s India safe?
AimabroadVolunteer always ensures you that you are placed in safe
environments while volunteering in India. Often, India is a country
termed as having "unity in diversity," since millions of visitors travel
to India annually. India is safe, except for a few places like Jammu
and Kashmir, which is 1200 kilometers away - far from our placement
sites. There are some instances of petty crime in big cities, but crime
is rare in rural areas.
Be careful with beggars, frauds, theft, and crowd in India. Theft is
quite common in places visited by tourists. More likely, a thief will
pick your pocket or break into your room. There is little culture of
muggings in India.
What is the program duration?
Our volunteer opportunities start on the 2nd and 4th of Monday, are available throughout the year and are 1 to 12 weeks long.
What age do I have to be a volunteer?
You must be at least 16 years old to be a volunteer and you should be in good health; there is no upper limit.
Do I have to speak a foreign language?
Volunteers on our short-term (2-3 week programs) do not need foreign
language skills. Those volunteers interested in participating on one of
our long-term programs need to have intermediate language abilities in
the spoken language of the program country. Orientation will include an
intensive introduction to Hindi language.
Are Master, Visa and other cards accepted?
Nowadays, there are ATM services in most of the cities in India,
which will be open during the day. There are also several banks and
money exchange services. You can bring Master card, American Express,
Visa card, cash $/ Euro or travelers checks, these all are accepted.
However, facilities may be limited outside major cities. Traveler's
checks may also be difficult to exchange in small towns and villages,
and we advise participants to have cash on hand. You may exchange money
at the airport or in city .
Do I need travel insurance?
Our program does not cover liability and insurance for our
volunteers. Therefore, volunteers must have appropriate insurance before
joining the program. Please obtain necessary health and travel
insurance before coming to India. Talk to your travel agent about this
or search on the internet to see what offers are available, and make
sure you look into the details of the policy. Find out if it covers
airfare in case of a medical emergency.
What Should I bring for myself?
This will vary depending on what activities you want to participate
in and how much you need to be comfortable during your placement. With
the exception of medicine and first-aid-kit, you can buy everything that
you would need for your placement in India. Here are a few suggestions:
- Sleeping Bag
- Waterproof jacket (a fold-away windcheater is fine)
- Mosquito repellent
- Sun cream
- Water purification tablets and/or good quality water purifier
- First aid kit
- Flashlight (torch)
- Penknife
- Books about your country
- Photos of your family / friends / home
- A few examples of your local currency
- Colored pencils and pens, drawing books, stickers
Will there be someone to pick me up from airport?
You need not be worry about airport pick-up. One of our representatives
will be waiting for you at the airport terminal. He will be holding a
sign with your name on it. Please do not forget to send your detailed
flight itinerary in advance.
What happens, if I want to arrive earlier than the program begins?
You can arrive several days earlier or even up to a week early for your
project, however, you will be responsible for these arrangements
(including accommodations and food), and must still meet the Coordinator
at the airport on the designated date.
Will I have time to explore Delhi and other Indian cities during my Program
You will have plenty of time to explore the New and Old Delhi , Agra , Jaipur .
How much extra money do I need?
We manage food and accommodation for volunteers from the first to last
day of program so there will not be need of more money. It depends on
how much you want to expend. You may need some extra money if you plan
to take part in activities outside the organization or if you just want
to buy some souvenirs.
Will I have communications access?
Internet cafés, telephone booths and post offices are available in most
localities and around the project where you will be placed.
Can I bring my cell phone from my home country?
Please bring your cell phone. You can use most mobile handsets with a
local SIM card in India. Moreover, cell phones are available in cheap
price in India.
Is it possible to change placement if I get dissatisfied
Aimabroad runs all projects and volunteers can chose project of his/ her choice or can do multiple programs where they feel more useful .
What happens if I decide to return home before the placement is over?
Once the volunteer makes a decision and pays for the program fee, upon
receipt of invoice, Aimabroad does not refund any program fee under any
circumstances. Nevertheless, if the volunteer have unavoidable
circumstances (such as illness, death of in the family etc) may request
to leave the program, we will consider to return 30% of the host family
cost, if volunteer are registered for more than 30 days program. No
refund will be made if program is less than 30 days and if volunteer
leave program in their own decision.
Who will drop me off at the airport?
Aimabroad does not offer airport drop service. You will need to
arrange a taxi or bus ride to the airport after your project is
finished. This is an easy process and our in-country coordinator in
India or your home stay family will be more than happy to assist you
with this.
Vaccinations and Medication
This all depends on what vaccinations you already have and what country
you are coming from. We suggest that you consult a travel doctor from
your country before you arrive. (NOTE: Some vaccinations are needed as
much as 2 months before arrival to India). Aimabroad does not cover
liability and insurance of volunteers. Therefore, volunteers must have
appropriate insurance before joining the program. However, you should
consider the following vaccinations:
- Hepatitis A & B
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Yellow fever
- Rabies
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria tablets
Clothes and Climate in Placement Areas
Volunteers should dress conservatively when at their projects. Jeans
and a t-shirt are acceptable. No high shorts and tank tops please. We
suggest female volunteers not to wear short skirts in villages. Indian
people dress modestly, and girls cover most of their bodies. Lightweight
clothing and rainwear is recommended as well as warmer clothing for the
evenings (light jacket / sweaters).
The climate of India is most pleasant between the months of October and
March, when much of the country enjoys temperate, blue skies as well as
fresh air. In the northern part of India, from December to late
February, the nights turn chilly, and a sweater or jacket is required.
By mid-March, the days start getting warmer, and from late April, the
temperature in central India becomes too hot for comfortable travel. In
May, the dust and thunderstorms precede the monsoon season from June to
August.
Emergency Contact
You have India Team available to you 24/7 in case of emergency,
health-related or otherwise. You will have contact information
before you arrive. If you failed to get our representative at airport or
if your flight changed suddenly, Please call at Given Indian Number .
What are the characteristics of good volunteer?
If you have attributes like Independence, Patience, Sense of humor,
Tolerance Willingness, Flexibility, Self-motivation and Open-mindedness,
you get the most out of
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