OUR VOLUNTEERING PHILOSOPHY

Volunteering is a state of mind. It is a willingness to give your time, your energy and your efforts in order to improve the livelihood of others less fortunate than yourself. It is also a willingness to say, “Yes, I have something to offer and I want to share it with others”, and “Yes, I want to learn from others in order to develop myself.” Volunteering is a process of sharing and enriching; it’s an exchange.

Before reading any further, we ask you to consider this one, simple question:

What is it you want to achieve as a volunteer in India?

At IVC you will be able to: 

• Make a difference.
  
• Bring about positive change.
• Help provide people with choices that they don’t otherwise have.
  
• Share information so that people can make informed decisions.
  
• Learn new skills.
  
• Contribute to decision making processes that will have an impact beyond your stay at the project.
  
• Develop ties and relationships with local people that tourism alone could never offer you.

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What we Provide

Orientation & Training
Once you arrive we will give you time to recover from travelling/jet-lag. Throughout the first week of your stay we will provide a full orientation and training required for your selected projects. This includes information on:

• IVC and it's main programs
• Your selected project(s)
• Work schedule
• Health and safety concerns
• Indian culture
• Indian food
• Supplies/food available in the neighborhood
• Emergency contact information and procedures

Airport Pickup
If you are arriving at the Chennai Airport we can arrange a taxi to pick you up and bring you directly to your housing in Pondicherry. See the Volunteer Costs section to learn more.

24/7 Support
Our staff are available to help you 24/7. We understand how important it is to feel safe when travelling and living in a new country and we promise to be available at all times. You will have the founder's and the volunteer coordinator's personal cell phone number and can call at any time of day for assistance. 

Family
Volunteers report feeling like they gain a new family while volunteering with IVC. Our staff truly care about your well-being. We will check in to see how you are adjusting to Indian food, bring you around town to buy your groceries or souvenirs, help you get a stain out of your clothes, or help you arrange trips to nearby sites. Living with other international volunteers also creates a sense of community. Most of our volunteers create strong bonds with each other and collaborate on projects and share all their meals together. You'll have plenty of support while you are here!

Who can Volunteer?

Anyone can volunteer/intern at IVC.
IVC is open to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation or gender. For many projects you don’t need to have any specific qualifications or experience. You don’t even need to have buckets of money.
What you do need is the following:

• A genuine desire to work towards positive change
• The ability to commit to volunteer work for a period of at least 1 month
• The ability to communicate in English
• The ability to pay for your own food/personal costs throughout your stay
• A valid passport and an appropriate visa 
• The ability to travel to India (we can meet you at the Chennai airport) 

• Necessary travel vaccinations (see your home doctor for specific recommendations)

• Your own travel insurance (check out worldnomads.com)

• To be 18 years or over (unless permission letter from a parent)
  
  

Most projects don’t require any specific skills or qualifications, they just require you.