Why Volunteer in India?
Reasons to Volunteer Abroad in India
From Herman Antonov
If you're thinking of volunteering abroad, here are some compelling reasons why to do so and why you choose India as your destination.
The world is a huge place, but it is getting smaller each and every day. There is hardly a place that is not connected to the rest of the world. It is well past time to bring small and needy countries up to date with the rest of the world. Don’t they deserve adequate housing? Don’t their children deserve a good education? Are their native plant and animal species not as important as everyone else’s?
India has been a fascinating place for the Western world long before the British Raj was installed in this country. Britain exposed India to the Western world like it has never been exposed before. Trade and business relations integrated the two worlds and made it almost impossible for one to live without the other. English language became a secondary official language of India. As a result, schools began teaching English, and English is no longer a surprise to hear in the streets.
Various writers, historians, humanitarians and dramatists have written a lot on Indian culture, society, and art. Tom Stoppard’s "Indian Ink" (1995) is a great reflection of effect of Britain on Indian culture, history, and art. Stoppard shows that British left a significant imprint on India that is virtually impossible to fade away.
Since India is a developing country, a lot of resources are not available. Schools need desks and computers, teachers lack knowledge of English, and communities are in need for health workers. Volunteer abroad programs created a tremendous impact on rural communities all over India.
Volunteering abroad has a far greater and more positive impact than merely traveling to another country. Many countries around the globe rely on the tourism industry, but tourists do not leave any long-term impact on communities they visit. Volunteers come in direct contact with the locals and share knowledge and experience between each other which has a positive impact on both local community and volunteer. Volunteering is simply a responsible and meaningful way of travel which, just like tourism, involves tours and sightseeing. This is a great way to become a global citizen and give back to the world.
The fact of the matter is that countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America do not have the resources for people to help their own families, thus it makes it impossible to volunteer in their countries as they can’t even make the ends meet themselves. That is why they need you.
International voluntary service has been a great value added not only in sociological and humanitarian terms, but also in economic. You should consider volunteering abroad to make a difference. They need you to help build homes, to educate their children, to clean up after natural disasters, and to help bring life back in to those who have been dealt an incredibly difficult hand. We all know about class clashes, poverty rates, gender issues, and health problems that India faces today, so let’s be responsible global citizens and help those who happened to be less fortunate than us.
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