|
NOTE: We are now seeking short-term Volunteers to visit India in
2008 from mid-June onwards.
Overseas
Volunteers
Since the 1960’s, many volunteers have worked for the Charity. In
the early years they helped with the basic work of building the
Boys Towns and looking after them. In
more recent years they have been most useful in writing the regular
reports that go out to sponsors and donors. We set great store by
being accountable for all the money donated, so the volunteers are
valuable as the eyes and ears of the Charity, who can actually
witness the work being done. But the benefits are also to the
volunteers. To work with the Charity in India is a unique
opportunity to see inside another culture, to work with children and
to see an NGO (non-governmental organisation) in operation. If this
appeals to the volunteers, we are delighted to give them the chance
to work there.
Qualifications
To volunteer for us in India, we prefer people to be of
college-leaving age or over (previous work experience can be
valuable). Although younger people have volunteered, life is not
easy there and a mature approach is needed. As most of the work
involves writing reports on the projects, a good writing style is
needed and an ability to use a computer for word-processing is
essential. Volunteers travel around the region with an interpreter
and talk to many people involved in the projects before writing
their reports. They also take photographs, which may be sent to the
sponsors with their reports.
Life in India
While the work for the Charity is quite straight forward, many
people find it difficult to cope with conditions in the country.
There is much poverty and squalor. Simple things like booking train
tickets and sending parcels require unimaginable layers of
bureaucracy, so one needs to be very patient. We strongly advise
that volunteers travel a little in India before coming to work with
the Charity.
There is much to see
in Tamil Nadu alone, and it is an easier way
to get used to the pace of life in India. A trip from Chennai to
Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Trichy and Madurai (which is the nearest
big city to the projects) would be an enjoyable introduction to the
country, and the hill-station of Kodaikanal is within easy visiting
distance of the Charity‘s projects.
Living and Working
Conditions
There is clean simple guest accommodation attached to our Charity
office in Dindigul, or with Boys Town Society in Tirumangalam.
Volunteers are asked to make a donation towards accommodation
overheads while working with the Charity.
Volunteers will have
tasks allocated that will involve visiting projects, meeting
children and then writing reports. It is often more convenient to
meet the children at weekends and evenings when they are not at
school. There will be plenty of opportunity outside of normal
working hours to enjoy and explore the culture of India. We do
actively encourage volunteers to explore the local area and it maybe
more convenient to do this during the middle of the week.
Please remember that
while our local staff will always accompany you on project visits,
they too need to take some time off, so don’t expect to work seven
days a week.
The need to give a
good impression
It is important to remember that Indian culture is very different
from the west, and that people are much poorer. We are very
concerned that volunteers do not give the Charity a bad name in the
region – they must also consider themselves representatives of
western culture to people who rarely meet westerners. For this
reason, volunteers must dress conservatively and tidily.
Normal wear is shorts
or long trousers with open neck shirts or T-shirts for men. Women
should dress modestly with long skirts or trousers, and tops with a
high neck or a shawl to cover the shoulders. Cotton clothes are very
cheap to buy or have tailored locally. Sandals are the best
footwear. Although conditions can be hot, remember the hill country
is cool and evenings can be cold in the winter months. While working
with the Charity, volunteers must behave responsibly. Indian
attitudes to alcohol are very conservative. Please note that, in
India, possession of illegal drugs carries mandatory sentence of 10
years. |
