Volunteer abroad and help a charity in Kolkata to rehabilitate orthopaedically disabled children
Set up over 30 years ago, this charity aims to offer comprehensive rehabilitation of orthopedically disabled children from underprivileged backgrounds through surgery, physiotherapy, mobility aids, education and pre-vocational training. Gap year volunteers are needed to brighten up the children’s day with games and activities while they prepare for and recuperate from their operations.
This volunteer project provides everything the children need on one campus, allowing children from poor families across the state to be treated and complete their recovery while staying at the centre. These children would not get the chance to live a normal life otherwise and the centre gives them the chance to be fit and healthy and to learn skills that brighten their future. They also run outreach campaigns in local villages to inform people of their services and encourage children to come to the centre for treatment.
Gap year volunteer role: Your volunteer work would involve spending part of your day entertaining the children with fun activities, games and crafts, which offer a nice break from their recuperation indoors. The children can be at the centre for anything between one and nine months depending on the severity of their disorder. This gives gap year volunteers the chance to get to know the children, who look forward to your activities, as fun and games are the best part of their day.
The charity also runs a school for children preparing for and recuperating from operations, and those interested in teaching in India will find their help greatly appreciated. The school is painted with bright colours and is a nice environment for the children to learn.
Afternoons on this gap year project can be spent helping local staff to improve their spoken English. This tutoring takes place in small groups, which helps them to improve their self-confidence and communication skills.
Your gap year experience: A gap year in India is an opportunity to make a difference to some really worthwhile volunteer projects and this is no exception. Your volunteer work at this charity can help to ease children's recuperation from painful orthopaedic operations and bring a smile to their face. This is your chance to use your imagination and creativity to make a difference on a community volunteer project, while you gain confidence from planning and organising lessons and activities for children and adults.