Women Empowerment Volunteer in India

My friend and I were doing the woman empowerment program for ten days and we had a great time staying with Manu and her family. We were taken care of and had a nice place to stay. We were picked up by Sukret who told us a lot about our stay and showed us where we could go in our free time. Our guide Pradeep was so welcoming and funny and he knew a lot about Jaipur and Rajasthan in general. The volunteering was not exactly what we thought it would be, as we found out that they had their own beauty class and we were there as support and motivation, and not as teachers. They taught us more about henna. But overall the experience was amazing. We were welcomed by everyone and felt very safe with everyone. It will be something we never forget.

I had the most amazing 2 weeks volunteering at a women's centre in Jaipur. Stayed at a guest house close to the city centre. Volunteering was from 12-4pm each day and Rohit the coordinator would come with me each day. I felt incredibly safe and supported. Often after volunteering we would stop for chai or other indian treats on the way back to the guest house. The women at the centre were welcoming and as a volunteer you can incorporate your own skills. I work in a school in Australia so I ran some different art/self identity activities. On arrival to the centre the women would be practicing Mehendi (henna). The guest house rooftop spot was my favourite, Jaipur is a special place. Hope I can return one day soon!

I chose the women's empowerment programme because I wanted to come into contact with Indian girls and women - especially from the slums of Jaipur - and understand more about their world, their lives, their expectations, their difficulties and their dreams. The two weeks I worked in the programme were very enriching for me. The girls who attend the six-month course at the NGO Veeneta Society are trained to become dress makers and/or beauticians. I attended their practical lessons, helping where needed, and I was their teacher in the English lessons. With a great dedication the girls made me the beauty treatments they had learnt in their course. Despite the language barriers between us (there was always a Hindi-English language mediator with me, to help in case of any misunderstanding) we shared bits and pieces of our lives. I also had the honour of handing diplomas to the girls who had completed the six-month course. The festive moments were unforgettable for me, the girls performed traditional Rajasthan dances. All in all, I highly recommend this experience.

Spending each day in the womens programm gave me an amazing opportunity to learn about the indian culture as well as the womens needs and situation. Teaching english and math was so much fun thanks to the womens enthusiasm and strong will to study and move forward. We were also able to put together a First aid Box with them and play the guitar. So great to see how strong and open they are and how important this program it is for them.

My volunteer program lasted 4 weeks in Jaipur, India. I spent 2 weeks in the women's support program and 2 weeks in the hospital. Both were very enriching experiences for me. The girls and women were incredibly open-minded and inquisitive. They were interested in and implemented everything that was offered to them. First and foremost, they want to learn English. Any form of teaching is welcome, whether role-playing, singing and translating English songs or face-to-face at the blackboard. It was a lot of fun to see how quickly they learn. In return, I got traditional make-up, beautiful braided hairstyles or henna tattoos on my hands and feet. It was a very warm and unforgettable time. The work in the hospital was very touching, as people came with problems and pain and needed help. The doctor's idealistic commitment means that even the poor population can receive very good treatment. They couldn't afford a normal hospital. So they only pay a small fee and only those who can afford it pay. The doctor works on a voluntary basis. The treatments mostly consisted of infusions, acupuncture with electrotherapy, cupping treatments, stretching and the administration of medication. The doctor also makes his own Ayurvedic medicine. I was very impressed by his efficiency and was able to learn a lot. As a physiotherapist, I was able to alleviate the pain in some patients. All of this left a lasting, deep impression on me. Perhaps it was a start for me to further projects of this kind. I would like to thank the organization again for making this possible for me. Sukret, my local coordinator, responded immediately when there were questions or problems. They were solved immediately. Shekhar, my driver and "bodyguard", drove me everywhere extremely reliably, picked me up again and showed me a bit of the area. Perhaps it is still possible to get a small handout about the work in the projects beforehand so that you can prepare better. However, I was integrated quickly. My accommodation at Boby Mansion Homestay was a blessing because, as a woman travelling alone, I enjoyed family contact with all the care that comes with it. I felt very safe and secure in a foreign world.

I had the opportunity to spend 4 weeks with the association, working in two different settings. First, I worked in a school located in a clearly disadvantaged neighborhood, where I provided academic support to teenagers. Then, I joined a beauty school where women were training for careers in esthetics. My biggest surprise was discovering that the community members didn't speak, or spoke very little, English. This posed a challenge to my initial goal of empowering women through English language learning. Unfortunately, I was only able to truly pursue this mission in the last five days, once a translator became available. Personally, this experience was enriching. However, I remain unsure about the actual impact of my involvement. At times, I felt left to my own devices, without a structured program or insight into previous activities. Although I'm not an English teacher but rather a business and marketing trainer, I was still able to share my expertise with some women, though it was less relevant for the teenagers. On the other hand, I want to highlight the quality of the association's hospitality, as well as the weekend excursion offerings and the comfort of the guest house. These aspects undoubtedly contributed to making my stay enjoyable.

During August I volunteered for three weeks with the Women’s Empowerment Program and the School Program. Volunteering for an extended period of time meant I was able to build strong relationships with the women and children. Most of the time was spent teaching English, however, the programs are flexible which means you can contribute knowledge and skills based upon your own background and strengths. I was able to draw upon my own resources (nutrition, yoga) and I would encourage this for future volunteers - if you have teaching resources/activities/games from your home country, bring them with you! The home stay accomodation was AMAZING. The family treated me as one of their own, sharing safe, local advice and including me in activities such as visiting the temple, the cinema and a theme park! My favourite part of the stay was playing with the children and helping cook meals. I recommend Volunteering with India for those who want to experience an authentic Indian lifestyle. Danae, Australia

My wife and I volunteered for 1 week for the women empowerment program. As most of the women were learning to become tailors and / or beauticians / hairdressers, we took the opportunity to share with them our experiences working for product companies in the hair & beauty industry. The overall experience was positive and we really got the chance to interact deeply with the locals. I think having more hands on skills (like sewing, or hairdressing or skin therapy, massage or any other practical training) would have supported the group of women more. English and maths were some of the other areas, were we tried to support. The program gives you a chance to bring your own skills and knowledge to the table, which is great. However, I would have also liked to receive more direction from the organisation on how we could deliver most impact. Something to keep in mind and to ask prior to starting the program. All the staff at the organisation were very welcoming and made are stay enjoyable. However, we would have liked to learn more about how we could truly support the locals to deliver more impact. Our host family was great and really made us feel at home.

I had a great time working with the kids, the program is great for people who loves teaching and spending time with people. It was definitely worth it, they are really implicated in learning new things like math or english.

It was an incredible experience! I had so much fun with all the girls and had the best time at the school. I just wish that there had been more time at the school since it was only 3 hours a day and for all the travel it doesnt feel like enough time to make enough of an impact. Apart from that it was great

This is unlike anything I have ever done before. I volunteered for one week with my adult daughter and we had a great time. India is so vibrant and colourful. The girls we met on the project were lovely and welcomed us into the group. Some of the things I really enjoyed were the henna, yoga, teaching a women's health class (I was so surprised at what they didn't know) and the meals at the guest house. The family at the guest house were so friendly and helpful as were the project organisers. They responded to WhatsApp messages quickly and answered any questions we had. Although the accommodation was basic, there were comfortable beds, clean sheets and air conditioning in the room. I would recommend this to anyone and encourage you to take every opportunity that is offered to allow yourself a truly immersive experience where you get to see the real India!

This is such a fulfilling program and I recommend it to anyone looking to help equip disadvantaged women / children with the skills and information they need to get by in the world. The females in the program very eager and excited to learn from the volunteers, which makes the experience all the more fun and uplifting! The staff / program coordinators also make you feel very welcome and comfortable. Jaipur is a wonderful city and there was so much to see during my off time - it was a great experience!

Volunteering with India is a really good organization. I applied for women empowerment project and I had my best time. The organization helps you a lot before and during your stay. Sukret is very patient and answers your questions quickly. The girls are very kind and sociable and welcomed me with enthusiasm. During the project, I talked with them taking part in sewing and beautician classes, as well as giving English lessons. I lived for two weeks with an Indian family at the Prity guest house. They are really nice people, the food was great and the room very clean. I am really happy to have done this experience with volunteering with india, and i will surely miss the girls so much!

Best experience in my life, best volunteering and of course best people! The women project is like being at home. They always have everything for you. Their smiles and hugs can make anyone feel the best way you could feel. Incredible people, incredible India. Always <3. Very good, perfect transport service! Totaram is the best, always taking care of me and every day with a smile in his face. He's the best!! I chose volunteering with India because I could mix Elephant and Women projects in the same summer. I had very helpful and nice project staff everyday. The living accommodations was the best place I could stay. Just like at home.

Very comforting to know that when travelling to a foreign country alone for the first time, someone will be there to pick you up. Also people will be there at the family guest house to help you find things, translate, and make recommendations. The volunteer experience was fun, timely and safe, and although things don't always go as planned, the staff are very accommodating to each person's needs and wants and very eager to provide each person with a beneficial, memorable experience. Everything was very good, accommodations were clean, food was filling, and family was very helpful.

The project staff was helpful with translation and directions but more information at the start of the week would have been more helpful. Staying with the family was brilliant and being a part of the projects was amazing as they are doing good work. Tiring, but fantastic!

I Worked on Women Empowerment Program This is very Good Project for rural Indian Women this is my best experience of my life I teach them Stitching & Weaving and Textile work. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone wishing to join the women program. I also found the VWI team to be extremely warm, helpful and generous with their time ensuring all needs of volunteers were met. Overall it was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone.