Indian Orphanage projects

Product Details

Our orphanage and care projects are based in several orphanages, schools for the disabled and child care projects in and around Kerala's state capital, Trivandrum. Many of the projects are run by the Catholic Church and usually care for groups of either boys or girls. Some of the projects look after up to 200 children who are lovingly cared for by a dedicated team of monks or nuns. The children usually come to the orphanages and child care projects from the age of 4 years old upwards and are usually from families unable to support them.

The children go to school during the day so you will be busiest helping the staff get the children ready for school in the morning and after they come home from school in the afternoon. They are particularly keen for you to help with the children's homework or to get the children involved in after school activities.

Not all of the children in the orphanages or the schools we work with are technically orphans. Some are 'economic orphans'. These children may have parents who are in prison or who work in the fishing communities of Trivandrum. Their parents may not have the time or resources to look after the children or to pay for their education so send them to an orphanage or para-residential care project run by the church.

If you are interested in cricket, the boys homes will be particularly keen to hear from you. Most boys in India are fanatical about cricket so bring out your bat, some balls and a set of stumps and you'll be incredibly popular!

If you are interested in computers, we would value your skills to help at a project to help disabled girls in Trivandrum. The project aims to teach the children valuable computing skills that they can then use to improve their employment prospects.

If you're interested in music or drama, why not get the children involved in a play. If you have a particular interest, we'll encourage you to bring this to the project. For example you may be interested in nature, model making or reading. Why not get the children interested in this too by running a club.

The orphanage and care projects are incredibly varied and we have a wide range of projects that will take advantage of your hobbies and interests. When you join, we'll ask about you and your interests and hobbies so that we can match you the most appropriate project. Contact us to chat about which project would be most suitable for you.

• Accommodation
• UK support (including predeparture information on your placement and accommodation)
• Airport pick-up
• Local induction
• Culture and language course (where applicable)
• Local overseas support
• Food (in project accommodation)

During your time with us in India you will be staying in accommodation that we rent from the local people. This house is quite spacious and clean and volunteers share a dormitory style room with 3 other people.

Occasionally, we place volunteers with local families. This is usually during off-peak times when only a handful of volunteers are with us in India. If this is the case we will send you full details of your family accommodation before your departure.

Whether you are teaching, on the journalism placement or working in hospitals, all the volunteers stay together in the same area which means that you are never far away from someone to socialise with in the evenings or travel with at weekends. Even if you're based a little further away, most of the volunteers come to Trivandrum to begin their weekend travels or activities.

Usually, two to four people will share a room. The standard of the accommodation will basic and not be what you are used to at home so please don’t expect all mod cons, but it will be clean and tidy.

The house has running water and electricity, but please be aware that the water is delivered and stored in a tank above the house so there may be times when it runs out, and the electricity supply is unreliable and may often fail. India often has problems with it's electricity supply and will be cut off at times with no warning.

Even breakfasts in India have an element of curry spices to them. There will be someone there to look after the house and they will cook your meals which means that if you can't quite get used to Indian food then they can cook something similar to what you are used to at home.

Weekends are usually free and volunteers usually use this time to meet and go travelling. Our location in Kerala means that you are well placed to see some of the most interesting sites in india.

The beaches of Kerala are reputed to be some of the best in the world. Not far away is the palm fringed Kovalam, perfect for just chilling out and relaxing by the sea after a hectic week in India. Further afield the coastal port of Cochin once centre to the spice trade from India. Travel further inland and travel down the famous backwaters of Kerala or journey up into the Western Ghat mountains and the wildlife reserve at Periyar roamed by herds of mud-caked elephants.

If exhausted by constant travelling, take a weekend off and take time to appreciate the various theatre and dance styles that abound in Kerala. Mohiniattam ("dance of the enchantress") and the martial art influenced Kathakali dance drama are well worth experiencing if you have the chance during you time with us in India.