Destinations – India

FACT FILE

• Population: 1.1 billion
• Capital: New Delhi
• Major languages: Hindi, English and 17 other official languages.
• Major religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism
• Monetary unit: Indian Rupee
• Click here for more information on the country from the BBC website

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

• FSL – Field Service and Intercultural Learning www.fsl-india.org

FSL India is a young, upcoming youth organisation, which was established in 2000 with the support of Grenzenlos in Austria and various other international organisations. It is not affiliated with any religious or political groups. The head office of FSL is situated in Bangalore.

Their aims are to bring people from different cultural backgrounds together in order to create understanding and respect. FSL works with a large number of NGOs across the country in order to support the voluntary structure and provide practical assistance to local communities. They are also working on the set-up of several permanent locations in India from which all activities are organised.

• RUCHI INDIA - www.volunteer-ruchi.org , www.ruchin.org

Rural Centre for Human Interests (known as RUCHI, which means ‘interest’ in Hindi) came into being as a non-profit, voluntary organization in October 1980, set up in the Himalayan foothills of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, INDIA. RUCHI is legally registered under Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Presently, RUCHI head office is located in a new complex called the Technology Resource Centre (TRC). The office a centre of technology transfer came into force, in the year 1994 as an extension program of CAPART, of the Ministry of Rural Development. The objective is to promote, develop and modify the rural technologies. Situated in the hills of Solan district in Bandh village, this centre has been the hub of all activities.

RUCHI has focused through the years on promoting sustainable anthropocentric development through empowerment – by providing assistance and technical support to the underprivileged, showing them the way to minimize dependence and thus attain a better life – rather than just through charity. RUCHI’s founders felt there was a need for a committed workforce to initiate the process of development at the grassroots level, encouraging individual and community participation in the process.

TYPES OF PROGRAMMES

• North South - If volunteers have specific questions about India or FSL projects, we have returned volunteers who are happy to be contacted. Please contact the office and we will pass on their details.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Visa: required. Please check www.fco.gov.uk for up to date advice.
• Arrival info: date of arrival is the start date scheduled for the project. The extra fee for FSL for most of the projects is approximately 150 euros for two weeks and 185 euros for three week projects.

PROJECTS AVAILABLE

• Projects available in India >>

PICTURES