In the final post of her blog series on India, Isobel Wilson Cleary talk of the many perks of volunteering abroad.
All those places you want to go? There’s a very good chance you’ll be able to find a volunteer opportunity to suit you. Before I heard about Development in Action and Deep Griha Society, I’d never really thought about going to India. Now, I’m thinking of ways I can go back both to visit DGS and to all the places I didn’t get a chance to see!
No experience necessary
There is no specific skill set for volunteering. The most important skill to have is enthusiasm. Sure, DGS encourage specific skills to help with current projects that need technical skills they can’t find or afford locally, but with several programmes covering a range of awareness and education issues, I found there wasn’t much that couldn’t be put to good use one way or another if you’re willing. As a volunteer there is a certain level of faith people put in you, value is placed on your opinions and you’re encouraged to use your creative skills to suggest new ideas. At times this can be a little worrying as you’re not necessarily more qualified than the staff themselves, but it’s also quite exciting to brainstorm ideas and you can’t help but feel like the world is your oyster.
The challenge
Moving somewhere new whether it’s to the next city or a thousand miles away is always going to be a challenge but there’s definitely a lot more to get your head around when you have to breach that language barrier, navigate through new social norms, (I miss eating with my hands!) and the big one…. Adjust to the difficult situations and realities the people you work with face everyday that are largely, not something you can relate to. You can’t change things overnight or even in a few months but you can contribute to the continued and sustained work local people are doing in these areas to help empower and build awareness in whatever area you’re working in. And let’s not forget, in spite of these difficulties…
It’s fun!
A typical day at the office? There wasn’t one. Half the time I wasn’t even in an office and this was all the more exciting. During my 5 months I was able to help out in various ways to nearly all the projects run by DGS and no two days were ever the same. Sometimes I found myself helping with a HIV/AIDS awareness event, some days I was in the office answering emails and updating the website, others I spent it being tired out by the children at the rural school or playing endless and brutal card games with the boys at the rural children’s home.
It’s actually pretty cheap (but make it your business to find out where your money goes).
In comparison to travelling where you’re more likely to be staying in areas recommended by others and guidebooks you’re inevitably going to be paying more. Volunteering can work out cheaper, especially if you’re going it alone rather than through an organisation. If there are costs, be sure you know what they cover and how they’re used before making any final decision. At the same time, if it sounds too good to be true (no cost to you at all?! ) then it probably isn’t unless a third party is footing the bill. I spent in 5 months what may have covered rent (and possibly living) in my home city for half that time. As I explained in my first post [link to first post], I chose DiA because they were transparent about fees, offered on-placement support and continue their work right here in the U.K.
Acquiring a global family
And it’s not just local people I’ve come to know. Though it undoubtedly hindered my ability to pick up more than a few basic Hindi words and phrases (although I have a little more Punjabi thanks to one volunteer hailing from Delhi and the reason for a trip to the north of the country), I had a great time meeting people who had previously been associated with DGS still invested in its work and, even more so, getting to know my fellow volunteers who I lived and worked with. Maybe it’s the nostalgic haze of only being back a few days or our way of dealing with an entirely different culture. Either way, despite our different backgrounds, we all clicked and I’m excited for catching up with them again in the future wherever they may be.
You can still travel
As my other posts show, I was able to take time out and visit some other places. If I’d had more time on my visa I would have loved to continue traveling further East but for the moment I’m pretty satisfied with what I got to see. As a volunteer I also got to opt out of working Saturdays which commonplace in most Indian companies and organisations at least twice a month which freed up time for me to take day trips to various towns and forts of the Sahyādri with other volunteers.
…But you won’t be a tourist.
Living away from the typically ex-pat area and spending time in more ‘local’ places put me in good stead of knowing what was what; pretty useful when bargaining with autowallahs for a good deal (that would usually see them come out winning anyway) or negotiating a choice between this and that dhaba or street stall. Tourists may see everything but they aren’t necessarily a part of any of it. Living and working with different people from the local community was an amazing way to gain a new world view, to have my own ideas about India, culture, development and everything in between challenged or affirmed.
- If you would like to know more about Isobel’s trip please visit:
- www.everyclick.com/isobelgoestoindia
- www.developmentinaction.org
- www.deepgriha.org
- >You can read Isobel’s other posts here:
- Isobel goes to India
- First Impressions
- Celebrating Diwali in Amritsar
- Deliberating in Delhi
> Want to find out more about India? Take a look at our collection of maps and travel guides.