India

India is home to one-sixth of the world’s population and has a diversity of sight, smell and sound that includes the Taj Mahal, the Himalayas and Bollywood.  One-quarter of its population lives below the poverty line and Lattitude Volunteers have been working within schools, Tibetan monasteries and community centres for many years, providing support, teaching English and empowering people.

Placement locations

Placements are located in the hill stations within Tibetan communities, and in a number of towns in the north of India, click here to view a map.

Is it for me?

By volunteering in India you can offer direct assistance to those in need. Your work may involve teaching English to Tibetan monks or nuns, or helping disabled young people live a more independent life.  India is not for the faint hearted and you must be mature, self-sufficient, open-minded and willing to forgo some of your creature comforts. 

Placements explained

English Teaching placements enable volunteers to teach Tibetan refugees in schools, monasteries and nunneries. While conversational English forms a major part of the duties, volunteers also assist with a range of other subjects.  English classes often take second place to prayer and ritual so initiative and self motivation is important.  Kindness is the most important quality in Tibetan Buddhism and both adults and children are delightful to work with and teach.

Teaching placements involve being a teacher’s assistant at primary and secondary schools. The schools range from relatively wealthy English-style schools to very poorly resourced community schools.  Volunteers teach English as well as other subjects. The ages of students vary.

Community placements also involve an element of teaching. There are placements at orphanages and day centres for children with mental and physical disabilities, as well as centres for adults with disabilities. Volunteers help with caring duties, as well as teaching subjects such as art, music, drama, sewing, cooking and sport.

The average working week for placements in India is between 10 and 20 hours.

Accommodation & food

Accommodation is provided on site at schools or with a host family.  Accommodation can be quite basic with erratic electricity and water supplies at times.  Food is supplied in conjunction with accommodation.  The meals vary greatly depending on the placement and may be quite bland to the western palate in some areas.

Need to know

• Pre departure briefing - all volunteers are invited to a group briefing prior to departure
• Teaching skills course – this course is organised by Lattitude and undertaken in Palmerston North at the volunteers’ own expense prior to departure 
• On arrival - volunteers attend a three-day orientation organised by Lattitude before commencing their placement

Support provided

Before you go:

• We interview each volunteer in order to find out their strengths, skills and interests, as well as identifying what they are hoping to achieve while away. This helps us select the right people to be Lattitude volunteers and after a second interview with the In Country Programme Manager (often via Skype or e-mail), we match them to a placement that is right for them.
• Once you have been accepted by the in Country Programme Manager you will be looked after by a specialised Volunteer Coordinator based in the Palmerston North office, who is responsible for all volunteers going to a particular country. They provide briefing materials, support with logistics such as flights and visas and are there to answer any questions.
• Everyone attends a pre-departure briefing to meet other volunteers and Lattitude staff, and other professionals such as our travel agent, travel doctors and insurance company representatives as well as hearing from returned volunteers.
• All volunteers sign our Term and Conditions to ensure that Lattitude's expectations of each volunteer are agreed and clear from the outset.

When you're overseas:

• We have paid staff based in each country.  Our Country Managers oversee the program and work with a team of Local Representatives who provide support in the local areas and develop close relationships with placement hosts.
• Each volunteer attends orientation on arrival and where needed, other courses such as a local language or teaching skills course.
• Each volunteer is visited at their placement soon after arrival by an in-country staff member to check how things are and provide additional support if needed.
• We work with Embassies and High Commissions to ensure we can respond to any situation and provide 24/7 emergency support from the Lattitude office in Palmerston North.

When you're back:

• We recognise that coming home can be difficult and provide one-to-one support, with onward referrals for further professional support if needed.  Volunteers are invited to debriefing events and become part of our network of alumni.

Costs

These costs are for Lattitude placements in India in 2013

Lattitude fees (exact costs)

You will also need to budget for the following (approx costs)

Travel

The main opportunity for travel will be at the end of your placement and an array of experiences awaits - it is for good reason that India is often referred to as the “world’s most multidimensional country”.  Tranquil temples, bustling cities, balmy beaches, snow-capped mountains, picturesque hill stations, Bollywood, wonderful food, colourful festivals and over a billion people…. the sights, sounds and smells of this mind-boggling country are the reason it is, indeed, “incredible”. Wherever you go will be unforgettable – go everywhere!