Social Work Volunteering Opportunities

Hi folks… this beautifully tanned and happy Maria just returned from a wonderful holiday in Goa, India. You think its all about sun ‘n sand…no! no! was looking for some social work volunteering opportunities and banked on Le Passage Travel Foundation, Shaping Lives, to find a good volunteer holiday in India. Sent them my credentials on their request, before they agreed to give me 4 different options for social workvolunteering opportunities in Goa.

The one I chose was in Salcete, South Goa and the travel agent got me some nice accommodation close to my work location. This place is not an NGO but a school – cum – home for girls from less privileged or disturbed backgrounds. I chose the hostel work only leaving me ample time till 1.00 p.m. to enjoy Goa as well. The afternoons were spent helping the girls with their English and Maths homework and preparations for the next day. We then played games and after evening church, the study period was also utilized by me to improve computer skills of the senior ones. Sundays were special and we took long walks to the beach where the Sisters and children relaxed and spoke about their circumstances and dreams and it was so touching. I felt very satisfied over the 2 weeks on this social work volunteering opportunity and now as I gaze into my photo cache, I feel Maria went for the sun ‘n sand but returned with one additional asset …’soul’ …go there and find yours. The website also belongs to India’s premier DMC.

NGO in India for Children

Children welfare organizations in India were what Pravada and me where seeking when we planned to visit the country. Being active para-medics, Pravada and me prefer to engage either communities or NGOs working with children and there are esp such a large number of NGOs for children in India. Our travel operator while planning the itinerary suggested we do special children at Jaipur. That’s great we said but where and how do we set this up. He gave us the “Shaping Lives” and prompt came their response on all our queries regarding good NGOs in India for children. 

We elected to devote 7 days at Disha Foundation, a school for the mentally disabled at Jaipur. Shaping Lives liaised and even organized our stay in the Disha premises at a very nominal rental. The children and staff were absolutely astounding and we became Pravada and Janet Didi (sister) by the end of the second day. While Pravada devoted herself to therapy and exercises, I took on the challenge of creating some paintings and other fine arts with some of the more talented children. Mrs. Rainu Singh, the ED, Disha was wonderfully helpful, invited us to a special evening of Jaipur dances as her guests and made sure we worked, but in comfort. Both of us have fallen in love with the Disha children and will be visiting them soon enough and this is one NGO in India for children that I will recommend. The room is comfortable and it has affordable eating places just 200m away.