India Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why do I choose India?
2. Is India safe?
3. What is the program duration?
4. What age do I have to be a volunteer?
5. Do I have to speak a foreign language?
6. Why should I pay for registration fee?
7. Are Master, Visa and other cards accepted?
8. Who organizes my flights?
9. Do I need travel insurance?
10. What Should I bring for myself?
11. What should I bring for kids in project?
12. Will there be any volunteers present during orientation time?
13. Will there be other volunteers at my placement?
14. What is the daily routine of the project?
15. What are the existing conditions of my placement?
16. Will there be someone to pick me up from airport?
17. What happens, if I want to arrive earlier than the program begins?
18. Will I have time to explore Delhi and other Indian cities during my language?
19. How much extra money do I need?
20. Will I have communications access?
21. Can I bring my cell phone from my home country?
22. Can I accompany with other volunteers?
23. Is it possible to change placement if I get dissatisfied?
24. What happens if I decide to return home before the placement is over?
25. Who will drop me off at the airport?
26. Vaccinations and Medication
27. Are Asia Horizon programs only for International volunteers?
28. Visa
29. Where is the arrival and departure point?
30. Clothes and Climate in Placement Areas
31. Emergency Contact
32. What are the characteristics of good volunteer?
Why do I choose India?
Humanity breaks the fences of countries and cultures. The education and health facilities in rural areas are insufficient. Schools in rural areas lack trained and sufficient number of teachers. Due to poverty and insufficient educational facilities, hundreds of children in rural areas dropout school and leave for cities in search of work. In cities, they work as trash collector, child laborers in restaurants, hotels, and factories. Your small effort may help to see them brighter future.
Is India safe?
Asia Horizon 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. However, 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 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month run throughout the year for a period of 2-12 week.
What age do I have to be a volunteer?
You must be at least 18 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.
Why should I pay for registration fee?
The registration fee is required to run the organization (office space, computers, Internet, supplies and Staffs). Asia Horizon has country office in India and international office in USA to run the coordinated program. Part of the fee goes to maintaining these offices. The remaining money of the program directly goes to support the programs.
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 at a bank.
Who organizes my flights?
You will have to arrange your flights to and from India since you are not charged for airfare.
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
What should I bring for kids in project?
It is not obligation to bring gift for project but they would appreciate, if you bring any gifts. You could bring gifts like toys, books, chocolate, pencil etc.
Will there be any volunteers present during orientation time?
Asia Horizon receives 10-20 volunteers a month (depending on season) most long-term volunteers join the language and culture program. We offer language and culture program in fixed dates to make a small group. Usually there are between 3 and 10 volunteers at the orientation.
Will there be other volunteers at my placement?
This depends on the exact placement and your preference in this issue. If you want to stay with other volunteers, pleases inform us in advance.
What is the daily routine of the project?
Project schedules vary for each project in India. Most projects are from Monday to Friday for 5-6 hours a day. Most volunteers have the weekends off and can explore India on their own.
What are the existing conditions of my placement?
You are provided with food and accommodations; your volunteer program fee covers them. During the training, you will stay at our hostel with other volunteers. We offer food and accommodation from the first day of the program to the last day. Local food trice a day is provided for you while training and volunteering. You are advised to buy your own bottled water once you arrive in India. For the volunteers who arrive earlier or who want to stay longer, it is not possible to offer accommodations and food, but we will help volunteers to find a quality, inexpensive place to stay.
The living conditions of the placement depend on the area. One should not expect luxurious accommodations with cozy bed, hot showers and a bathroom like in your home country. You will be placed within a family setting with your own room. Most placements have electricity. Our host families are mostly educated, well respected in society, and experienced with international volunteers.
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 language?
You will have plenty of time to explore the New and Old Delhi during orientation. As a part of the language program, we offer full day tour of Delhi.
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. You must also remember the VISA fee, which is $60 US dollars for 180 days and 300 Indian currencies for airport tax.
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.
Can I accompany with other volunteers?
We allow people to come with a friend or even in a large group. We can place any volunteer near to another volunteer already working in the field. Please be reminded that two different genders of volunteers are not allowed to stay in same house unless they are a married couple.
Is it possible to change placement if I get dissatisfied?
Asia Horizon will consider request of volunteer seriously for the change of placement to meet the expectation of volunteers. We cannot change position frequently without genuine reasons.
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, Asia Horizon 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?
Asia Horizon 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). Asia Horizon 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
Are Asia Horizon programs only for International volunteers?
We mobilize national volunteers along with international volunteer as their counterparts.
Visa
Any traveler in India can obtain a single entry or a multiple entry tourist's VISA for 180 days. You must apply for a tourist visa at the Indian High commission or consulate in your country prior to your departure to India. Be aware that the airport authority of India does not issue visas at the international airport. Please remember that it is the volunteer's own responsibility to manage their individual tickets and visa. Some country's citizens do not need a visa to enter India, while other countries require a valid passport and visa for traveling to India. Once you get a 180 days multiple entry Visa, an extension is not permitted. There is not a special working or volunteering Visa, so our volunteers will come to India with a tourist Visa.
Where is the arrival and departure point?
India has six international airports located in Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bombay, Trivandrum, and Bangalore, and all international flights arrive and depart from here. As our programs are located in Delhi and Bangalore, so we recommend to book flight either of Delhi or of Bangalore as specific to your placement. Our representative will meet you at the airport.
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 three parties available to you 24/7 in case of emergency, health-related or otherwise: Asia Horizon staff, your host family, and your program supervisor. You will have contact information for all three before you arrive. If you failed to get our representative at airport or if your flight changed suddenly, please book a prepaid taxi that is available inside the arrival lobby and go to hotel or the hostel. Please call our office from the hotel.
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 your stay in India. |
