Working with the VWI was the best choice ever. Especially not only teach children but also learning more deeply about the organization was insightful. (Example – mobile van clinic). At the beginning, I did not like that fact I only could stay/work here 5 to 6 hours where I wanted stay longer with children. So thanks so much for being flexible and accommodated. Also visiting famous places in Jaipur (sightseeing included chokhi dhani, monkey palace) was so great and I love meeting families and friends of Sukret, Govind, totram ji and host family house as I value fine experience with local people and personal connections. Peoples in India have been so inclusive and welcoming so I had amazing fine participating like kite festival and wedding ceremonies. VWI has well chosen staff for their work and you guys have been very professional, friendly and lovely. I love the fact that VWI made things so easy for me include transport, pick up daily, accommodation includes food so that I could focus my time and energy more important thing like children project. So I really appreciate it.
I found staff at the project site very helpful if you ask questions and be open. Don’t expect them to come to you; here in India you open and say hello first if you want to become friend with them. Love working from early morning so I can utilize well of each afternoon for more teaching, shopping, visiting etc. Project staff love me stay longer hours and showing deep interest for in what they doing. Also I had opportunity to visit the Elephant house although it was not my project. It was so good to experience and see other VWI projects so definitely consider doing for future volunteers. It is not very easy work what VWI do accommodate each individual needs, so thanks for doing your best and help me to have colorful, fun, meaningful and memorable time in India. I recommend to future volunteers to use your service.

The Arrival pick up service was fine. The Host family was very kind and accommodating. The house was clean and well kept. Transportation service was amazing!!! Appreciate greatly that transportation to work-site and on weekends was included, made the travel easy and you felt safe. The Project Staff members were great and very professional. Translation is key to the work performed. I decided to volunteer with VWI to get involved with a great cause while being able to learn and experience a new culture and country. Overall I would rank the whole experience as a 10, had great fun.

I was a volunteer in a program created by VWI for a month. My work involved teaching street children different ways of how to stay healthy but I also worked there as a professor. I am half Indian and so my mother taught me Hindi and this made it easier for me to get along with the children, and so I did not get to use the help of the translator that much. Before coming to Jaipur, I knew that the welfare level of the people is not high, but I have to say it was a bit of a shock when I saw with my own eyes how the people live there.
I never thought that people can have it so bad anywhere in this world and still be so opened to foreigners. I was amazed to see how good the children reacted to my presence there. It is sad to say that children don’t get any chance at a normal development, at a normal childhood, and basically at a normal life. Even now I remember their faces, the way they looked at me with their eyes, it was like they were waiting for something, waiting for the bad to be over. Even if they are at a young age, they are more mature than grown ups because they had to face the harsh things of life with no one to protect them. I hope that what I taught them will help them keep a more healthy and safe life.
There is a huge need for volunteering and projects to protect those children. After coming back from India, my wife informed me that I will be a father and this determines me even more to support VWI in its work for the protection of children. Every child has the right to a family, to a normal life and happiness.

O serviço de recolha à chegada foi perfeito. O melhor sobre o que diz respeito a saber como é viver na cultura indiana. Tratados como membros da família. O alojamento era básico mas para mim era suficiente. O serviço de transporte do projeto e a excursão turística de fim de semana foram perfeitos. Os membros da equipa do projeto estavam sempre presentes para ajudar em tudo, sem eles a experiência não seria tão agradável. Decidi fazer voluntariado com a VWI - Firstly porque a Índia era o meu destino preferido para fazer um projeto de voluntariado e encontrei a VWI através da Ideaslist.org. Gostaria de dar 10 em 9 à VWI. As minhas 3 semanas de trabalho no projeto foram uma experiência de vida. Algo que vou certamente guardar comigo durante a minha vida quotidiana, com tantas lições que só este tipo de experiência nos pode proporcionar. Por favor, certifica-te de que aproveitas a experiência ao máximo.