India Goa Community Volunteers

Volunteer work will vary based on the needs of the project at that time. You could teach at a local school, care for young children at a day care centre or help with computer education. You’ll generally work five days a week for approximately three to five hours per day. Most work occurs in the morning before lunch. But some placements require afternoon work as well.

Teaching

Volunteer activities in this field include:

• Teach children English and Mathematics in the schools. No prior teaching experience is necessary.
• Creating a playful environment and enhance the creativity of the children through painting, playing games, singing etc.
• Working at creating low cost teaching material in making education more fun for the children
• Ensuring regular health check ups for the children in each school through co-operating with the local doctors and hospital staff

Early childhood care and education is an important area of work. Also called "Anganwari", these centres carry out holistic childcare in the area.

Volunteer activities include:

• Personal attention and care to the children coming to the centre everyday.
• Assistance to the local worker to maintain records for each child based on health, vaccination, growth and nutritional condition.
• Making and feeding the children a specially prepared nutritious meal everyday with the help of a local worker.
• Continuous survey of all pregnant women and newborn babies in the area for regular health check ups and vaccination.
• Creating a colourful and enjoyable environment for the children with games, stories and other creative activities (all material support and training for such activities would be provided)
• Helping the students in completing study assignments
• Organising education and fun activities for the children
• Visiting students' homes for sensitisation of the family towards their children with special needs

Please be aware that while corporal punishment is now illegal in India and in no way condoned by Real Gap, it is still a common occurrence at many schools and orphanages. Although we are continuing to work with some of these projects it is with the aim of helping to educate those involved to alternative ways of disciplining children through the involvement of our volunteers and in country teams. 

ASRO- Shelter for HIV/AIDS affected patients

ASRO is a Community Care and Support Centre (CCSC) for people living with HIV/AIDS. As a transitional shelter for AIDS patients, ASRO acts as a bridge between health care institutions and patients' families to create awareness in the community. Volunteer intervention (limited placements and medical background preferred, for longer term volunteers only) is required to help care for the patients who have often been left out of the social circle due to their condition.

Volunteer activities would include:

• Everyday care for the patients and assisting nurses in the centre
• Maintenance of the facilities for the patients 
• To improve the look and feel of the centre through decorations etc.
• To make the centre more patient friendly and offering company to often-lonesome patients

School for Mentally challenged children, Margao:

Volunteer activities may include:

• Teaching children based on instruction and advice of local teachers 
• Helping the students in completing study assignments
• Organising education and fun activities for the children
• Visiting students' homes for sensitisation of the family towards their children with special needs

Your time in Goa won't be all volunteering; over the first two weeks we have included a few activities not only to break up the volunteering but also give you the opportunity to experience the stunning area you are in. This includes;

• The chance to relax with three one hour yoga and meditation sessions at the beginning of your second week.
• Learn to cook the Indian way with cooking workshops at the volunteer camp,
• Trips to see Old Goa's churches, museums, spice plantations and even see a Bollywood movie.
• A boat cruise with dinner, music and dance show onboard at the end of your first week at the project.