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Orphanage Volunteer Work in India

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Help care for orphaned and abandoned babies

Child and Health care volunteers are needed to assist at this modern orphanage which provides holistic support for its children. Based in Bangalore this charitable trust has been working for the past 18 years with abandoned babies and children to care for, educate and find them new parents. Around 75 children are cared for at any one time with the majority being adopted by people in the west. The adoption process can take up to 2 years and the children’s education and health care is provided by the orphanage during this time.

Established in 1988 the trust has a vision to provide holistic care for the children in its care. The care they provide takes many forms; taking in children abandoned or given up by their family; finding foster families; finding new permanent homes; well baby and children clinics; educational programmes; counseling for women and couples.

Gap Projects: Child And Health Care At An Orphanage

Gap Projects: Child And Health Care At An Orphanage

Your role: The orphanage wants child care volunteers, qualified and part qualified health care volunteers to help the existing staff in their duties, this will allow more attention to be given to each child and also help inform and train the staff in modern child care practices. At the time of writing there were 7 babies living at the orphanage ranging in age from 2 months to 1 year. The staff does not have time to give quality attention to each one. These are the sweetest little babies and they would benefit tremendously from having one on one attention.There are a variety of volunteer roles available at this project.

Child Care And Teaching Assistant: If your are interested in helping in looking after the babies and children, you will be given direction and supervision as required but generally your role would be all aspects of child care; feeding, changing, bathing and even more importantly playing and giving quality time to the babies. There are nursing and health care professionals present at the orphanage as well as qualified teachers for support and guidance. As the majority of children from the orphanage are to be adopted in the West, and this process can take 2 years from the time the child comes to orphanage to moving to their new home. During this time the children are taught in English and have a curriculum designed to prepare them for their new country. Volunteers are needed here to help with activities in the classroom and spoken English, also general interaction with volunteers is welcomed and encouraged so as to help the children understand a little about the new home they are going to. This interaction may be in the classroom, helping with some activities or holding talks or doing projects based around your life. Just your being present at the orphanage will help tremendously in overcoming some of the fear and trepidation that is felt when the children leave for their new home. The children living out in foster care also come to the orphanage by 9am when classes start for 4 years old and upwards. There is a Montessori teacher for Kindergarten children up to age 7 and a BEd teacher for the children aged 8 to 12, whom you will be able to assist.

Gap Projects: Child And Health Care At An Orphanage

Health Care Assistant: As a part qualified or qualified Physiotherapist / Occupational Therapist / Nurse, you will be directed to help the children according to your skills and main area interest. You will always be supervised and given direction by the supervisor in charge. Each child has a health check when they are taken in by the orphanage. There are a range of medical conditions that the children often suffer from; abandoned babies can be underweight from either early enforced birth or malnutrition. Disabled children are sometimes relinquished as the family does not have the economic ability to support a child that cannot earn. From these health checks a programme of treatment is devised and carried out.There are also daytime clinics run at the orphanage and also home visits where required.

What you gain: This is an opportunity to help those that are totally unable to help themselves. The babies are fortunate in that they have come under the wing of the Trust and will be found new homes in the fullness of time but the Trust does not have the resources to give enough attention to the children.You will be able to help prepare the children for their new life abroad by showing them your family and telling them about your country, lessening their fear about such a big step. If you are working towards a qualification in child care then this experience will of course be very valuable in helping with your future career. You will be based in Bangalore which is a great location for getting out and about to see South India with its wealth of holy sites, wildlife parks and palaces.

Accomodation: Wherever possible you will stay in an Indian home or share an apartment with other GapGuru volunteers. Home-stay homes and hosts are carefully selected for quality and safety and you would normally share a non-air conditioned room.

Skills And Experience required

To be over 18 years old at time of departure.
To bring energy, enthusiasm and motivation to work.
A genuine love for children and a desire to care for them.
To have patience and a caring attitude.
To communicate clearly and effectively with members of the organisation.
Have patience and understanding that India has a different dynamic to that of the UK.