Why volunteering helps you?

Giving something to others out of genuine generosity can be extremely fulfilling. In particular, volunteering will not only make you grow as a person, but it will also help you evolve, change, and re-discover your own value after you go through a personal crisis.

The act of volunteering will give you many benefits. Seeing how you can improve someone else’s life with your efforts will make you consider your own worth as a person and it will make you see that you can make other people happy.

Community work, in particular, can give you a sense of fellowship and pride as you enrich your own neighborhood, town, or city, and provide you with a great opportunity for social interaction.

The benefits of volunteering.

A volunteering project can have a positive impact on you, your loved ones, and your community. If you find the right work for it will help you reduce stress, combat stress, find friends, learn new professional skills, reach out to different communities, advance in your career, and even learn new languages and cultures.

Most experts also recommend volunteering as a way to overcome an attachment trauma, the deep feeling of pain that comes after losing someone either because of a breakup, a divorce, or the death of a loved one.

As you offer vital help to people in need and invest your time in worthwhile causes, you will also stay mentally stimulated and gain a sense of purpose for your life.

A research published by the Corporation for National and Community Service (an institution of the federal government) found out that people who volunteer at least 100 hours a year (which equals 2 hours a week) live longer and have better physical and mental health than those who don’t.

The happiness effect of volunteering.

Many studies have demonstrated that acts of kindness rewards happiness. Researchers at the London School of Economics reviewed the relationship between happiness and volunteering in a group of American adults and found groundbreaking results.

According to a study in Social Science and Medicine, people who volunteer monthly have 7% better possibilities of been happier than people who have never volunteered, and those who volunteer two times per week have 12% better odds of living a very happy life. Furthermore, 16% of the weekly volunteers said they felt “very happy.”

Reasons why volunteering makes you happy.

There are four main reasons why volunteering will make you feel happier and healthier: it connects you to others; it gives you peace of mind; it advances tour career, and it gives you a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

As you connect to a community and your coworkers and make a difference in the lives of people you will also establish new friends and contacts.

In fact, volunteering is a great way to meet new people especially if you are new to an area or often feel lonely. It will also help you develop social skills if you happen to have a hard time around people.

It will give you peace of mind because it combats the effects of anger, depression, anxiety, and stress.

A social contact can have a profound effect on your psychological well-being and can help you increase your self-confidence as well of your physical health.

It will advance your career because it gives you an opportunity to use important skills outside of the workplace and make small differences for communities and people in need.

A volunteering venture will always increase the value of your resume, particularly if it involves teamwork, communication, project planning, task management, problem-solving, and organization.

And lastly, volunteering brings fulfillment and fun to your life. It is an easy way to explore passions and interests and it is a good way to find meaningful escapes to your day-to.day routine.

Finding the right volunteer option.

There are numerous volunteer projects available. The right one for you should fit your professional skills, should help you work on yourself and should be in tune with your values and beliefs.

Before committing to a cause you should decide a couple of things first:

• Would you work with adults, animals, children, or from home?
• How much time and money can you invest?
• What skills can you bring to the table?
• Would you work alone or on a team?
• What causes matter to you?

Once you answer these questions you can check volunteer opportunities in your city or town.

Common ones happen in community theaters, monuments, museums, libraries, senior centers, local animal shelters, wildlife centers, rescue organizations, national parks, religious places, and service organizations like iSpiice and Rotary Clubs.

5 Tips to Finding Volunteer Work in India That Helps Your Career.

While finding volunteer work in India may be extremely simple, it is important to find one that not just benefits your well-being as a person, but also benefits you as a professional.

Below is a list of 5 tips that you can adopt when looking for meaningful volunteer work that could boost your expertise and result in a better resume.

1. Determine what you wish to gain from this experience.

Before getting started with any volunteer work, it is important to understand what you wish to gain from the experience.

Are you looking to learn some new skills and have some extensive training? Or perhaps you are just wishing to gain emotional contentment from it?

There exist a lot of kinds of volunteer work and whatever your need may be, at least one category will satisfy it.

In order to avoid ambiguity which may result in you getting involved in a cause that you are not passionate about, it is essential to perform this step with utmost honesty to yourself.

2. What are your contributions to this cause?

What expertise do you bring to the table? Do you own professional skills of a doctor, lawyer or a nurse? Or are you skilled in various other ways?

It is important for you to determine what skills you can offer to the organization and its cause, and then it is your job to make them see it.

Is it perhaps your passion for children that is bringing you towards this field? Search within yourself for the right answers and prepare yourself to show it to the organization too, in order to make yourself stand out from the rest.

3. Do you hold the traits to handle volunteering?

Volunteering is not just any man’s game. It may be thought out to be simple and a task for just a couple of weeks or days, but it requires a lot of traits that some of us may lack.

For instance, only those that are patient and understanding can work in the field of volunteering.

If you find yourself getting easily angry and aggravated at the tiniest of things, then volunteer work is not your slice of cake.

You have to be extremely patient and compassionate towards those that you are helping, not just for your own welfare but also for the others.

4. Define your limits.

It is important to not overdo volunteering. You need to set yourself some boundaries and limits.

Not just yourself, but your organization and team members need to be made aware of them too. If you do not set out limits then volunteer work can completely take over your life, leaving you with no time to do anything else.

It can not only be stressful, but it may also cause a declining performance in your academics if you are a student.

Let the organization know of the amount of time that you have in your hands to give to them, and make it clear that you cannot do any better than that.

For instance, if you are a student or an employee at a firm that makes you work 8 to 6, then let the organization know that you are free only after it, and that too, for a certain amount of hours.

5. Do your research.

Be sure to research on the kind of organization that you want to work for. Know their accomplishments, their causes and their fee, if any.

You have to be sure that none of your time is going to waste and is actually being used for a cause that you are so passionate about.

Find out whether they support your cause and are working towards it. If you are certain that your efforts will not go to waste, then your motivation will increase and you will put in more work, yielding greater results.

6. Get started.

Now that you have determined your criteria and limits, and have chosen an organization of your liking, it is time for you to start working for them.

Submit a good resume, one that forces them to hire you without being able to say no. Do not be afraid of letting your passion for your cause show through during your interview, for it will impress the interviewees.

It will help strengthen their faith in you for the fact that you will perform your best no matter what the circumstances, and will also make you inevitably stand out. If you have previous experience with volunteer work, discuss it.

And if you find a fault with their current system or mechanism, then do not be afraid to point it out. However, do it while still respecting them and their decisions.

Make them see that you are capable of making sound decisions and will be a valuable asset to their organization.

The 3 Voluntarism Benefits You Can Expect to Experience!

Voluntarism gives your travels a greater purpose. If you’re planning a volunteer tourism trip, you need to read this! Learn the voluntarism benefits here!

Voluntarism is getting its groove back.

Voluntarism–the combining of tourism with volunteer opportunities–began as a way for travelers to give back to society, to do good in the world, and also collate new experiences while doing it.

As traveling the world, lolling around on beaches, and partying it up in hotels began to get old, travelers began to thirst for something extra. To experience new cultures, worlds, and people, while giving back to the planet.

If you’re looking for a life-changing travel experience or even just something to fill time during a gap year, volunteering in India could be the answer to your travel dreams.

Many volunteer organizations in India and other countries offer voluntarism programs, where you can visit a country on a low-budget, and help the locals by helping with teaching English, childcare projects, or spreading awareness.
What are some voluntarism benefits?

Voluntarism comes as a welcome change to dull old vacations where you do nothing more exciting than sip cocktails, and shop till you drop. Voluntarism offers you the chance to change lives, make lifelong friends, and make a difference in the world.

Here are some voluntarism benefits you can expect.

A Low-Budget Vacation

Volunteering to help in a country while on a vacation will get you lower or subsidized rates for some services. Foreigners are often charged a much higher price for food, accommodations, and other amenities as compared to locals.

And there’s not a thing you can do!

But if you visit a country as a voluntarism, your accommodation will quite likely be arranged by a local organization, which translates to way lower rates, giving you the opportunity to experience an awesome low-budget holiday.

The Chance To Make a Difference

Most holidays are about self-fulfillment. Packed with luxury, fun, and frivolity, there comes a point when these vacations stop exciting you any longer.

Voluntarism offers an opportunity to selflessly work for the betterment of a poorer nation, all while on holiday! The spiritual and emotional growth opportunities offered by voluntarism are phenomenal!

A Holiday Experience Like None Other.

Just think of the bragging rights! Being able to tell your friends back home that you helped rehabilitate homeless people, or helped bring a baby into the world sure beats telling them that you swam in the ocean, surfed or ate a lobster dinner.

If you’re always looking for newer, edgier experiences, and are bored cookie-cutter vacations, voluntarism is for you! The best part is that you get to truly experience an entirely new culture, and make a difference in the lives of those people.

Voluntarism is an absolute win-win. The host country gets its benefits in the form of help and donations, and it is an exquisitely unique experience for the volunteer.

After all, nothing beats the rush of making a difference in someone’s lives, does it?

Now it’s time to volunteer!

Volunteering and its Different Types !

It is a famous proverb that “God helps those who help themselves”, and this is quite true when we are going to discuss volunteering.

The people who sacrificed their lives for some better cause of society, or in helping the needy remain alive in the hearts of people and their name is written in Golden words in history. Volunteering is also such an activity which can keep a person alive throughout his life and also after his death. It is also an act that will help the doer in the world thereafter.

Different people or groups provide different kind of volunteering services keeping in view the needs and wants of the society. Volunteering can be done part time and also full time. Most of the people do it part time during the days of their freedom from routine activities of life.

Depending on the kinds of services volunteering is divided into following types.

1 – Traditional Volunteering.

It is the most common type of volunteering which has its origin from the past. In this type of volunteering, one works with an NGO without knowing the beneficiaries details.

This type of volunteering may either be short term or may go long. Their duration usually is defined by the duration of the project. If the project is short term, their duration will also be short and if the project is long term their duration will be long. It’s called traditional because of its origin from the past. Even in the old days, people used to help each other by volunteering.

2 – Internship Volunteering.

This type of volunteering is usually served by the students during their period of gaps in the studies. These are also called gap time volunteering because of their being done in spare time.

Students take much interest in volunteering to gain experience and to test the application of their studies practically. These types of volunteering are served in some special services that are related to the courses of study.

For example, a student studying medicines will do this volunteering service in some hospital or maternity home. This will give him much experience and knowledge of the field. The students with such volunteering will surely excel than all other students because of this volunteering. His level of confidence and perception will be much higher than others.

3 – Online Volunteering.

Another very good type of volunteering is online volunteering which is carried out through internet. These are one of the latest volunteering services because these were introduced after the invention of internet.

The invention of World Wide Web has bridged the gaps between all the peoples across the world. Now it is possible to carry out an online volunteering service by sitting in your home or office. This type of volunteering service includes writing, proof reading, making a website and many others without demanding the cash.

These types of services are also offered by high qualified professionals to earn fame. This experience of online volunteering, later on, helps them for doing proper online jobs on some platform and earn handsome amount.

4 – Micro Volunteering.

As the name suggests, this type of volunteering involves working on small projects. It is actually a sub category of online volunteering which involves micro projects. These projects may include online lickings, and clicking and many more. Sometimes, these small actions make very big impacts.

5 – Long Term Volunteering.

Long term volunteering means the volunteering services that continue for long time. These may include any type of volunteering going for long period. These are performed, usually, by the retired people or by the people who are absolutely free and want to do full time volunteering.

These are mostly related with educational and medical fields. Another volunteering that is also included in this category is that related with social lives of the people.

6 – Voluntourism.

This type of volunteering involves tours to different areas or regions for the purpose of helping the community. It is actually a combination of tourism and volunteering.

It teaches a lot more than other types because you get an opportunity to live with the people of that particular area and see their lives closely and help them. This increases your knowledge of the world.

7 – Project Volunteering.

It is another kind of volunteering that is related with a particular project. It automatically ends with the end of the project. For example, during the earthquakes, many volunteers offer themselves to organizations to help the distracted people.

This type of volunteering will only last until the rescue continues. When all the rescue activities are completed, the volunteering closes.

In the end, we can say that volunteering, in all its forms and types, is good for the sake of humanity and should, therefore, be encouraged.

10 reasons you should volunteer in India!

You have heard of volunteering in India and its impact on not just the society but oneself to, and wish to partake in it. But, you cannot find enough motivation to do so. Here is a list of reasons why you should volunteer, that will not only provide motivation but will also create a passion out of it.

1. It’s good for your physical and mental health.

Volunteering does not just impact those that you help, but you are also unknowingly helping yourself. It reduces stress, studies claiming that when your focus is placed on someone else and see the living conditions of those unfortunate, your problems seem tiny to you in comparison and you start to feel better towards them. It also improves physical health by making you do everyday tasks by yourself, like walking from one place to another or setting up your own tent. This provides you’re the body the daily dose of workout that it needs.

2. Boosts your career prospects.

To put it simply, if an employer sees on your resume that you were involved in some volunteering program, then it makes you a good candidate in their eyes. It doesn’t just make you look more creative in the eyes of the recruiter, but it also helps them realize that you have a wider experience and set of skills than the usual applicants.

3. Addition of new skills to your existing skill-set.

When volunteering, you are made to adjust to the changes and environment that you are given. This, in the eyes of a recruiter, makes you a better candidate because it will be easy for you to adjust in their organization. After volunteering, you are also better at handling sudden problems and dealing with different kinds of people with various personalities. Volunteering makes you a people-person.

4. Provides you with an experience in the real world.

As kids we would always hear that we haven’t figured life out until we’ve had an experience out in the real world. Volunteering provides you with just that. Get out in the world volunteering, find what matters and what doesn’t, learn to deal with everyday problems and find out how the world works.

5. Let’s you make a difference.

Volunteering is a way for you to express the visions that you have for the world, and helps you play your part in making it happen. The world may not be at its best right now, but whatever good the people and animals do have right now is because of the generosity of those willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help. It may not be seen as too much to you, but it could change the entire life of someone else.

6. Let’s you give back.

Volunteering is not about something that is mandatory or should be done to make your college application or resume look good. No, volunteering is about doing something that you’re passionate about and giving back to that cause. Find your passions, find out what it is you’d like to see changed in the world today and get to volunteering to work on it. The more passionate you are about a cause, the more committed you are, and the greater impact your efforts will yield.

7. Helps you travel with responsibility.

Traveling overseas to volunteer gives you purpose, and means that you are traveling for a cause and will be fulfilling responsibilities and duties. Volunteering abroad means that you are most likely traveling by your own, without the company of friends and family. This teaches you to also live responsibly by yourself.

8. Helps you form new friendships.

Volunteering from an organization itself means that many other people will be partaking in the same journey as you. People of different cultures get together for the same cause, and this helps you interact with them. Having a reliability in terms of wanting to give back will help you form better connections.

9. Gives you a sense of belonging to a community.

One of the main reasons why most choose to volunteer is to feel as though they are a part of the community that they are helping. This helps you understand the norms and cultures of the community, while also understanding their daily struggles. Provided it is done with a motivational and passionate attitude, your volunteering experience will be pleasant and memorable.

10. Gives you a whole new perspective towards life.

Volunteering helps you realize that there are so many other things in life to be happy about. Seeing how much more privileged you are compared to those that you are helping, you will automatically feel a change in your perspective towards life and even start to believe in the phrase that ‘less is more’. It will let you think of things in a 360 degree manner, and will let you make better decisions and prioritize them better.

Contact iSpiice for more information : info@ispiice.com or visit us at www.volunteerindiaispiice.com

When it comes to the topic of volunteering, one question often arises – ‘what is in it for me?’ While volunteering does mainly focus on helping the unfortunate, it has many benefits for the one volunteering too. It does not only help those that are being aided, but it also helps the one doing the act. And here’s a list of the ways in which it help do so:

1. Induces happiness.

According to a study conducted on two groups of people – one who volunteered and one who didn’t – it was found that those who had volunteered had left with happy feelings. Helping others makes one feel better about themselves and their contribution to the world. It combats problems like depression, and provides a sense of purpose in one’s life. When a simple act of just opening the door for someone out of the kindness of you heart can make your day, imagine what volunteering would do for you.

2. Forms connections.

When you volunteer, you do so through an organization, and obviously, you aren’t the only one looking to embark on a mission to help others. Sharing a common goal with others is known to form better understandings between people, resulting in friendships. Meeting with people from a diverse culture can also improve your social skills. It helps you better adjust in any given situation, and makes you realize that there are others that you can rely on for your own help.

3. Teaches you to be grateful.

If you are out there volunteering, then obviously you were lucky enough to receive the privileges that others didn’t. Realizing the living conditions of the unfortunate can help you feel better about yours. Often one forgets how grateful they are to have received something as simple as drinkable water. What we consider a norm is a luxury for those that you volunteer for. It is important to remind yourself of how lucky you are to be living the life you are – it helps feeling better about yourself and your life in general.

4. Helps you stay physically active.

While this may seem to be a bit far fetched, studies have proven it to be true. Believe it or not, volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a longer mortality rate. This is because volunteers get used to living without the simple luxuries of life like cars. Walking long distances is the norm for them, and they are able to complete their everyday tasks by themselves.

5. Increases self-confidence.

Living with others who are also serving the same purpose of you provides you with a sense of belonging. It helps you identify with a type of people and makes you realize that you are not alone. Helping others increases your sense of accomplishment, not just for yourself, but for the world as a whole, leading to increased levels of self-confidence.

6. Helps you gain career experience.

Volunteering gives you the chance to gain experience in a different field. Time that is spent is not wasted, instead, it is utilized in making a difference to the world, which most of us forget to do, busy in our daily lives. While doing so, it can also expose you to various other organizations whose internships or jobs could serve to be purposeful to your career.

7. Teaches precious and useful job skills.

While volunteering may not bring anything to your bank account, it brings a lot of valuable job skills to oneself. If the right kind of volunteering is chosen, you learn a lot of extensive skills, which could be particularly useful for your field of work. For instance, if you are in the field of HRM, volunteering can help you with better serving your peers and employees.

8. Helps you enjoy life.

For the simple fact that volunteering programs abroad introduce you to the experience of a new culture and society, they are extremely fun to be involved with. Volunteering will not only leave you with precious happy memories, but it also a way of escaping your daily duties and relaxing. If you are one of those that have a desk job, then volunteering is a great way for you to get out of the four walls and out into the world.

9. Let’s you take on a challenge.

Volunteer programs are generally held in areas that have poor living conditions. Taking on a volunteer program helps you take on the challenge of being useful and happy outside of your comfort zone. While uncovering your hidden talents, it also teaches you many more that you were unaware of. Be it a personal goal that you wish to achieve or to just the needy, volunteering will let you take on a challenge in a fun and healthy way.

10 Benefits to Becoming an English Teacher to Teach Abroad!

Benefits to Becoming an English Teacher to Teach Abroad

Imagine being able to help others and yourself at the same time! You can when you’re an English teacher abroad. Learn the benefits here!

Traveling is one of the most rewarding things any young person can do. Getting out and seeing the world is part of growing up.

Unfortunately, most people never get to travel because of time and money issues. Work and college become priorities while seeing the world falls by the wayside.

However, those interested in traveling abroad could take advantage of English teacher programs.

Essentially, you go to another country to teach the local population English. It’s a great opportunity to not only see the world but also make a difference.

These programs never get enough publicity, and so most people don’t know what they’re all about.

We’re here to change that. Get ready for our list of the ten benefits to becoming an English teacher abroad.

You’re Paid to Travel

Clearly, this is the obvious answer. Getting paid to travel around a foreign country is always an exciting prospect.

You won’t have to work seven days a week, meaning you will have time to travel around your host country and the surrounding countries.

Remember, most countries aren’t as large as the U.S., making varied travel plans much easier overseas.

It Looks Great on College Applications

Those of you taking a gap year would do well to boost up those college application credentials.

If there’s one thing both undergrad and grad schools love to see, it’s a well-rounded person

Traveling abroad shows that you’re resourceful, bold, cultured, and unafraid of the unknown. All things that come in handy in academia.

…And Great on Your Resume

If you’ve already graduated college, or are already thinking about job applications, English teacher programs make excellent resume content.

Much like colleges, employers want to see candidates who have real world experience.

Teaching abroad shows you’re able to adapt to any situation.

Learning a Foreign Language

Teaching English abroad invariably means you’ll need to learn the local language. Though difficult, it’ll end up extremely rewarding.

With the world becoming ever more connected, being bilingual will help across many areas of your life.

You Make a Difference as an English Teacher

Teaching the local population English, especially in impoverished areas, is a great way to make a difference in the world.

English is the language of global trade, and teaching young children to speak it will give them a serious boost in life.

Meeting New People

Traveling always involves meeting new people. There is an almost 100 percent chance you’ll leave your teaching position will many new friends.

Becoming an English teacher abroad gives you instant access to new people from new places.

Learning New Cultures

Along with meeting new people comes learning new cultures. Teaching the locals will undoubtedly give you insight into their culture.

In fact, we’d dare say learning the culture is crucial to your success teaching abroad.

The Job Market is Strong

There’s no shortage of people abroad that are trying to learn English. The job market is very much booming.

In 2015, there were approximately 1.7 billion people learning and using English worldwide. Finding work shouldn’t pose much difficulty.

You’ll Have Experience You Won’t Forget

Traveling the world while making a difference in people’s lives is something you won’t soon forget.

The memories and friends you make will last a lifetime.

IT’S FUN!

Last but not least, becoming an English teacher overseas is FUN. There’s nothing quite like learning another culture and seeing the world.

Teaching English abroad is one of the most fun, rewarding, and challenging experiences you’ll ever have.

If you’re looking for a way to travel during your gap year, this is it! Get involved with a program and get traveling!

How To Teach English In India?

India is a vibrant and colorful nation filled with rich culture. On top of that, the country offers a low cost of living – making it fantastic place to choose for your teach abroad experience.

India boasts a diverse array of geographical landscapes that teachers can enjoy. You can explore the Himalayas to the north. Or lounge on an exotic beach in India’s southern half. Big cities like Mumbai offer upscale lifestyles and Bollywood glamour.

From the urban centers to the rural countrysides, India is an incredible place to live.

Are you ready to launch your Indian experience? Here’s everything you need to know before going to teach English in India.

1). Budget Your Expenses.

To make your move to India a reality it’s important to be financially prepared. Most foreign teachers will have to pay for their flights to India.

They also may have to cover employment visa costs and insurance among other expenses. Once you receive a job offer you’ll have a better feel of your expenses.

2). Get Your TEFL Certification.

If you want to teach English in India you’ll need to get a TEFL certificate.

This will certify you to teach non-native English speakers. Most teaching placements in India require this certification or at least a college degree.

Your TEFL certificate will significantly boost your chances of being hired in India.

TEFL courses are offered online and in the classroom. Or, you can get take your TEFL courses at a school in India. Most courses can be completed within six to eight weeks.

TEFL courses in India are generally located in cities like Dharamsala.

Students do not need any previous teaching experience or foreign language experience to take classes.

3). Choose Where You Want To Teach English In India ?

Think about where you want to teach in India. It’s a large country with over one billion people. There are plenty of amazing communities to choose from!

Larger cities tend to have the most paid English teaching positions. New Delhi offers both TEFL courses and English tutor job opportunities. Bangalore and Mumbai are also attractive cities for foreign English teachers.

4). Start Job Hunting.

You can start your Indian teaching job search online or in-country. We offer several volunteer programs in India, including teaching English.

Some programs like My TEFL offer job placement help in addition to TEFL certification.

5). Prepare For Your Interview.

Whether you’re interviewing from overseas or in person in India, come prepared.

You might be asked to write a sample lesson plan, or explain how you’d handle a specific cultural or classroom situation.

6). Check Visa Requirements.

You’ve just been accepted for a job. Awesome! Now it’s time to learn about Indian visa requirements.

To teach in India you’ll receive an employment visa. However, you must have a tourist or student visa for six months first. Getting your TEFL certification in India can cover this time.

Indian visa applications usually require:

• Two passport-size photos.
• A letter from your employer or TEFL program.
• A resume.
• A fee of about 200USD.

7). Prepare For Your New Job.

You’re almost ready to begin working. There are some ways you can prepare for your new job.

Try and speak to some of the school teachers before starting work. This will give you a better understanding of the local curriculum. You can ask about your students’ levels of English.

Some Westerners are surprised by different school standards in India. You might find your new job has limited resources. Your school schedule might be unpredictable from day to day.

Most foreigners appreciate the ups and downs and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Teaching English in India will be a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Get in touch with us today to begin your Indian journey abroad.

Top 10 things to do in India while volunteering

You have made the decision to volunteer in India and are looking for things to do while volunteering. I can promise you that your basket as a volunteer will be full, there are loads of activities planned for each day but that doesn’t mean you cannot take a break away from the normal schedule and enjoy what India has to offer. There are places you can visit; things you can do while volunteering in India. This will break the monotony and also ensure that you enjoy the entire volunteering period. Here are ten things you can do while volunteering in India.

1). Take a ride using local public transport.

The majority of the Indian population relies on public transport to move around. Like any developing nation, this means of transport is characterized with congestion, unreliable schedules and inconveniences. However it also provides a means through which one can interact with other people and learn many things about them.

So when you are away from your volunteering activities, step out of your village camp and take a ride, this time not in a taxi but by a public means, it can be a bus or a train. Such a trip will give you the real feel of India, and give you a chance to mingle with the ordinary folks and also experience the struggles that they go through in their daily lives. It is an experience that will give you a chance to feel the other side of the world, learn about the country and even get a lesson or two about the culture.

2). Taste Indian cuisine

India is known for the best cuisines, the country prides itself for producing some of the best chefs in the world. Through your volunteering program you have an opportunity to sample the best foods, and enjoy mouthwatering dishes cooked by undoubtedly the best in the world.

Always be accompanied by a local guide or staff as they know the best places where you can get what you need. Also be aware that Indians like their food well spiced, if you are not into spicy delicacies talk to your guide or company and you will be shown places that visitors who are moderate on spices frequent.

This is an experience that you will remember long after you leave the country, be sure to do this and you will have stories to tell later.

3). Learn the local languages.

By visiting India, you have a chance to learn the local languages. Use this opportunity to learn a word or two, this will be of great help. The beauty of it is that you will be learning from the source, not like many of us who learn new languages online.

This gives you a chance to learn many vocabularies and also ask for clarifications where needed. Make sure that by the time you leave India, another language has been added to your list regardless of the fact that you can only hold a basic communication.

4). Tour places

India is a vast country, with so many towns and cities as well as magical scenes. Make sure that you visit as many places as possible. Go to local museums, parks and other beautiful sites in the country.

The only way that you can claim to have visited a country or a region is naming the popular sites, get that information through site visits and then you can later brag to your friends and relatives about it.

5). Learn a few yoga moves.

India is home to Yoga, and leaving the country without having learned one or two moves would be considered rude.

Take time to learn it , there are many people who will be willing to teach you, take advantage of that and acquire skills which will be needed for the rest of your life.

6). Diving in Ganga.

Visit Varanasi, Engage in fun activities in the Ganga, this will help you explore places, make new friends and even learn new sporting activities, Scuba diving will give you all that and there is no other better place to learn it than in India.

7). Learn a thing about the Hindu religion.

As part of the Indian culture, learn something about the Hindi religion, this will give you insight about the people and you will be in a position to understand them better. It will help reduce the culture shock making your volunteer stay in India fun and enjoyable.

8). Learn Indian dance styles.

You may have watched Indian movies and were mesmerized by their dances, as a volunteer in India; you will have a chance to watch these dances live but also learn a few steps.

There are so many people who would be willing to teach you and for free. By the time you leave the country, your dance moves will be as perfect as those found in the famous Indian movies.

While back home you will have bragging rights, being the best in Indian dancer in your circles.

9). Participate in Indian festivals.

There are many festivals in India, almost every day; people are engaged in some kind of celebrations.

Participate in these festivals but make sure you are accompanied by locals, or people who understand the whole process, this will ensure that you have the right information and also you do not do something which might get you in trouble.

10). Watch Indian film.

You may have done this back at home, but when you watch the Indian films from the source, you will have a different experience.

Visit movie theaters or watch videos with Indian friends, the experience will be different, you will enjoy them more and you will feel as if you are in the original setting. Make sure to buy some and watch when you are back home.

They will not only keep the memories of the volunteering trip but will also increase your collection of foreign films.

The list is endless, there are so many things you can do while volunteering in India, these activities will spice up your stay in the country as well as help you understand it better.