India is one of the most degraded environment countries in the world and it is paying heavy health and economic price for it. Rapid population growth and economic development are major reasons to the environmental degradation in India as the population pressure on natural resources. Mismanagement and overuse of the India’s abundant forest has resulted in desertification, soil depletion, flood, ozone layer depletion, pollution, drought and other many problems. Asia Horizon’s partners also run environmental projects such as organic farming, irrigation management and sustainable development. The goal of these projects is to experiment and conduct research for sustainable development through organic farming, training program and alternative traditional medicines. If you choose a conservation project you will learn about rural development, Indian traditional medicines and practices, organic farming and more.
Activities as a Volunteer
As a volunteer, you will be actively participated in agricultural activities such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, harvesting and dairy. You will also carry out non-formal and adult literacy education programs and awareness program field visits, research and documentation work, training programs. Volunteers in this project can also assist other projects in the same place.
Project Skills Required
There are no specific skills or qualifications required. You must be at least 18 years old and should have knowledge of spoken English for volunteering. You should have a minimum commitment of 3 months to understand the nature of the work and activities. Work in conservation project may take some physical strength, as the work is bit physical. You will need to make an effort to learn the local language to understand the situation and participate actively. Furthermore you need to be hard working, adjustable, self reliance, patience, flexible and friendly.
Food and Accommodation
Asia Horizon makes an appropriate provision for food, room and supervision for its volunteers from the very beginning of their arrival to the country to the end of their project. During the first week of language and cultural immersion program, volunteers stay in Asia Horizon hostel in Gurgaon (Delhi) where cooks prepare a variety of Indian food three meals a day (Nan, curry, Dal, chapatti, rice and pickle), it may occasionally have chicken, fish or mutton. You can also get the food from outside if you wish; there are numbers of affordable restaurants and hotels in Delhi. During your volunteering programs in Delhi, volunteers’ accommodation and food management is provided by a host family. You can’t expect a luxurious bedroom in the placement. However, volunteers joining Asia Horizon-India’s orphanage program stay with the children in a hostel. Asia Horizon makes provision of a separate room along with the shower facility in both the host family and hostel accommodation but sometimes volunteers may share the room if the number is large. Volunteers are expected to share same life style while staying with the host family; they may join the daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, washing and so on. Though the local fare will provide twice a day, You will be really enjoy the way of Indian hospitality and generosity to the guest.
Visa information
Volunteers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian visa before they start their journey to India because there is no any provision of providing visa in Indian Airport. Therefore we recommend you to get the tourist visa before departing to India. The Indian Embassy or Consular Office in your home countries will issue tourist visas. If you plan to visit a neighboring country such as Nepal and re-enter India, please apply a double/multiple entry Visa.
You must necessarily have a passport that is valid for at least six months. Furthermore, you should have paid correct visa fees, submit two passport-size photos, completed application form and present all the supporting documents wherever it is necessary.
We strongly recommend you to bring relevant documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian if a child is travelling with you, In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments has initiated procedures at entry/exit points.
Project Information
Program Date: Asia Horizon volunteer Program begins with your arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on Sunday, the day before of your project. A one-day orientation about the program including project sites, types of work, local food, climate, safety issues, health issues, culture people etc. will be provided in Delhi office before you start the project.
Program Fees: Our program fee is 80-100% less than most international volunteer organizations. |
