India

I signed up with IVHQ – Delhi, India program because I wanted to experience a non-western community. Ananta Kumar was my program coordinator and from the moment I signed up he emailed me and welcomed me and made sure I knew how to contact him with and questions or concerns about my placement or about India in general. I was relieved to hear back from him immediately with answers and advice. This was my first time traveling alone and instantly Ananta made all of the volunteers feel right at home. He introduced us to his home and his wife. We all sat around the table having breakfast and lunch together. It felt like a second family so far away from home. I signed up for the one week orientation and we all endured Hindi lessons and learning about the history of India. It was overwhelming with how much information there was to take in but Ananta took it day by day and made sure everyone was comfortable. He advised us on all the different weekend trips we could take around India, pointed out the safest/best bazaars available to traveling volunteers looking for souvenirs such as sarees, bangles and scarves. My home stay was amazing and I was able to meet volunteers from all over the world. We shared stories about our life back home and other travel stories we’d experienced. By far India is the most beautiful place I’ve visited. It’s nothing like I’ve seen before or anything that you can capture in a book or movie depiction. I was helping teach English in the local school and everyday walking to class the children came out in all smiles and walked with us holding our hands. I’ve never meant so many children that were eager to learn and share. Them alone made India great. By the end of my stay in India Ananta offered me a place to stay because my flight was early the next morning. He drove me to the airport free of charge and out of the kindness of his heart. Later that day I called him to say my flight was cancelled and the next one home was two days later. Without hesitation he again offered his home to me. I was so lost at the airport and wasn’t sure what to do but Ananta helped me out and made sure I got back to him place safely. I had a few flight issues but other than that I had the trip of a life time and experienced things that I would have never been able to do if it weren’t for Ananta and IVHQ. Thanks a million!!

India has been a difficult place for me! Ever since i was a young girl, i have been wanting to travel to a foreign country to assist in some aid efforts, and when my grandson decided to go to india and asked if i wanted to join, i said yes, a difficult decision to make at age 73. Initially the place was very overwhelming, and a lack of communication between driver, headquarters and us made for a very scary first night in delhi, one i'll never forget and perhaps not the best introduction for me to a foreign country. Nevertheless, things looked brighter when we arrived in Jaipur, and were greeted at the bus station by a number of harassing rickshaw drivers, and a very comforting and trusting face of Menju, our co-ordinator. I was very relieved to hear we would be spending our first night at Menju's house, as she sat us down to a cup of chai and discussed how the weeks were going to be played out, for the first time we had some real clarity about what we were doing here. I have lived in a sheltered environment the last few years, so to step so far outside my comfort zone was a huge challenge for me, but Menju made this transition much easier, just doing simple things to make me feel like i'm at home such as making me toast for breakfast, and making the food less spicy for me. Menju is a genuine, and caring person, who rings and visits to see that im okay, not because she has to as her job, but because she genuinely cares for my wellbeing. I question the headquarters of the IFRE in America, perhaps their communication to the volunteer about what to expect when they arrive in India could definitely be improved, but an undoubted highlight for my trip was the hospitality shown to me on arrival, and during my homestay in India. Thank you Menju, you had a big part to play in my decision to stick out the length of my trip, and not just jump on the first plane back home!!

This has been an excellent experience for me! Travelling in a different country is always a bit overwhelming and a very big challenge, but the support networks available to me during my stay has made a potentially daunting experience seem like home. Menju in Jaipur has been like a big sister to me, a caring face when we first arrived to reassure us from the hustle and bustle of the jaipur bus station, taking us to her lovely home for a comforting cup of chai. Since this time Menju has been extremely hospitable to me, always going out of her way to make sure that we feel at home, something after four weeks i can definitely say i do! I have been travelling with my grandmother during this time, and menju's efforts to make sure she is comfortable have been above and beyond necessary! My experience of the hospital in jaipur has been amazing as well, enabling me to see a completely different health care system in a well controlled, friendly environment! It's certainly going to be difficult to leave, i mean, who would want to leave the friendly people, incredible culture, abundant chai, and Menju's delicious cooking! Thanks again so much for your wonderful hospitality, it hasn't gone unrecognised and won't be forgotten!

The living accommodations were wonderful and our host family was more than welcoming and loving. I couldn't have asked for a better host family or accommodations. I felt the volunteer program in itself could have used a little more structure and organization prior to even arriving in the country. I also would have liked to have been more hands on in my volunteering experience. I would have liked to help in any way possible more than just simply observing at various locations. I enjoyed having the safety of the host family and the program coordinator however with all my endeavors in India. It was all very accommodating.

I chose a 4 weeks teaching program with IVHQ in India. I'm glad that I made this choice. India is an incredible country. I love the kids in my school, the Morning Star School, in Faridabad. They are smart and eager to learn. The principal, Mr. Raj, is full of passion and love. He and his family gave me a home with love in India. Their house is clean and lovely. The food is in India type and delicious. I really feel enjoyful to be here.

Getting the opportunity to come to India and experience the culture was an amazing experience in itself. I was exposed to healthcare by being in hospitals, giving me the ability to compare it to the US. I provided very basic primary care (blood pressure, pulse check, physical exam) in a slum. However, I was hoping I would have gotten to do more volunteering and less shadowing. I came wanting to help the people of India and I don't feel like I was given the opportunity to. I understand I am only a pre-med student, but I read reviews before signing up that talked about getting to provide a lot more than basic primary care and shadowing. I wish I would have had a better understanding of what I was going to be doing during my month and a half stay. My host family was amazing and having my host dad be a doctor himself was very beneficial. Perhaps if I'd chosen a different country that was not developing I could have done more, or if I was more qualified. This is a great experience for someone who is looking to learn about Indian healthcare and shadow a variety of Indian doctors, but not for someone looking to volunteer and provide medical aid.

A good experience-just not what I expected. I came to India for just short of two months to volunteer in slum medical clinics and be exposed to a different health care system. I didn't get what I expected. The program description on the site was a bit misleading. I was under the impression that, even as only a pre-med student, I would get to assist doctors and work with patients. I read some really good reviews by pre-med students where they got to learn and perform simple procedures. Some, even got to assist in surgeries. Maybe I should've been more skeptical. Maybe I shouldn't have been hopeful that I would get this kind of exposure. Of course, I didn't intend on doing anything I wasn't qualified to do. I wouldn't want to put anyone in danger. I hoped I could do things I was capable of doing. I hoped I could help people medically. But I didn't get to do anything! I didn't help anybody. I sat in offices, waiting for the doctors that I was sent to shadow, to show up. When they did show up, they had very little interest in whether or not I learned anything. The language barrier was an added complication. I did this for about 2 hrs a day, five days a week. Apart from the actual "volunteering," I really enjoyed my experience in India. I got to travel on the weekends and see a lot of things. I got help with some of the travel arrangements but there was also a lot I had to figure out on my own. I got to see the world in a new light, a world very different from my hometown and for that, I am thankful. The host family was very welcoming and generous and cared for us like a second set of parents. I learned more about medicine and health care in India from my host-dad, a PT, than I did from any of the doctors I shadowed. He, his wife, and their two children, made the experience worth the money.

Overall my Indian volunteer experience abroad was an amazing experience and irreplaceable. I loved exploring and learning the rich and deep culture of the country and people. My host stay was a great experience as well, with a welcoming and sweet host family. The program offered us great opportunities as far as learning and observing Indian medicine goes. My definition of volunteer stands a bit different than the idea of volunteering in this volunteer health program. I would have liked to use my abilities and strengths to offer more help in the country, but I value deeply the experiences and things I have learned about India and myself.

I want to thank Menju in Jaipur. As coordinator, she was incredibly supportive and hospitable. The hospital which I volunteered in was an amazing learning experience, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it without coming home to Menju's everyday. Volunteering has opened my eyes to the differences in Indian culture and my own, particularly in the health care system. It also allowed me to really immerse myself in the routines and charms of daily life in India. Once again, thankyou for your hospitality, your knowledge and support Menju. It was an experience I will never forget.

I volunteered with Sankalp twice now, and I'm very positive about this organization. They are happy to answer all the questions you have about your stay and the programs. There's a special house for the volunteers, wich is very nice and comfortable. The orginasators of Sankalp have an office in the house, so you see them everyday. The staff members are very nice and helpfull. There's a cook, and lunch and dinner is provided, the food is Indian, but it's not spicy. There's also a driver who drives everyone to there project locations. In the weekends you can travel around, and there's a lot to see around jaipur, so you won't get bored. I had a great time staying here for 10 weeks. I met a lot of great people, had an amazing time with the children. I would recomend this program to everyone! I had a great experience, wich I will never forget!