Children's Homes in Kerala and Tamil Nadu

DIL SE is an NGO from Switzerland which is running two homes for orphans and vulnerable children, and one home for pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers in South India. Volunteering is possible at all 3 homes for female volunteers aged 20 and above.

Project Description

Female volunteers who can dedicate 2 to 6 months can be at "Oday Home" ("Home by the River") located in a village of the Madurai Region (Tamil Nadu). It is home to 18 children aged 6 to 14 years, including boys and girls, who are under the custody of a local couple who manages the home. They are either orphans or from very poor families who can't support them in an adequate way. Some of the children are HIV affected.

The volunteer's work starts in the morning before the children go to school and then again after the children return at 4pm every day. As a volunteer, you prepare activities with the children and help with their English homework. The children are quite shy but appreciate interaction. You are free for instance to do creative activities and sports with them, such as music, theatre, dance and yoga.

From the village, the city of Madurai is at a distance of about 12 km and a larger village with several basic grocery shops is 2 km away. You will have access to a bicycle to be able to move around the area. There are no costs for your accommodation in the village.

Volunteers have to be able to work independently and to maintain their motivation. They need to be able to entertain themselves even during the hours when the children are at school, keeping in mind that this is a rural region. The placement is suitable for volunteers who are experienced in education and dealing with children. Applicants need to show their police record and there will be a Skype interview with Cristelle, the director of DIL SE.

Volunteers first travel to Cochin in Kerala where they meet Cristelle, who gives them an introduction, and then they continue their trip by bus (9 hours) to Madurai.

Another home, located in Cochin/Kerala is called "Shanti Theeram" (Coast of Peace). There are 6-7 boys aged 5-18 years, but most of them belong to the younger ages within that age bracket. Full-time volunteering at this home is only possible during the school holidays in April and May, and every Saturday throughout the year (so from June to March, you can combine volunteering at this home with some other activity in Cochin).

The third home of DIL SE, “TEJUS Home” in Cochin/Kerala is a home for up to 6 pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers. At the moment there are 5 girls aged 14 to 18 and one young 2 year old boy, Tejus. The home is run by DIL SE in cooperation with Birth For Change, and it is recognized by the Child Welfare Committee of Ernakulam.

In India, teenagers get usually pregnant through rape, and as a consequence they are rejected by their families and society. TEJUS Home has the aim to provide a safe home and future for such girls.

The girls get practical and mental support related to their pregnancy, the birth, their babies (nutrition, health, hygiene etc.) and their further life planning. They are encouraged and supported to continue their education and to develop a strong personality.

Besides assisting the teenagers and their babies, volunteers can also participate in the preparation of campaigns against the sexual abuse of children, which are targeted towards adults and school children, in fundraising, and designing products with the girls that they can sell to generate an income. Furthermore, they can create contents for the DIL SE website. Volunteers can also assist with construction work and painting of the various homes if and when necessary.

The volunteer placement at TEJUS Home is only possible for female volunteers. They should have previous experience with health and/or Social Work and/or with babies/toddlers.

Info Box

Location: Madras (Tamil Nadu) or Cochin (Kerala), India
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: 2 Months

Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Further Languages Of Advantage: Tamil, Malayalam
Accommodation: In Tamil Nadu free accommodation is provided, in Cochin Shared Accommodation

Supervision Possible: No
Qualification Of Supervisor: -
Minimum Qualification Of Intern:
-
Further Contribution To Project: -

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Relevant experience
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?

Accommodation

The accommodation in case of volunteering in Madras/Tamil Nadu is described in the project description. No costs apply for accommodation in Madras. The information in continuation refers to accommodation options for Cochin/Kerala.

Accommodation in Cochin

Guest House in Cochin:

You will be accommodated at one of two Guest Houses of middle standard, which belong to the same family and which are located next to each other in a quiet residential area of Fort Cochin, two minutes to walk from the "Maritime Museum". Most rooms have a private bathroom. There is a cleaner once a week and WiFi internet. The rates vary slightly during the year, depending on the season. You can book breakfast for an additional around 80 Rs./day. At one of the Guest Houses there is also a small kitchenette that can be used from participants living in both Guest Houses.

Bed sheets are provided but you should bring your own towels.

Rate

In case of volunteering in Madras/Tamil Nadu, no accommodation costs apply. Below accommodation costs refer to Cochin/Kerala.

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

		up to 31 Days	32-60 Days	61-90 Days	91-120 Days	5 Months or longer
	1 Person	450 EUR	600 EUR	700 EUR	750 EUR	850 EUR
	2-4 Persons (Rate per Person)	400 EUR	500 EUR	600 EUR	650 EUR	700 EUR

Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
Arrangements of the Documents you need for your Visa Application and assistance with local registration (if required) but not the official government fees for the visa (See costs below)
Pick-up and Transfers from/to Cochin International Airport (COK) on arrival and departure
Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
Orientation and Introduction in Cochin
Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
24 Hours emergency support by local support team
Local SIM Card with 600 Rs. airtime credit
Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
Donation of 50 USD (in domestic currency) to your placement organization (in case of charitable organizations)

The Rates do NOT include:

Accommodation and Meals (see below)
Travel to/from Cochin (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
Official fees for Visa (see below)
Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
Personal Expenses
Vaccinations
Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.

II. Accommodation Costs

You can choose between the following options:

All Rates in Indian Rupees! Convert Currency		Any Duration of Stay
Shared Apartment/Guest House
Shared Apartment/ Guest House, Room without AC	1 Person (Single Room)	January-March 1000 Rs/Day April-September 800 Rs/Day October-November 900 Rs/Day December 1500 Rs/Day
Shared Apartment/ Guest House, Room without AC	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	January-March 750 Rs/Day April-Sept 650 Rs/Day Oktober-Nov 700 Rs/Day December 800 Rs/Day
Guest House, Room with AC	1 Person (Single Room)	January-March 1500 Rs/Day April-Sept 1200 Rs/Day October-Nov 1250 Rs/Day December 2000 Rs/Day
Guest House, Room with AC	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	January-March 900 Rs/Day April-Sept 700 Rs/Day October-Nov 750 Rs/Day December 1000 Rs/Day

In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.

Overview of other costs:

Visa around 60-130 EUR (75-160 USD) depending on activity and duration; to apply prior to your travel
If meals are not included: 40-100 EUR (50-130 USD)/Month (Estimate)
Small local expenses (Internet, Local Transport): ca. 20-40 EUR (30-50 USD)/Month (Estimate)
Insurances around 20-40 EUR (30-50 USD)/Month

How do I pay?

Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.

The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.

Extras

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.

Malayalam-Learning:

Malayalam is the language of Kerala. Although there are many people with good knowledge of English (much more than Hindi), it is always helpful to have a basic knowledge of Malayalam. You can take lessons (5 times a week for 2 hours each) with a single teacher. Classes are held in Fort Cochin, on the terrace of your property. Just mark in the registration form, "Language Training Required", and let us know your desired number of hours.

The price for 10 hours of lessons: 50 EUR.

Travel Health Insurance

We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.

Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.

Cochin

Check out our video on Cochin!

In this video, you see our volunteers, Sophie and Claudia in Cochin and our coordinator, Antonio. Also featured are some activities that you can do in and around Cochin.

Kerala - the Land of the Coconut Palms:

In Malayalam, Kerala means "Land of the coconut palms". This tropical state in the south west of India is strong in traditions and culture. Ayurveda, the Kathakali, and Kalarippayat (probably the oldest martial art of the world), all come from Kerala. The society of Kerala however, has also been shaped by the trade and cultural exchange facilitated by sailing vessels on the Indian Ocean. As early as in the 4th century, traders brought Christianity and Islam to Kerala and therefore, these two religions have far more followers in Kerala than in other parts of India: around 55% of Kerala's population are Hindu, 25% Muslims and 20% Christians.

Kerala is very attractive and interesting for travelling, offering tropical beaches and islands, house boat tours on the "backwaters", impressive mountains (such as the tea plantation area of Munnar) and National Parks, as well as a rich cultural heritage.

Cochin - Historic Port Town

The coastal city of Cochin, with around 600,000 inhabitants, spreads over several islands and peninsulas which are all connected via bridges. Ferries can easily bring you to the other parts of the city. An important island is Fort Kochi, the historic old town, where you will be accommodated. In the past, Fort Kochi was an important Indian Ocean port. The Chinese in the 13th century, the Portuguese in the 15th century and the Dutch in the 17th century left their remains. The town of Fort Kochi with its old courtyards, walls, churches and palaces, has a compelling flair which attracts cultural and wellness tourists; therefore there are many restaurants, hotels and guest houses, handcrafts and esoteric shops, as well as events. At night, it is particularly safe in Fort Kochi, as the Indian police operates its own "tourism police station" with a quirky police uniform museum. The modern and big city part of Cochin is Ernakulam, which is situated on the mainland and has a railroad station, many offices and large shops. Vypin Island is popular for beaches.

Our Coordinator in Cochin

Our coordinator in Cochin is Antonio.

Recreational Activities in Cochin

As a tourist destination, Cochin offers many ways to spend your spare time. These include the famous boat trips with houseboats on the "backwaters", which is available as day trips or as a multi-day offers, in which case you sleep on the boat. A beautiful multi-day trip and a welcome climate change, is also a visit to the tea plantations in the mountains of Munnar. There are several beaches in the area of Cochin, where you can swim.

In Cochin itself, there are many places for Ayurvedic massages, demonstrations of the traditional theater "Kathakali", the martial arts "Kalaripayattu" and folk dances and music performances (as "World Learner", you can even learn these), as well as take yoga or cooking lessons. In Ernakulam, there are large shopping malls and many shops with great deals; Fort Cochin has many tourist shops and a large number of restaurants and cafes. In the late afternoons, locals, Indian tourists and foreign tourists gather on the beach promenade of Fort Cochin to see the sunset.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?

No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the Cochin airport even at night.

Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?

Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.

During my stay, can I travel around the country?

Of course, you can do this - most of our participants do so. However, when the travel destination is too far away, it may not be possible over a weekend; these, we would recommend you keep for before the projects begins or after the completion. You could even plan these out during holidays. Even with an internship visa, it is possible to travel around India.

When is the rainy season and can I travel to India during this time?

The monsoon begins in early June in Kerala, Mumbai, in mid-June and the Himalayan region, early to mid-July and ends in September. The Thar Desert in Rajasthan (location Setrawa), barely gets rain during the monsoon and Jodhpur is rather dry.

During the monsoon, it usually rains heavily for several hours every day. As a result, there are often floods in the streets of the cities, because the drains cannot absorb the amounts of water. An internship or volunteering is possible during the monsoon, and the only nuisance will probably be wet clothes and shoes, which are often difficult to dry because of the high humidity. You might want to carry a few extra shoes and a change of clothes with you (or buy them locally). You can even buy an umbrella or a raincoat locally. An advantage to traveling during the monsoon, is that the fares are cheaper and accommodation during the off season is cheaper.

Can I travel to India as a young woman alone? The media constantly reports of rape - how high is the risk?

For decades, India has been a safe country for women and now the impression, given by the media, is that the number of rapes has skyrocketed and India is unsafe for women. More cases are coming into light now, as women previously would not speak about rape, but are now empowered to do so. Compared to the number of cases in relation to the huge population of India (almost twice as many as the whole of Europe), even if projections of unreported cases are included, there is much less rape than in many other countries. There are 2 cases that happen per 100,000 inhabitants in India (in comparison: Central Europe: 8.1 cases; 14.7 cases in Latin America; 28.6 cases per 100,000 population in the US).

Of course you have to be careful as a woman, as far as the style of dressing and dealing with local men are concerned. In schools, boys and girls are often strictly separated and many young men have no experience in dealing with women who are not their own mother or sisters; your behavior, based on dealing with Western men, might be misinterpreted as “easy” or “loose” behaviour.

Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Cochin?

The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Cochin, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so.

What vaccinations do I need?

Our Info - PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations

Where will I live?

In the tab "Accommodation", you see the housing options.

Does my accommodation have internet facilities?

Yes, the accommodations in Cochin provide wifi at no additional cost.

How can I do my laundry?

Watch our video about Cochin (in the tab "Cochin"). In it, our coordinator, Antonio shows us a laundry service, where the clothes are washed by hand. For a pre-decided price per garment (fixed price for trousers, tops, towels, underwear, etc.), your clothes will be collected from your accommodation and neatly ironed and returned the next day.

Can I cook in the accommodation?

Yes, you can cook at the shared accommodation.

I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?

Yes, India is a paradise for vegetarians. Almost all restaurants are clearly marked, whether they are vegetarian ("Veg") or not ("Non-Veg"), and there are separate menus. About 40% of Indians are vegetarians.

What language skills do I need?

You should be able to understand and make yourself understood in English.

BOOK NOW OR INQUIRE!

BOOK / INQUIRE!

Drug Rehabilitation and Psychiatrist in Cochin/Kerala

In Cochin, we provide internships and volunteering with Dr. Singh, a psychiatrist and a specialist in drug rehabilitation. In case of an on-site internship, you accompany Dr. Singh on his work with patients in various hospitals. In case of remote internships, you will get theoretical tasks and discuss case studies with Dr. Singh. Also, under the guidance of Dr. Singh, you can provide online counselling to mental health patients supported by NGOs.

This placement is possible as a Remote / Virtual internship from home! Tasks for Remote Interns: Support of online patients of an NGO under expert guidance as well as working on case studies and theoretical tasks with feedback from Dr. Singh. The remote internship is 450 EUR for the first month and 100 EUR additionally for any additional month or part thereof. Just submit the inquiry/order form form and mention "Remote Internship"!

Who is your internship supervisor?

Your internship supervisor is Dr. Singh who is in his 70s, a psychiatrist and specialist for drug rehabilitation. On different days every week, he works at different hospitals in Cochin, including KIMS Hospital, Sudheendra Medical Mission and Gautham Hospital. He has given up his own private clinic in 2012 for age reasons.

Dr. Singh specializes in general psychiatry, persons with suicide attempts, alcohol and drug addiction, and adolescent mental health. Dr. Singh was a founding member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) in California in 1998. He has published many texts about the topic of addiction and developed a 4-step-rehabilitation program that he wrote a book about. Many of his therapy methods belong more into the field of a clinical psychologist, which at the time when Dr. Singh started his career did not exist in India as a profession separate from thos one of a psychiatrist, but was part of his professional training as a psychiatrist. Dr. Singh has trained extensively in clinical psychology over the years, but does not have a separate academic degree in it.

What will be your tasks as an intern?

On-site interns can join Dr. Singh at the hospitals and attend counselling sessions for individuals. There are also group therapies for addicts. Additionally, Dr. Singh can put you in contact with former patients who have agreed in this, and give you insights into their medical records. As an intern you can then visit the former patients at their homes to see their current situation. Some of the former patients might require further therapy, but don't attend any counseling sessions for various reasons. Often, patients only seek treatment in particular circumstances such as the loss of a job or a divorce due to their addiction. In consultation with Dr. Singh, the further proceeding about these cases will be decided upon.

In the case of remote internships, Dr. Singh provides theoretical tasks and case studies for you to work on and discuss with him, but you can also get connected with one or more individuals who are supported by NGOs that lack a mental health specialist. You can decide whether this individual should have addition issues or other mental issues. With Dr. Singh you will provide online diagnoses and counseling to this individual.

In Kerala, English is widely spoken, which makes communication with patients easier.