Voluntary Project Overview

This community initiative was started in 1998 as a non-profit organization mainly consisting of students, housewives and music aficionados as a way of giving support to under-privileged children and widows in the area. Various projects were developed including running a music school in Chennai and organising concerts and festivals with the proceeds going towards helping the beneficiaries.

This organisation has 3 very distinct projects running:
- An English Medium school for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st standard aged children.
- An income generation project working with women, particularly those widowed, to train and set them up in business as dressmakers.
- The construction of a model village for widows & orphans.

The Volunteer Abroad Role

Career break volunteers in this project would be able to interact with children in all 5 classes on a daily basis undertaking a mix of activities (e.g. assisting with teaching in the classrooms, developing and delivering lessons or using creative skills to do drama, theatre, art & music classes). The children are always thrilled to see a new and different face and it is proven to have the effect of encouraging them to come to school!

Anyone who has had a career in teaching or experience in working with children would find this voluntary project fascinating and an addition to their work experience.

Other Volunteer Abroad opportunities

Career break volunteers can also be involved in the women empowerment project. Volunteers abroad would be able to work closely with the women to help them adjust their designs for the tourist market thus increasing potential sales. Helping to develop a business plan for the group would be an area to contribute.

Besides, anyone with knowledge of construction would be useful to the organisation in building the new village as they are relying on ad-hoc help and advice from well wishers in the locality.

Voluntary Programme Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

To volunteer at this project, you don’t need to be a qualified teacher though previous experience of working with children is always useful. For the women empowerment project, volunteers with knowledge of fashion design would be helpful as they can give insights into new ways of designing and making things like clothes, cards etc.

Volunteer Accommodation and Living arrangements

Based in the south of India, Chennai is a coastal city and is one the four metro cities in India. Rich in traditional culture, Chennai and its surrounds are perfect to explore ancient Hindu architecture in the forms of temples.
You will be staying with a local host family and will have a room for yourself. This gives you the chance to observe and live life as a local.

Being on the coast, Chennai is humid and has a warm climate for most of the year.

What’s included in your Programme Fee?

• Project selection and placement - Our in-country teams work constantly to identify and select projects that are doing exemplary work in developing countries but need your skills and effort. Our staff are in dialogue with you to ensure that we choose a project that really needs you, where you will use your skills and contribute, because at MondoChallenge, we believe that a great volunteering experience is largely dependant on matching you with the right project
• Pre Departure Briefing - Before you leave, we will arrange for a pre departure briefing where we help you with small but extremely helpful details on your chosen destination. Things like: what to pack, local culture and customs, food, safety and precautions if any - simple things to make your life easier!
• Guidance for processing visa - MondoChallenge will arrange for any relevant documents and guide you through the visa process.
• Airport Pick Up - Arriving in a new city and not knowing where to go and how to go can be quite unnerving. A MondoChallenge representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your place of stay where you can put your feet up after a long flight.
• In country Orientation and Welcome Pack - When you arrive in the city, you will be given an orientation where you could meet other volunteers from MondoChallenge, know all about the city, how to find your way around, where to get SIM cards for the phone, small bits that you will need help sorting out in the first few days.
• In Country Support - Our local co-ordinators are there to guide you through out your stay. They will make sure that you are settled at your project, are comfortable with your accommodation and provide guidance on local culture and customs to ensure that you have a memorable and rewarding experience.
• Accommodation - In most cases you stay with a local host family. It gives you a taste of the daily life of a local. You will be sharing a room with another volunteer, however if you prefer to have a single room to yourself, this can be arranged but a cost supplement may apply. If you prefer totally independent accommodation, this may also be possible in certain areas at an additional cost and our Programme Managers will be able to assist you with this.
• Breakfast and Dinner - Local home cooked food, will be provided at the home stays. This gives you a chance to experience local dishes.

Not Included:

• International Flights
• Visa and Travel insurance Costs
• Vaccination
• Local Transport and Travel
• Personal Expenses

Project photos

Testimonials