VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN INDIA
From the title of the article, the first question that arises is: Why do we need volunteer 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. With an estimated 6 doctors for every 10,000 people, the people of India also continue to face severe public health challenges on a daily basis -- not to mention issues with women's rights, education, and small business development.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Hellen Keller
Right now, you could volunteer in India to help underprivileged populations gain access to better education, healthcare, human rights, and infrastructure. Volunteer programs are located in metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, as well as rural villages in states including Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. These volunteer projects, when done responsibly and with the engagement of local communities, are important aspects of India's overall development.
Individual citizens also have an important role to play through volunteering. Every day, individuals are engaged in development initiatives through volunteer actions, both large and small, in an effort to improve conditions for others and themselves.
Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development, everyone can contribute their time and energy towards peace and development. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and in transforming the pace and nature of development
But the next question that comes up is: why volunteer at all ?
So, the major gains of the volunteers are summed up as follows:
- Gaining New Experiences and Insights
Volunteering allows students to get involved with new things and develop technical, social, and academic skills that couldn’t be learned in a classroom environment. Whether you’re helping out at your local library or tutoring underprivileged kids, volunteering allows you to experience different environments and situations. Volunteering brings out new interests, hobbies, and opinions; moreover, volunteering expands students’ horizons.
- Giving Back and Helping Others
We are considerably pretty lucky. We assumedly have a roof over your head, food to eat, and clothes to wear. Even if we don’t have the “best” of those, we’ve got them. Volunteers create better environments for others; they create healthier communities, and they brighten lives.
- Creating Connections with People
No matter the age, building relationships with people is crucial. Not only does the volunteer work you do show who you are as a person, but it reflects many positive character traits that potential employers and admissions officers want to see. Volunteering allows you to meet a wide variety of people from all sorts of walks of life. Networking is an amazing benefit of volunteering, and students learn professional skills and have access to a breadth of knowledge from their co-volunteers.
- A Sense of Accomplishment
Volunteering isn’t one of the most plush, easy, or glamorous of jobs, but it is one of the most beneficial and uplifting. While no monetary compensation is received, many will tell you that their work and experiences gained as a volunteer were worth way more than any money they could have gotten from another line of work.
- Building Career Options
Charity work gives students opportunities to test out a desired career path. Concurrently, it gives them an edge on their resume. Getting involved with an organization that shares similar ideals and interests is an important step for students. At a young and pretty inexperienced age, volunteering is an excellent gateway to the workforce.
In India, there are many volunteer programs offered by a number of NGOs, for example Lakshyam. It is registered with the government and primarily strives to make the lives of impoverished children and women better, and to offer a positive direction towards life. It has succeeded in touching well over 18,000 lives in 11 states and directly benefitting them.
So, get out there and get involved. Stop stressing about the number of hours, and start having fun. Yes, volunteering can be fun. Don’t worry; I was surprised too. Remember: volunteer work is meant to be more than what most make it out to be. Don’t let something as constructive and vital slip through the cracks! There are in numerous volunteer programs in India to choose from.
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