Work as a Volunteer in India

volunteers at Lakshyam

India has a great share in volunteer work all over the world today. Volunteerism is really an appreciable way of partaking in tackling development challenges worldwide. Everyone can contribute their time, skills and knowledge through volunteer action; be it through imparting education, social and environmental awareness or as a community or even coordinator, there are multiple choices. An effort, as small as spending time helping others, can go a long way in bringing change in lives of many. The sheer feeling of accomplishment or joy that you get by lending a helping hand to people and organizations can be quite overwhelming. 

In fact, every helping hand is helping in extending to a more socially aware and compassionate society. 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. 

India also has a lot of scope for volunteer work as it is still struggling to make basic amenities available for a large section of the population. To look at it from another angle, India also has enormous potential for growth as most of its population falls in the younger age bracket which is has to potential to bring laurels for the country. So volunteering opportunities don’t only exist for Indian nationals but also for foreigners, who can volunteer for different kinds of work. Right now, you could volunteer in India to help underprivileged populations gain access to better education, healthcare, human rights, and infrastructure. there are many programs in India that provide you with the opportunity to participate in projects dealing with health, community development, child education, disadvantaged residents and many more. They aim to improve the living conditions of the locals in India and need your support for doing so. 

Five Form Categorization of Volunteering: 

1. Self-help and mutual aid: people with shared problems, challenges and conditions working together to address or ameliorate them. 
2. Philanthropy and service to others: It typically involves an organization recruiting volunteers to provide some kind of service to others and is the type of activity which most people recognize as volunteering. 
3. Governance: volunteers who provide leadership and direction to groups or organizations. 
4. Advocacy or campaigning: collective action aimed at securing or preventing change which includes campaigning against developments seen to be damaging to the environment. 
5. Expressive Behaviors: expressing their interest and passion in a particular field through volunteering. 

There are obviously the perks of volunteering that include: 

• Gaining new experiences and insights 
• Creating connections with people 
• Giving back and helping others 
• Building career options by enhancing your CV, and 
• When volunteering at some new and unfamiliar place, there is also the added advantage of getting to discover new places. 

But more importantly, volunteers are integral to achieving the aims which the process of community development is seeking to realize. Volunteering is one of the main conduits through which the principles and values of community development can be implemented. Volunteers as individuals and groups contribute to the process of community development “by committing time and energy for the benefit of society and the community, the environment or individuals outside or in addition to one’s immediate family. It is undertaken freely and without concern for financial gain.” 

You may not notice the effects immediately, but they are present everywhere bringing change. 

When it comes to service work, it’s important to realize that, similar to an actual career, not all volunteer positions fit everyone. It is one thing to log for hours organizing files or fundraising, but the actual goal should be maximizing your utility. To get real joy out of volunteering, so that even you can give your best, don’t just settle for an organization just to rack up the hours. There’s a lot more to volunteering than that! 

Lakshyam NGO- Hands to Hearts

It’s important to choose an organization that clicks with you and India offers many such opportunities. Out of many organizations that offer volunteering opportunities and is spread across the country, there is Lakshyam spread over 11 states across India that is essentially working for the welfare of under-privileged families, education of children from such families and women empowerment. People from different states and countries can volunteer in the different branches of the country. It has succeeded in touching well over 18,000 lives in these 11 states directly benefitting them. It has a lot of projects which require volunteers apart from various other means that can be taken up as well. For example, one can also teach children Hindi, English, Computer as well as art and craft, dramatics or anything that one excels in to the children at their centre, who come from impoverished backgrounds. One can also donate or contribute to Lakshyam in cash or kind. 

Indeed volunteering can rake up a lot of opportunities for one seeking to gain new experiences, create new connections, give back to society, help others or even build career options; and as a perk of volunteer work in India with its vivid diversity, it ensures a life-enriching consummation with the local cultures.