What inspired you to go abroad?
I was interested in understanding aspects of well-being across different cultures, specifically in cultures across Asia. Specifically, Asia has a very different approach to the psyche and mental well-being, which is also intertwined with the religions that play a major role in people's mental health and the psyche.
I was interested in how different cultures play a role in mental well-being, and how different ways of living, such as a collectivistic lifestyle, affect an individual's perception of their own issues. To fully immerse into a polar opposite culture, stretches your mind and puts into question many aspects of what your comfort zone is and what life in a society really means.
Meeting the ladies at the community development project
From a psychological perspective, I believe I can learn the most from employing my knowledge and skills acquired through my bachelor in a different culture and explore how my knowledge can be transferred onto their culture, how it may not, and how my knowledge of psychology can be expanded via the exploration of psychology within a new culture.
Why did you choose Psychology and Mental Health Programme in India?
I chose this program because it offered a direct, hands-on placement within a psychiatric hospital and a children's home — two environments deeply relevant to my future profession.
I was looking for something meaningful, not just a surface-level volunteering experience. The commitment to supporting vulnerable children and women, combined with the opportunity to work alongside medical professionals and learn from them first-hand, made it stand out.
I also valued the fact that the program offered a real glimpse into how mental health is approached in a completely different cultural context.
What was your favorite part about India?
Without question, it was the people. I personally love Indian culture and its warmth, and that was reflected in absolutely every part of my trip. From the markets and temples to the city palaces and the monkey temple, every outing was magical — but it was the human connections that made it truly special.
Spending time with Smriti and the girls at their home, visiting SAPNA in Alwar, and simply wandering through local markets with people who welcomed me so openly — these are the moments I will carry with me forever.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The depth of human connection I experienced made it extraordinary.
Whether I was sitting with the girls doing homework and drawing, attending hospital conferences, or visiting SAPNA with Smriti to meet patients who had experienced significant trauma — every moment felt profound and real. The children were wonderful, and the time I spent with them exchanging knowledge, love, and laughter was unlike anything I have experienced before.
On top of that, the visit to SAPNA was genuinely life-changing — witnessing the realities of trauma and recovery in that context was humbling and deeply educational in equal measure.
With Tash and the children
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff were consistently present and supportive. Manmohan was always there to back me up in whatever I wanted to do, which gave me a great sense of security and confidence throughout my placement. Smriti was equally wonderful — she took me to Alwar, guided me through local experiences like visiting SAPNA, and was always open for a conversation in the evenings.
The wider team at the house was warm and organized from day one: everyone introduced themselves, made me feel welcome immediately, and ensured I always had an open ear whenever I needed it.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had prepared more activities in advance to do with the children. After a full day at the hospital, it was genuinely difficult to find the energy and creativity to plan something meaningful on the spot.
If I had been made aware that I could prepare activities before my arrival — especially non-language-dependent ones like art, sport, or movement-based sessions — I could have offered the children so much more. For example, I would have loved to have prepared structured workout sessions or even basic boxing lessons.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Mornings typically started with breakfast at the house before heading to the hospital for the day.
At the hospital I attended lessons with doctors, observed in the psychiatric ward, attended conferences, and helped where I could with cases.
Evenings were spent back at the house where I ran tutoring sessions with the children, did drawing and creative activities with them, watched TV together, and had long, meaningful conversations with Smriti and the other volunteer Tash.
On weekends I explored the region — visiting sites like Amer Fort, the City Palace, and the monkey temple, as well as browsing through local markets.
Hiking with Tash, Manmohan and the girls from the home
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
I loved exploring; it is incredibly rewarding. I organized trips with the help of Smriti and Manmohan and visited places like Amer, the City Palace, and the Monkey Temple.
I also enjoyed my evenings at the house — writing in my journal, talking with the girls, and spending time with Smriti and Tash. Keeping a journal was one of the most valuable things I packed; it helped me process and record each day's experiences in a way I will be able to look back on for years to come.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I had my own private room and bathroom within the house, which was absolutely perfect. The food served was delicious, and the whole environment felt welcoming and comfortable from the very first day.
I liked the balance of community and privacy — I was living alongside others in a warm, social environment, but I also had my own space to decompress and reflect at the end of each day.
The house was well organized, well located, and felt like a genuine home. It was honestly one of the nicest accommodation setups I could have hoped for as a volunteer.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Bring a laptop or tablet. This is essential and cannot be overstated. At the hospital you will need to prepare presentations, read literature, and take notes — doing all of this without a personal device is genuinely challenging.
Equally important: prepare activities in advance for the children, especially ones that are not language-dependent, such as art, craft, or sports. After a demanding day in the hospital, you will not have the energy to plan from scratch.
Helping the children with work
Would you recommend Vocational Impact to others? Why?
Absolutely, without hesitation. This experience was among the best of my life. The organization is genuinely well-run, the accommodation is excellent, the staff are warm and supportive, and the placement opportunities are meaningful and professionally enriching. For anyone working towards a career in psychology, healthcare, or social work, this is an invaluable placement.
But honestly, I would recommend it to anyone. Any experience that is novel, that puts you slightly outside your comfort zone, and that confronts you with a reality completely different from your own is essential for personal growth.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Perspective. When you immerse yourself in a culture and a way of life that is entirely different from your own, you begin to understand hardship, joy, community, and resilience in a new and deeply personal way. You stop seeing the world only through your own lens.
For me, this trip cultivated levels of compassion and empathy that I simply could not have developed at home. That kind of understanding — earned through genuine human connection rather than textbooks — is irreplaceable. It will make me a better psychotherapist, a better person, and a more open and curious citizen of the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Dancing with some of the girls from the home
It changed me. I cultivated so much compassion, empathy, and understanding during my time there that I know it will directly shape my future work as a psychotherapist.
I now have a lived understanding of situations I cannot directly relate to from my own background — I understand hardship on a new level, and that understanding creates an empathy that will be of real benefit to the clients I work with. On a personal level, I came home with a deep love for India and its people, a strong sense of confidence in my own independence, and some of the most treasured memories of my life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel, to me, is travel that leaves you different from how you arrived. It is about genuine exchange. Exchanging knowledge, moments, love, and perspectives with people whose lives are different from your own. It means being fully present and being open to discomfort.
I believe that getting a perspective as significant as being immersed in the lives of people and children is irreplaceable. Any type of experience that confronts your reality and puts you outside of your comfort zone is beneficial.
My time here was meaningful because of the children I sat with, the patients I encountered, the conversations I had, and the quiet moments I wrote about in my journal. That is what I will carry home forever.
