Voluntary Project Overview

This organisation has a range of activities and programmes for children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. They include a special school for 200 children, adult services for 100 adults, residential and day-care services for 20 adults. Family services cater for 1000 new cases a year and there are community based services for children in slum and rural areas.

In 2004, the Indian government awarded the 'Best Institute for Disability' to the organization in recognition of its services.

The organisation helps children and young adults, but that also means educating the people among whom they live, so it's active in research & training for community, social workers and special needs teachers. It has a special education centre teaching everything from basic living skills to the school curriculum and includes hydro and other therapies. It also advises other NGOs and provides innovative training programmes for grassroots workers, parents and persons with disability.

The project has been involved for many years in the development of alternative means for CP children to communicate and has been training them in computers. It devises different individualized programmes for everyone from small infants to young adults, if needed.

The Volunteer Abroad Role

Career break volunteers can help in different departments of the organization either working directly with the children in class or running special programmes for computer training, art or drama. The classes are fairly small, so there will be a lot of one to one interaction. The volunteer can help with physiotherapy in the centre’s special aqua-therapy pool and get involved in other areas of development work, such as activities which are organised to help boost the children's confidence. Depending on your skills and experience, MondoChallenge can design a voluntary programme that will be mutually beneficial to you and the organisation.

Other Volunteer Abroad opportunities

This is a great project for volunteering abroad on your career break in India as it also offers opportunities to work with the adults either helping them with their formal education or with vocational training in things like catering, computer literacy and printing.

Voluntary Programme Requirements/Eligibility Criteria

Minimum age requirement for this voluntary project is 18.  Prior experience of working with children who have cerebral palsy will help.

Volunteer Accommodation and Living arrangements

Generally career break volunteers are provided accommodation in an Indian home and have their own room however more independent accommodation is also available in self catering apartments at the project itself or in other nearby residential areas. Please confirm your preference and costs for your requirements while booking your voluntary programme to India.
Kolkata is one of the most liberal, educated, historic and a culturally vibrant city in India and as such has a different character and fascination to explore during your stay. Known as ‘City of Joy’, most people’s recollection of it is for Mother Teresa’s work here.

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 have a single room on a non-sharing basis. However if you are travelling with a friend or partner we can arrange for twin/double accommodation. If you prefer independent accommodation, this maybe 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