Volunteering Programs in India

Despite rapid economic growth, a large portion of India’s population remains impoverished and in need of basic human necessities. 70% of the population still has limited access to housing and clean water. The people of India continue to face severe public health challenges on a daily basis and issues with women’s rights, education and small business development. This is where volunteering programs come into picture. These volunteer projects, when done responsibly and with the engagement of local communities are important aspects of India’s overall development.

There are various types of volunteering programs in India that can help the underprivileged population. The 1st type is related to ‘Health’. In India, the rich enjoy world class treatment while poorer inhabitants often have no access to health basics. India is home to the highest amount of AIDS and HIV cases in the world too. Volunteers can work in clinics and help spread awareness. Medical students can also gain first- hand experience in clinics and hospitals. The 2nd type is related to ‘Gender Equality’. Many women in India fall victim to emotional, physical or sexual abuse. A number of NGO’s are working to counteract such problems and they’re always on the lookout for volunteers. The 3rd type is related to ‘Youth Development and Education’. There are millions of street children in India. A lot of orphanages and shelter homes have been set up across the country to help them by promoting education. Volunteers can help these organizations by working in a primary or secondary school, teaching various subjects of use. The 4th type is related to ‘Community Development’. In India, very less percentage of men and women are literate. Volunteers work as a part of community development program and help people discover their potential and make a better go of their lives. The 5th type is related to ‘Environmental Conservation’. India’s rapidly increasing population has done much damage to natural surroundings by way of plastics, chemical pesticides and general high productivity. There are a number of projects in which volunteers help to promote sustainable farming and environmental conservation.

Nowadays, even corporate organizations are having corporate programs that encourage employees to work as volunteers in their community since it makes employees feel pride, satisfaction and makes them happier and more productive workers. By volunteering for projects in non profit organizations, experienced executives can hone their supervisory and leadership skills and aspiring executives can gain the experience and networking opportunities that could lead to plum positions in the company. Software maker, SAS, offers a volunteer initiative that lets employees use flexible schedules to take paid time off for projects in the community or even work in teams with their managers on a volunteer effort during business hours.

Community service and volunteerism are an investment in our community and the people who live in it. Volunteer contributions generate benefits to organizations, individual volunteers, people served by volunteers, and communities and society at large because every person counts and makes a difference.