Social Welfare Services

Delhi Council for Child Welfare,( DCCW ), New Delhi: was established in 1952, to aid and assist children displaced during the Partition year. DCCW Orthopedic centre is one of the few of its kind, providing a range of services for both the physically challenged child and his parents. Starting with counseling for the child and the family and culminating with vocational training, it is the aim of the centre to enable the disabled child to overcome his disability.

Manav Sadna Kendra, Ahmedabad works in the slum mainly in the area of education, health and economic empowerment. It runs about ten – twelve activities under one roof.

Benaras: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together." (Mark Twain) This ancient city, now renamed Varanasi is an experience itself. It is a holy city on the banks of the River Ganges, the oldest city in India and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world.

 It is only natural that amidst this ancient society social problems arise: racism, sexism, superstition, and conflict between new and old. To deal with the social welfare of this city, and with the influx of millions of devotees annually, we present the program Benaras to serve to improve this ancient society.
 

Education

There are 18 official languages in India. English is the most important language for business and politics, however it is not widely spoken among the poorer sections of society. Female education in particular remains a problem, with over half the female population unable to read and write.

Bharitiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi, is a secondary school with a section for children with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers can assist in teaching English in the secondary school or work with the children in the special needs school.

Aksay Pratishthan, New Delhi, is a community based rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities. It aims to provide integrated education, medical care, vocational training and self-employment. Volunteers assist in providing vocational education in areas of arts and crafts, computers, weaving, textile design, and more.
 

Language

India has many languages and each language has its own culture. This program offers the volunteer an opportunity to learn an Indian language and provide community service to the same language group. This program is being offered by Gujarat Vidyapeeth, an institution established by Mahatma Gandhi and The Indian Society for Community Education located in Ahmedabad.

The volunteer will learn a language both through classes and immersion within the local culture. Classes given at Bhartiya Bhasha Sanskriti Bhavan. Community service projects arranged through Indian Society for Community Education.

*This program is a 4 week program.  There are 14 languages offered through this program.
 

Alternative Medicine

Ayurveda is an ancient form of alternative medicine. It works on the integrated concept of consciousness, intellect, mind and body. This science is well equipped to care for all states of disease-physical, mental, emotional, social and environmental.

Through a project lasting between 4-9 weeks a volunteer will be based in the very fast growing and progressive Ahmedabad and learn from an experienced staff of doctors and nurses well trained in the field.
Ahmedabad is a world heritage city and home to the famous Sabarmati Ashram inhabited by Mahatma Gandhi. It is one of the important places for Ayurveda practices.

Shri BAPS Yogiji Maharaj Trust Hospital is a multi specialty hospital including a special department dedicated to NIRAMAY, meaning healthy, disease free life. Volunteers can work with patients and learn interesting aspects of this method of health care from the 2 full time practitioners serving the patients in 110 beds. Volunteers can also learn Panchkarma and massage.
 

Arts and the Media

Media plays an important role in the development of rural India. It creates general awareness among the rural population and provides information about various developmental plans. It is very effective and motivating tool, with the power to make improvements in the lives of rural farmers.

Activities at Education Media Research Centre, Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad are basically focused on education and research work related to media . There are also productions specially for people of rural India. Teams from such production houses visit villages, meets local people and records their true stories of success and benefits. Volunteers can join the local team for field visits as well as helping with in-house production activities
 

Environment/Farming

The Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, is today the largest non-government organization (NGO) in the Indian sub-continent engaged in nature conservation research. In the 120 years of its existence, its commitment has been, and continues to be, the conservation of India's natural wealth, protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources for a balanced and healthy development for future generations.

Vikram Sarabhai Centre for Development Interaction, VIKSAT, Ahmedabad aims through interaction of Government Organisation and People's Institutions at promoting and strengthening People's Institutions with active participation of men and women from all sections of the community for an equitable, gender sensitive, sustainable development and management of natural resources.

This program will give the participant an in depth, hands on experience on Indian farms using the organic methods. The participant will be giving back to nature what we slowly and surely destroyed with excessive industrialization. Organic or Herbal farming involves using natural techniques to yield good and healthy crops by methods which do not harm the natural environment or the people who live nearby and consume the produce.
This project is located in Dehradun which is flanked by the Himalayas in the North and the Shivalik range in the South. Dehradun is home to the world renowned Forest Research Institute, the famed Indian Military Academy, The Wildlife Institute of India and the Survey of India.

Volunteers will work on the farms 10-4 Monday through Friday and be involved with all processes of the farming community.

*This project requires 4 weeks of commitment. Additional program elements are available for an increased fee: yoga training, Indian cooking lessons, weekend rafting and hiking, art classes involving candle making, painting and embroidery.