International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

CONT'D... The orientation week was highly informative and enthralling. All lessons, events and excursions were effectively organized and efficiently executed. By the end of the orientation week, all volunteers had a respectable understanding about India, Indian culture and the Hindi language. Mr. and Mrs. Kumar were extremely helpful and supportive throughout the course of the orientation week, in which they went above and beyond to ensure that all volunteers’ needs were met and all questions were answered. Further to this, despite being in an unfamiliar place, I felt incredibly secure throughout the duration of my stay – truly a home away from home and a wonderful way to ease into the volunteering program! At the end of the orientation week, all volunteers left the orientation hostel to make their way to their project placements. Given that my placement was in Dharamsala, the other volunteers and I were guided by Mr. Kumar in purchasing our tickets. We were provided transportation to the bus stand, in which we easily made our way to the platform and boarded our bus. The transportation to Dharamsala was incredibly safe and efficient, and upon our arrival in Dharamsala, we were provided with transportation to our home stay residence. Here, we were immediately greeted by the local Dharamsala coordinator, Mr. Dawa, an incredibly warm and kind personality, who assisted us in transporting our luggage and settling into our home stay dwelling. Upon arriving at our home stay residence, I was pleasantly surprised with the accommodation facilities and the level of cleanliness. The host family was absolutely delightful and affectionate, in which they always ensured that all of our needs were met. Delicious meals were always provided in a timely manner, in which all volunteers’ dietary requirements were always taken into account (i.e., vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian, spicy vs. non-spicy, etc.). The home stay accommodation was one of the highlights of my volunteering experience, in which it truly became a haven for all us volunteers. The host family became exactly that for us – a family. The sense of a close-knit family was always evident, in which everyone, host family members, Mr. Dawa and other volunteers alike, went above and beyond to care for one another and to ensure that everyone’s experience was as enjoyable as possible. Throughout my 8 week volunteering program, I was fortunate enough to participate in several different projects within Dharamsala, such as the Baby Childcare program as well as teaching English to children, adults and monks (both in a classroom setting and one-on-one tutoring). Prior to volunteering in Dharamsala, I had no previous experience in childcare or teaching English to others. Nevertheless, if one comes with an open-mind and motivation, he or she will encounter no hindrance in successfully and confidently executing their projects within their placements. All programs were well organized and the staff support throughout the duration of the programs was remarkably exceptional. All programs were highly enjoyable, as well as immensely gratifying. Throughout the period of my volunteering program, Mr. Dawa was always readily available to provide assistance and guidance if required. Upon completion of my volunteering program, Mr. Dawa assisted me in purchasing my return ticket and making my way to the bus stand and having my luggage secured. I returned safely to Delhi and prepared to make my way back home, taking with me an abundance of beautiful memories and friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime, all made possible due to the efficiency and effectiveness of IVHQ, an organization I will be forever grateful to for having made it evident that one person can indeed make a difference in the lives of others. IVHQ is a highly well organized company with approachable and personable staff members, in which the staff support and cooperation is undeniably outstanding; the level of ongoing support is exemplary and essential for any individual when volunteering in a location miles away from home, especially for first-time volunteers. I am highly pleased with IVHQ’s concern and focus on volunteer safety; throughout the course of my program, I felt very safe and never once felt as though I was in harm’s way. To continue, the program assignments are exceptionally brilliant and highly rewarding on an intrinsic level. Finally, the accommodation provided for both the orientation week and volunteer program are wonderful. As such, although this was my primary volunteering experience abroad, I can indisputably state that it will not be my last, in which I plan to utilize IVHQ for all future volunteer endeavors without hesitation. I highly recommend IVHQ’s volunteer programs!