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I think that there are two things that potential volunteers need to take into account before signing up to Action with Effect.

The first is that you will be working in a third world country. Life can be hard here, often getting from A to B includes a detour via X, Y and Z.  

You will have to deal with power cuts, poverty, over- crowding, putrid smells, flies, beggars and con artists. You will be either hot and sweaty or soaking wet depending on the season and time of year.

You will be dirty and you will probably feel unwell (Delhi Belly). Daily routines during your time in Hardiwar, Dheradun or Rhishikesh will be challenging. It will also make you feel alive and at the end of every day you will feel that you have achieved something worthwhile.

Life in India is about as far removed from mundane as you can get, and once over the initial culture shock, most people grow to love the craziness that is life in India. One of the keys to settling in is to try to stop comparing everything to the way it would be ‘back home’ and to accept and embrace the Indian way of life as fast as you can.

At home you wouldn’t see two people and a goat on a motorbike driving through town or treat a cow in the middle of the road as a round-about.

You wouldn’t have a bus or train so packed it resembles a sardine tin.  You wouldn’t eat lunch off a metal plate, sat cross legged on the floor using your fingers instead of a knife and fork but this isn’t back home, it is India, and everything is different!

The second thing volunteers should realise, is that during the time you sign up to volunteer, there will be an expectation that you are available to work every day, except those days set aside for rest bite or travel.

© 2011 Action With Effect