|
The
purpose of worldwide volunteering is foremost to serve, and
thereby, to learn first-hand about the host community and
its people. It is not simply an alternative to a standard
vacation, but an opportunity to use your skills and interests
in an unconventional setting to benefit others in a community
that has requested your help.
Yearoutindia has been actively involved in various community
development programs in Kerala, south India. These programs
provide meaningful volunteering projects for the general public,
university and college groups, medical schools, churches and
businesses in collaboration with local grass roots organizations,
schools, and local communities. In each case, the benefits
of your efforts and services go immediately and directly to
the under privileged, poor and to communities where a little
help makes a BIG difference.
|
In
these programs, volunteers work directly with local
villagers in village-based projects, sleeping in local
houses, eating the same food and working under the same
conditions as those in the local community. In many
cases, these communities are without much infrastructure
- little or no electricity, modern toilets, or shower
facilities. Yearoutindia will ensure that volunteers
are provided with clean and basic aminities where ever
possible.
Yearoutindia
looks for volunteers who have a variety of academic
backgrounds, skills, and experiences and who are sincerely
interested in international service. As Yearoutindia
volunteers, we should approach our field work as an
invaluable opportunity to learn about other countries
and cultures, development issues both abroad and at
home, and to learn about ourselves - our assumptions,
our willingness to learn from others, our limits and
abilities, and our capacity to effect personal, community,
and global change. |
|
For community development programs, cultural sensitivity may
be one of the most important and often difficult aspects of
your volunteering experience. There will be aspects of the local
culture that confound your sense of logic or challenge your
sense of justice. However, remember you are the visitor. No
solitary volunteer can change centuries of tradition or culture.
You must look deep inside yourself and determine if you are
flexible enough to respect the local culture.
Volunteering in these programs require flexibility, patience,
those who are self-starters, and people who genuinely respect
the host community and their culture. Volunteers never go to
teach the people western ways, nor are they there to save the
people. Volunteers go to share their energy and time with the
people, contribute positively, to experience their culture first
hand and to grow themselves.
|
|
 Program
Schedule
4/8/12+ week Community Development Programs
in rural Kerala.
Yearoutindia community development programs in Kerala
are conducted in various rural villages around the
Western Ghats mountain ranges. You could be working
in a picturesque, tiny village helping with a village
school reconstruction or other renovation projects,
medical missions with public health components,
such as eye clinics, construction and renovation
of health posts, community centers, and youth centers,
reforestation and green belt activities and other
community development activities. These have open
program dates as there are many ongoing projects.
Program
duration & costs:
CP-ROT301
- Community Projects in association with Rotary
International.
CP-RAJ311
- Swamimalai-Tamil Nadu, Bronze Art School Projects
CP-RAJ312
- Kumbakonam-Tamil Nadu, Community Projects
CP-VET303
- Trichur-Kerala, Vet assistant welfare Projects
CP-KAN202
- Kanthaloor - Community Service / School Renovation
Projects
Please read our Do
It All Program page for opportunities
to mix and match various volunteering activities
according to availability. |
|
|
