Volunteer Testimonials
BEN AND GAYLE

Community Development at Kozimanil - 4 weeks

The YOI volunteer program is very good. We really enjoyed the experience of working with the Mannan tribe and getting the opportunity to make a "hands on" contribution. The staff and volunteers were always helpful when organizing our trip and we had no problems at all. The volunteer coordinator was very helpful in terms of describing the area and the people at the Kozhimanil. It must be difficult to match a couple rather than an individual so the effort to provide as much information as possible was really appreciated. The orientation we received when we arrived in India gave us a god idea of what to expect…we didn't see a single scorpion though!

The accommodation was good. The office was very comfortable, Raman's food was great. At the project site in Kozhimala, the women at the house were exceptional. They always worked hard to make sure the house was clean and the food was fantastic. It didn't even bother us that there was no gas and electricity as we were so comfortable in the house.

During the project the staff were helpful and supportive. Navin always made sure he kept in touch with us. Ambadas is a great ambassador for the company, although all YOI staff are dedicated and motivated.

Overall our experience was very enjoyable and a worthwhile experience, although it was challenging at times when we felt we couldn't communicate as effectively as we'd like. We feel that even though communication was sometimes a barrier we still developed a rapport with some people and made a positive impact in that respect. Ambadas also took on our concerns when we wanted to get more involved with the work. It was a humbling experience to see how difficult their lives are in comparison to ours.

We do think that it is important to stress the importance of learning Malayalam during the placement as that would be beneficial to anyone living with such a close community. Also it may be helpful to convey a full assessment of the volunteers’ capabilities to the Masons at the project so that volunteers work is always effective. Ultimately we think it is up to the individual to improve the experience by using their resolve during the experience and asking direct questions to YOI when deciding on the project they would like to undertake.

It was our first volunteering program and a great way to get first hand experience of how money from NGOs is used to make a difference. The experience was different to what we expected as we thought we'd be busier and it was a good way to do some self-analysis of how you fair as an individual in a new situation. We will definitely be staying in touch with YOI and are really hopeful for the Mannan people and would like to see how their community changes. We imagine we'll get involved again at some stage.

Trekking in Peryiar
Tiger Reserve