"Whilst we have been here, we have been moved, challenged and inspired not only by all the staff, but also by the slum people themselves. Through the work of Asha, so many of their lives have been completely transformed; they have become more equipped to serve their community, better educated to improve their situation and mainly and most strikingly, the people have a new sense of pride and dignity that shines through their life." (Julia & Laura, July 2006)
"I come away amazed at these resilient people who cope with slum life, see birth and death there, and all of the joys or struggles in between. They believe that change is possible and are working, with Asha's help, to improve their conditions. I really admire that and feel the richer for having had my life touched by those who live in slum communities in Delhi." (Gareth Williams, Ballymena)
After application, volunteers are provided with a preparation pack. It includes contact information, policies, travel information, a culture and shopping guide, and information on health and security. The pack is extremely comprehensive, catering for those who have never visited a country like India before. On arrival, visitors can go on local sightseeing trips and advised on possible weekend excursions. This helps them get acquainted with the country, its people and its culture. Asha can suggest some options for safe and affordable accommodation for volunteers, and health advice is always available from Asha doctors.
You can apply to volunteer for a few days, a few weeks, a few months or even longer. The Asha programme presents different opportunities for volunteers according to their length of stay, interests and skill sets.
Many volunteers wonder what type of work they will be doing. In assigning work to volunteers, Asha takes into account cultural and language differences. Here are a few examples of ways that non-Hindi speaking volunteers can contribute to Asha:
If you are volunteering a few days or a few weeks:
• Conduct training workshops for community members groups or project staff on a practical topic related to healthcare, empowerment, education, environment or financial inclusion (e.g. good local business practices, good studying habits for college students)
• Beautify an Asha slum Community Centre (e.g. bringing a team effort to paint a centre)
• Fundraise and organise an environmental initiative (e.g. work with a community group to clean up a particular slum area)
If you are looking to volunteer for one month or more:
• Teach English to children and young people in one of our slum projects
• Conduct activities for youth and women’s groups that encourage learning and empowerment (e.g. form a study group with students preparing for college, hold self-defense training for young women)
• Spend some days observing medical practices at Asha clinics and gain exposure to Indian public health scenarios
If you want to conduct a research study or project:
Please send the details of your request and a brief of your proposed research, including details of your institution or organisation, along with your volunteer application form.
If you're interested in volunteering for Asha, just click here to download a copy of our application form and then send the completed version to our headquarters in Delhi. If you are able to add a photo electronically, then you can email the form to info@asha-india.org.
We're happy to help you find suitable accommodation during your stay, and ask that you contact us with any queries or concerns you might have during the planning stage or the stay itself. We ask that you try and raise some money towards Asha's projects by whatever methods suit you best; our Fundraising page may give you some ideas.
So many things have got better in my area since Asha has been here. I had months of training, and at first people didn't want to listen to me, but now they are happy they can get healthcare within the community.
