patients, helping with administration.
Volunteers live with host families close by.

There is also an ambulatory project where volunteers follow a team of doctors and pharmacists to small villages to examine patients and treat them on the spot. They assist the doctors, observe the local health care system, help bandage and distribute medicine, check blood pressure, take temperature, file and document. 

Volunteers live with a host family located 3 km from the project. They will have to take a tuk tuk to get to work (cost US$1 per day, round trip).

Environmental Projects

Southern India
Volunteers will be involved in experimental work and research in sustainable development through organic farming. There is also a training program in alternative traditional medicines. Work involves various agricultural activities like planting, watering, weeding, pruning, harvesting and dairy.

Also informal education programs for adults, field visits, research and documentation work.

Volunteers are expected to participate actively in training programs.

Working here will be challenging and rewarding and volunteers will have plenty of opportunities to meet grassroots workers and heads of NGOs from many parts of India.
A minimum commitment of 3 months is required.

Enrolment form India
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Prices in Euros. Including introduction course.

Included in the fee

• Airport pickup and transport to hostel.
• Introduction course.
• Transport to volunteer workplace.
• Board and accommodation during the entire program (3 meals per day).
• Help and guidance from the local coordinator during the entire program
• Pre-departure handbook.

Not included in the fee

• Visa fees
• Insurance
• Travel to/from India
• Spending money
• Any entrance fee during sightseeing and trips
• Transport to and from host family or hostel during work if necessary (cost $3-$4/day)
• If you arrive earlier, each extra night costs $20.
• Transport from Delhi to Jaipur ($50) or Dharamsala (return trip by plane 95 USD) if your volunteer workplace is there.

Before you enroll
Volunteering demands maturity, flexibility, independence and a real desire to do social work. It is emotionally very demanding to work with poor people, but it also gives you the opportunity to do meaningful work, try something unique and, not least, an unforgettable experience.

Living and working in India is a huge challenge and you will need to adapt. It may seem overwhelming at first to adapt to a completely different way of life, a new language etc. Things do not function the way they do where you come from and people do not react as you expect. Everything is different. During work, you will confront a harsh social reality and experience things that most tourists cannot even imagine. Do not expect to find a finished program, all ready when you start working. If you have decided to work with children it helps if you already know how to occupy children – with handicrafts, sports, games etc. Use your imagination and be creative.

Enrolment form India
Enrolment form please CLICK HERE.

Visa
A visa is needed; you can apply at the Indian embassy in your home country before you leave. Visas are no longer issued at the airport. Since a voluntary work visa does not exist, you must apply for a touristvisa. It takes about 5 working days to obtain it. You must pay cash. The embassy does not accept credit cards.

Extending your visa after your arrival in India, it is very difficult and rarely accepted.
Find the Indian embassy in your country on this page and see if you can download the application form:

http://www.embassyworld.com/dev/result.php?guest=94&host=%25&count=0&menu=1

Vaccinations
It is generally advised to get vaccines for typhus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis, and meningitis as well as malaria pills.