Program Location: Rajasthan - a museum of Indian culture.

Rajasthan is one among a very few regions of the world that remained untouched by the influence of time for over centuries. It is amazing to know that 80 percent of this land is considered as tourist destination. Even today the medieval charm of the forts, the gentle winds from the distant sand dunes whisper us the tales from times unmemorable. With diversified climatic conditions, castles, wild life sanctuaries, world famous temples, trekking routes, camel rides, dancing peacocks, simple and happy people and their rich culture that throws its enduring magical aura - Rajasthan has something special to offer to every type of traveler.

One would obviously be anxious to experience every hue of this tourism paradise named Rajasthan. Just traveling through this land brushing the cities and visiting tourist spots cannot cater to the appetite of a true traveler. To get to the core of this vast and vivid culture, you should live with these people, participate in their festivals, stay in their homes, eat their food, play with their kids and should lead your life according to Rajasthani standards and customs in every possible way. Working as a volunteer of Volunteering India offers you exactly the same thing.

About The Program:

This program is going to make you experience those exciting and beautiful things you would never expect to face in your life. Volunteers from all over the world would join you offering you a broad spectrum of friendly relations. The starting point of your itinerary would be New Delhi where our representative would pick you up. A night's stay at Delhi would be provided to relax yourself. The next morning we would move to Jaipur, the capital city of the state and the showcase of Rajasthan's extraordinary architecture. Jaipur is rightly called as pink city, the color associated with hospitality in Rajasthani culture. Here you would stay with local host families. The warm welcome of the people you have never seen before and their childlike affection creates an instantaneous intimacy with this land and people. In Jaipur you would participate in a four-day orientation, learn about rural lifestyle, their interesting culture. This program is organized by local NGOs to give you an idea of different social issues in the rather neglected areas of this region. It would be very exciting that a little by little you become a part of this most ancient culture of the world. Besides this you would have ample time to visit all important and beautiful places that a normal tourist could visit.

After these four days program you would move to rural areas, the very core of this enigmatic land, to work there as a volunteer. The working areas are in Jaipur and Alwar Districts. Your daily work mainly involves teaching English or math. You would also make students participate in creative and funny activities to ignite their imagination and creativity. The moments you share with these sweet little buds create an unforgettable impression in your heart forever. The goal of your work is to make learning a joyful experience to the children. Volunteers also have a chat with children's families, make them realize the importance of education and motivate them to send their children to school. Serving these poor innocent people without expecting anything in return brings you a satisfaction beyond description which money cannot buy.

Depending on the needs of the local NGO partners, you would work on other community development activities like tree plantation in schools and villages, conducting health checkup camps for children and their families, skill enhancement and practical training programs for teenage girls etc. Spending days entirely away from your daily routine leaves you with a lifetime memory of perfect tranquility and splendor.

Volunteer Opportunities:

The volunteer opportunities are currently available in the following areas:

· Teaching English;
· Caring for Orphans;
· Environmental Awareness;
· First Aid & Health Education;
· Community Development;
· Home Stay / Cultural Exchange.

Teaching English:

Though the system of teaching is different in India, the volunteers can proceed in their own way of teaching English. Sometimes you may need to follow the school curriculum. For e.g. encouraging the student to prepare for examinations. During the time you work as a volunteer in a school, you would stay with an Indian family near the school. Volunteers are required to teach for 2 to 6 hours daily in a six-day week. The time schedule may vary from one school to another. The weekly holiday is Sunday. You can also undertake teaching in youth clubs or women's group for informal education for 1 to 2 hours a day. The students' age range would be between 10-14 years and they would have basic English knowledge. In youth clubs, volunteers are encouraged to work hand in hand with local teachers to help them develop conversational skills and adapt new teaching techniques.

Caring for Orphans:

The NGOs or state run orphanages in India are full to the brim with children. They are dogged with problems like limited staff, resources and facilities; they are struggling to provide care, love and support to orphaned children. As they are immensely understaffed, they understandably can barely manage the day to day issues. This has lead to very few learning through enrichment or extra-curricular activities.

Volunteering India has been trying to bridge the gaps in the development of these children. We have not done this all on our own but with the tremendous help of our domestic and international volunteers. The help has been in form of improving the existing facilities in the infrastructure, assisting the staff, teaching the children, helping with the general running and administration of the orphanage. Volunteers have also helped in the areas of refurbishing existing buildings, improving facilities, teaching Basic English, drawing, drama, conducting games etc.

At these orphanages the children adore you and greet you with the broadest of smiles. They love to touch you as they think 'Are you for real?' The children are here due to their circumstances. The reasons could be abject poverty, disability or homelessness.

Through Volunteering India Caring for orphans program you can make a lasting difference in these young lives. You can care for children in many ways. Often no special skills are required, as volunteers are needed to spend time playing, reading, exercising and share time with the children. Your 'time' is what the children want. Like all the children they want attention. They want role models for them to look up to and aspire to be. Many of our host organizations are short-staffed and the volunteers' attention gives the children the extra love they need.

The need is expansive and long-term, so your opportunity to make a significant difference through service is likewise immeasurable. You can help expand, maintain residential training and daycare facilities and help host staff conduct recreational activities, teach classes and also serve meals.

If you have first-hand experience working with children with disabilities, professionally or personally your expertise can be useful in this effort of Volunteering India. You can also provide direct services to deaf or mentally challenged children.

No matter what your age (above 18), background, gender or ability, you can be a valuable resource to demonstrate the universal language of love, compassion and make a difference to the childrens' lives!

Come join us for Caring of orphans programme! Together we can and together we will!

Environmental Awareness:

This is the best choice for those who is enthusiastic and have a passion to change things for better. This program offers a good opportunity to put to use various skills of volunteers for the common good of the rural people. At the same time you would expose to and have a chance to learn several interesting new things. A basic understanding of recycling, environmental issues, health care and first aid would help you to contribute well. Volunteers stay and work in a rural village. They generally join an existing project. Interested may possibly conduct a survey into health and environmental scenario of the village and create a project to suit the needs of the area. Recently completed projects include planting and sampling, bee-keeping, organic farming, compost bins, communal toilet, health seminars and distribution of jute shopping bags to cut down plastic waste. Future projects include energy efficiency, waste management, nutrition and agricultural improvements. Volunteers, when required, would have access to Indian interpreters and assist them. The main aims of the program are to encourage the rural population to pursue an eco-friendly life style and to make them learn good things from western civilization. You will need to be able to work in a team. The program is currently in operation in a few villages of Jaipur, Dause and Alwar districts of Rajasthan and we are actively recruiting volunteers to expand this program.

First Aid & Health Education:

Volunteers would teach Health Education to rural school children for about 1 or 2 hours daily in a six-day week. You would also work with youth clubs or a women's group in the community to educate them about Health and Sanitation. You would also provide first aid training to uneducated rural people. Medical students could be the best suitable participants for this program. However, others with a little experience in health grounds can also join this.

Community Development:

The point of volunteering without borders is foremost to serve, and thereby, to learn, experience and cherish first-hand about the host community and its culture. One might see it as an alternative to regular vacation but it comes along with an opportunity to apply skills and interests in a setting that is unconventional which eventually will benefit the community that you have chosen to put your efforts into.

Volunteering India has been actively involved in various community development programs mainly in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and expanding to other parts of India. These programs aim at meaningful volunteering projects for the general public, university and college groups, medical schools and businesses in association with local grass roots organizations, Children's home, schools, and local communities.

In each effort that you make, the benefits are flowing down to the under privileged, poor and to communities almost immediately. These efforts help makes a big difference where it matters most at the level of the people.

The utmost concern for you and the host organizations is that of cultural sensitivity. Some volunteers find it the most difficult aspect of their volunteering experience. There will be aspects of the local culture that amaze and puzzle your sense of logic or test or sometime even challenge your sense of justice. However, remember you are the visitor and here for a short time. No lone volunteer can change age old and heartfelt traditional practices or culture. You must ponder again and determine if you are flexible enough to respect the local culture.

Volunteering in the community demands requires a unique combination of flexibility and patience, those who are self-starters, and people who genuinely respect the host community and their culture. A volunteer is a humble learner and proficient enough to share the good values of his side of the world. You are not here to save the people. The basic premise of the being a volunteer is to come and share your energy and time with the people, contribute positively, to experience the host's culture first hand and to grow themselves.

Home Stay / Cultural Exchange:

This program provides a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to learn several interesting things about Indian culture, lifestyle and language and also forms a good interaction with the people here. Home Stay/Cultural Exchange programs are arranged in most parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Himachal Pradesh. The duration of Home stay / cultural exchange would be for two weeks or one month. During this period the volunteers stay with a rural Indian family participate in their festivals and cultural activities.

In a typical placement volunteers stay in a family where they get Indian/local cuisine twice a day (around 9 O' clock in the morning and 7 O' clock in the evening). Tea is served in the morning and in the afternoon. Volunteers will have the opportunity to get together with other volunteers and share their experience. You will be able to travel to nearby towns for shopping and could travel to other areas on longer vacation. Besides your project work, volunteers can utilize their spare time in organizing the youth and women's groups of the community to do some worthwhile activities like building a smokeless stove, building a toilet by using local materials, making a soak pit, kitchen gardening, making a solar dryer, garbage management or paper recycling.

This program offers an excellent choice to lead life according to local traditions and culture in every possible way. This is a suitable pick for those who got bored with monotonous lifestyle. Each day you would wake up with no idea of what would be going to happen next. This is also a suitable option for those who want to form friends from different cultures.

Program Location:

The locations of the program vary depending on a number of issues. Placements are determined upon arrival with considerations of availability and safety of volunteers. Most of the placements are located in rural as well as urban areas of Rajasthan.

Eligibility to participate in programs:

To participate in volunteer programs conducted by volunteering India one should -

· Be 18 years or above;
· Have no major health problems.

Training:

Training takes place during the first 10 days of the volunteers' arrival in India. It will be divided into two phases, four days for the first phase and six days for the second phase. For very short-term volunteers, training will take place over a few days.

Phase One - The first four days will be spent with other volunteers in a hostel/home stay in Jaipur. During this week volunteers will be provided with six hours of training per day. The training will include:

· Basic Hindi language classes - 2 hrs, morning.
· Rajasthani cultural orientation / general cultural exchange - 1 hr, afternoon.
· Language and Skills Activities - 1hr, afternoon.
· Sightseeing - 1 1/2 hrs, afternoon.

Phase Two - The second week is an orientation into Indian village life to prepare volunteers for the period of their village placement. The volunteer group will move to a local village where they will be divided into pairs. While continuing their Hindi language classes, volunteers will live with a local family, eating traditional Indian / local cuisine, observing the village culture and getting a closer perspective of the rural lifestyle. During this time volunteers will practice teaching in the school and prepare for their community placement.

Volunteers can opt for a break upon completion of this training. During this break volunteers are encouraged to enjoy Jaipur's natural beauty by visiting forts, palaces, lakes, parks etc. There are no strict rules in volunteer program as far as the breaks are concerned. All volunteers have freedom to take time away from their placement at any stage and necessary arrangements will be made in this regard.

When volunteers return from their break they will be sent in pairs to their placement.

Program Schedule:

The volunteer program starts on the 1st of every month. You can choose to be a volunteer in any area with varied durations ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. The English teaching program is limited during the months of May and June as local schools would have summer vacation during that period.

Major Indian festivals take place during the period from September to November. The exact dates of festivals are decided by lunar calendar. To see calendar of events click here. This would interrupt your program. We wouldn't recommend to initialize your placement during this time of the year if you opt to volunteer for a month or less. On the other hand, this period provides a once-a-lifetime opportunity to closely interact with the local culture for those who choose to volunteer for longer period of time.

Program Charges:

To see the charges in your currency, we recommend you to click here.

The costs of the Program are as follows:

Volunteering India - Application Fee: US $150.00. The application fee covers administration, marketing, program information, communication and direct support to our partners in India. Click here to apply for the program.

Program Fee: (All costs are in US Dollars)
 

The program fee includes :

> Administrative charges;
> Training fees;
> Charges for accommodation;
> Meals during Training and Placement;
> Transportation of volunteers and
> Expenditure for supervision.

The other expenditure you would be required to meet are:

> Your flight charges,

> Visa (a 65 day tourist visa is US $ 30 only. The extensions are charged at US $ 30 per 30 days. The maximum number of renewals is three).
 
> For still/video photography at museums, travel insurance, police check and corresponding airport departure taxes.

> You may need a weekly budget of up to US $ 20 to support your general expenditure like bottled water, personal items, beverages and entertainment.

Village life in India is relatively inexpensive in comparison to cost of living in western countries and you can hardly spend US $ 10 per week during your placement.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are given answers for several questions that volunteers generally have. Click here to get answers for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Application procedure:

The application and the further procedure would go through the following stages.

1. Application: Fill up the Application Form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program.

2. Acceptance: Applicants whose applications are accepted would receive a letter of acceptance via e-mail.

3. Decision: Once you receive the letter of acceptance, this is the time to apply along with your Biodata/CV and application fee to secure your place in the program. Before you pay the fee, you can put forward any questions, doubts or clarifications that you may have. We would give proper explanation for all your queries. It should be noted that your application fee will be refunded after deducting administrator charges, if you decide not to attend the program.

4. Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, we will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the URL of our program guide which covers topics such as: country information, travel links, visa application process, fund raising ideas and much more!

5. Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to clarify any of your qualms. We will be in continuous contact with you via e-mail even during your placement/program in India. We will take every possible care to see everything going on smoothly and properly.

Click here to apply for this program.

For more details Contact:

VINOD MEENA

Project Coordinator,
Volunteering India,
A-26 (C-1), Bhartiya Path,
Kanti Chandra Road,
Bani Park, Jaipur-302001
I N D I A

Tel: +91 1412355187
Mobile: +91 9829013534
E-mail: info@volunteeringinindia.org
URL : www.volunteerginginindia.org