General Volunteer: Volunteer India
Meaningfully offer your skills, experience another culture, and help those in need at Amar Seva Sangam.
Placement Location
Tamil Nadu, India
Duration
Flexible (Up to 6 Months)
Placement Fee
$400 Per Week
Program Overview
Handi-Care Intl’s “Volunteer India” program is designed for individuals who want to immerse themselves in service. Our base of operations is at Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA), a premier institution for the rehabilitation of people with disabilities located in the scenic foothills of the Western Ghats.
What to Expect:
As a general volunteer, you will be assisting in day-to-day campus operations, working with children and adults in need, and using your skills to bolster the organization's administration, education, or caregiving sectors.
Living on Campus: Volunteers stay in on-campus guest houses. This safe and serene environment serves as the perfect launchpad for a true cultural immersion experience.
Areas of Focus
We work to align your specific skills, background, and passions with the active needs at ASSA. Popular areas where general volunteers make massive impacts include:
1. Education & Childcare
- Assisting teachers at the special school for children with disabilities.
- Organizing arts, crafts, games, and recreational therapeutic activities.
- Tutoring or helping local students practice spoken English.
2. Campus Administration & Skill Training
- Contributing to marketing, report writing, and clinical data logging.
- Assisting with vocational training programs like tailoring, bookbinding, or basic computing.
3. Impact from our placements
- More than 40 HCI volunteers have been sent to ASSA and have all returned with raving reviews of their experience.
- The Volunteer India experience has inspired and guided many volunteers to choose career paths that involve working with people with disabilities.
- Following the volunteer experience, all of our student volunteers have been able to enter their desired field of study such as Education, Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy. Our student and older volunteers have enjoyed contributing in various areas such as psychological counselling, teaching English, arts, music, dance and helping in computer related area.
- The experience of living in, giving to and receiving from a developing country has changed many of the volunteers’ perspectives and many have gone on to contribute significantly to their local and global communities.
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HCI Volunteers have made significant contributions at ASSA. To name a few:
- CPR/ First Aid training
- Educational sessions in Autism and Cerebral Palsy for special education teachers
- HIV education for students
- Training staff in enhanced physiotherapy assessment and treatment tools
- Assessing and reporting on effectiveness of village based rehabilitation
- Creating a proposal for a School for Special Education
- Many volunteers have continued to work with HCI and ASSA after their volunteer placements.
Application & Requirements
Basic Requirements:
- Must be at least 16 years of age.
- Willingness to adapt to simple, modest on-campus living conditions.
- Respect for local cultural norms and dress codes.
The Application Process:
- .Submit Inquiries: Reach out to Handi-Care Intl. at
info@handicareintl.org
to verify open positions. - Complete the Form: Once pre-approved, you’ll need to submit the official application form and pay the $400 Per Week placement fee.
Facility providers:
- Room and board (3 vegetarian meals a day, and morning and afternoon tea).
- Work related trips to adjacent villages
- A tax receipt from HCI.
Facility regulations:
- Smoking and drinking are prohibited in the Amar Seva Sangam campus.
- Proper dress code and conduct are expected from all volunteers.
feedback form
Each volunteer will complete a feed back form, up on completion of volunteer term. Please download form from the link below, complete and send to info@handicareintl.org
Note: All volunteers are required to provide a police background check upon acceptance.
Volunteering at Amar Seva Sangam this summer has been one of the best experiences of my life.
This past summer, in July 2024, I had a wonderful opportunity to volunteer at Amar Seva Sangam, a special education and rehabilitation center for children with physical and mental disabilities in India. The center also has a school where children with disabilities study alongside children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who require additional support.
The school beautifully showcases the concept of inclusion, where children with and without disabilities learn and grow together. Amar Seva Sangam also provides healthcare and rehabilitation services, functioning as a hospital and support center for children with disabilities and other patients.
I first learned about this volunteering opportunity through my involvement in walkathon events organized in Mississauga. For the past two years, I had volunteered at these events to help raise funds for Amar Seva Sangam. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about the organization and eventually inspired me to visit the center in person.
Amar Seva Sangam is located in a rural village in southern India. When I first arrived, I felt overwhelmed because I was seeing a side of life that was completely different from what I had known or experienced before. The environment, the children’s experiences and the challenges they faced gave me a new perspective on life.
During my time at Amar Seva Sangam, I had the opportunity to work closely with the children. I taught them English, played games with them and spent time engaging with them in their daily activities. I also had the opportunity to assist doctors who care for children with disabilities.
In addition, I helped at the spinal injury recovery station and the physiotherapy center. These experiences gave me a first-hand understanding of the dedication and care required to support people through rehabilitation and recovery.
Volunteering at Amar Seva Sangam this summer has been one of the best experiences of my life. Despite the language barrier and our different abilities, I discovered that I had many things in common with these children. That realization truly moved and inspired me.
I was especially touched by the way children with different abilities supported and helped one another with their daily chores. They had created caring and loving communities around them, where everyone contributed and looked after each other.
Seeing the smiling faces of the children and volunteers taught me the importance of being resilient, hopeful and cheerful, even when facing challenges in life. Their positive attitude was a powerful reminder that happiness does not depend on having a perfect life.
This experience also gave me a first-hand understanding of what it can be like to live with a disability. It helped me recognize and respect the many challenges that people with disabilities face every day.
Most importantly, this experience changed the way I see life. It made me appreciate the things I have and reminded me never to take for granted the opportunities, abilities and resources that are easily accessible to many of us.
I would like to sincerely thank everyone at Amar Seva Sangam who made this experience so meaningful. I am taking back many wonderful memories, valuable lessons and experiences that I will cherish forever.
Looking forward to my next visit.
Gautham Krishna
Volunteer
Travel
Getting their / Flights
1. Flight
- Flight costs vary depending on the time of year, typically ranging from $1,200 to $2,000.
- We recommend using a travel agent, as you may be able to get better rates and additional support. You are welcome to use a local travel agent.
2. Airport Options
There are two airport options. For both options, the travel time by taxi to ASSA is approximately 3 hours.
- Fly into Trivandrum (also known as Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala.
- Fly into Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Airport pickup will be arranged by ASSA. Further details will be provided in the Orientation Manual.
Passport and Visa
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
A valid visa is required to enter India.
Please refer to the Orientation Manual for detailed information about visa requirements and the application process.
Pre-Departure and Departure
Please check the latest Guidelines for International Travel issued by the Government of India before your departure.
Ensure that you have all the required travel documents, including your passport and valid visa.
Please check the latest entry requirements and health guidelines applicable to international travellers before your scheduled travel.
Keep copies of your passport, visa, travel insurance, flight tickets, and other important documents with you.
After Arrival
Airport pickup and transportation to Amar Seva Sangam (ASSA) will be arranged as per the volunteer travel arrangements.
Please follow the arrival instructions provided by ASSA and the latest Government of India health and travel guidelines.
Further information regarding your arrival, orientation, accommodation, and other procedures will be provided in the Orientation Manual.
Health and Vaccination
Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and COVID-19.
Malaria prophylaxis and Dukoral are recommended but not mandatory. Please consult your doctor or travel health clinic for advice based on your individual circumstances.
Bring any regular medications you require during your stay.
It is also recommended to carry a basic travel medical kit, including medications for common travel-related conditions and oral rehydration salts.
If you have any personal prescriptions or emergency medications, please ensure you bring an adequate supply for the duration of your stay.
Insurance
Travel medical insurance is required for all volunteers.
Your insurance should provide coverage for medical treatment, emergencies, hospitalization, and travel-related assistance during your stay in India.
