Volunteer in India FAQ
Travel Logistics
Health and Safety
Accommodations and Meals
Technology
Cultural Concerns
Miscellaneous
How
long can I volunteer?
The recommended minimum time to volunteer is 2 weeks. The
recommended maximum time to volunteer is 8 weeks.
What is the
best time to volunteer in India?
In order to avoid the monsoon season and potential flooding, volunteers are recommended to go to CORD between August and May, New Light between
September and April, and SMVS between October and March.
Do I need
a visa for India?
Yes. You must have a visa to enter India. You can obtain
a visa application via the India embassy or consulate office
in your home country. For US citizens, visa applications are
available via the Embassy
of India website.
Prior to submitting your application, it is strongly advised
that you contact the embassy or consulate office to confirm
the current application processing times so you can determine
whether you need to use an expedite service.
Where
can I find the information I will need to complete my visa
application?
We provide two documents that will help you complete your
visa application: Travel Considerations and India
Contact Information.
To access these documents, please login to My
Village. Scroll to the Travel Preparation section of the
My Village main page, and select India. The Travel Considerations
and India Contact Information documents are both located in
the "Before you leave..." section.
Please note that you will not have access to any of these
documents until you have submitted your Volunteer Program
deposit.
Can you
recommend a service that can expedite my passport or visa?
In the US, expedited passport and visa services are provided
by A Briggs
and PassportsandVisas.com.
Can
you recommend a travel agent?
For low cost airfare, we recommend the following sites:
Expedia.com
Kayak.com
Orbitz.com
SideStep.com
Which aiport
should I fly to and depart from?
Volunteers going to CORD should fly to and depart
from the Bangalore International Airport.
Volunteers going to New Light and SMVS should fly to and depart
from the Netaji Subhash Airport (Dum Dum Airport) in Kolkata
(Calcutta).
Volunteers going to Udyogini should fly to and depart
from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Will
there be someone to meet me at the airport?
Yes, you will be met at the airport by a staff member from
the partner organization with which you will be volunteering. Together,
you and the staff member will travel to your volunteer destination.
What
are the in-country transportation costs?
Your transportation
is included in the Volunteer Program fee. However, if you chose to depart
from the program for independent travel or personal reasons,
please be prepared to be responsible for the cost.
Will there
be time to see the sights of India?
Yes, there are many local sites that you can visit on weekends.
Village Volunteers provides basic information for touring
the sites near each program. Ask your director or volunteer coordinator
for suggestions.
What
safety precautions should I take when traveling in India?
The villages
are generally very safe and hospitable for volunteers; however,
travel to larger cities should be treated with more caution.
Kolkata and New Delhi, like any big cities in the world, can
be dangerous and vigilance is strongly advised. It is not
advisable to be out at night, and belongings should be kept
in a secure place on your person (money belt, neck pouch under
your clothes, etc.) and completely out of sight. Do not draw
attention to yourself either through your actions or dress.
Yes. Be sure
to consult a travel physician at least two months prior to
your departure from your home country. You may also want to
consult the Center
for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional
information.
What
are the accommodations like in India?
To learn about the accommodations, click on the volunteer
placements below:
» CORD
» New
Light
» SMVS
What
if I am a vegetarian or have food allergies?
When you complete our volunteer application, you will have
an opportunity to let us know of your specific dietary needs.
This information will be forwarded to our partners overseas
so they can prepare your meals accordingly.
Will I have
email access while in India?
Yes. Please see the specifics for each placement below:
CORD: Volunteers can access the internet
from the CORD office or from a local internet cafe in Kushalnagar.
New Light: Volunteers can access the internet
at a nearby internet cafe in Kolkata.
SMVS: Volunteers can access the internet at an internet cafe very near to the volunteer accommodations.
Udyogini: Volunteers can access the internet
in the Udyogini office in the local city where the volunteer
is placed. Please keep in mind that the Udyogini offices
are not open in the evenings.
Will
I be able to use my cell phone in India?
Please leave your cell phone at home as it will not work.
Will I be
able to charge my digital camera and batteries in India?
Yes, you will have access to power to charge your digital
camera and batteries.
Will
I need an adapter or converter in India?
Depending on your home country, you may need both an adapter
and a power converter. Voltage in India is 230V - 240V, and
outlets are shaped like the images below:
 
If you need to purchase a converter and adapter, you may
want to consider buying an adapter/converter set with multiple
adapter plugs. You can typically find such a set at an electronics
store or a store which carries luggage accessories. Before
buying a set, have an idea of the types of appliances you
will want to plug in, so you can make sure the power converter
will meet your needs.
Do those
in West Bengal, India speak English?
While English is spoken at New Light in Kolkata, volunteers
may find that the levels of English proficiency vary.
Although it is not essential to learn the native languages,
it is extremely useful and appreciated if you make an effort
to learn the basics. For those going to New Light, Village
Volunteers offers a basic Bengali Language Guide, which can
be found in the Travel Preparation Documents (which volunteers
can access after they have applied, been accepted, and submitted
a program deposit).
What are some
basic customs I should be aware of?
| » |
Public physical contact between
men and women - even between travelers or married people
- is unacceptable. |
| » |
Modesty in dressing, especially
for women, is extremely important. Sleeveless shirts and
shorts or short skirts are prohibited. It is preferable
that women wear traditional Indian dress, such as saris,
in the villages. Men do not wear shorts or sleeveless
shirts. |
| » |
Ask for permission before entering
a temple or mosque. |
| » |
Ask for permission before photographing
or filming local people. |
| » |
The left hand is considered
unclean. Be sure to use your right hand when eating. |
| » |
Feet are also considered unclean.
Shoes are generally removed before entering a home. |
| » |
The thumbs up signal is considered
rude. |
I have
more questions.
More in-depth
orientation materials are made available to volunteers after
the application process has been completed. For assistance,
email our team at info@villagevolunteers.org.
|
