Suggestions for Volunteers

Before you embark on your trip, we encourage you to:

-    have done research or have background knowledge on the country in which you intend to volunteer.  You should be familiar with the country’s history, culture, and political situation.  You should also learn as much as possible about the history, mission, and goals of the organization with which you are volunteering.  Don´t hesitate to ask representatives of the Omprakash Foundation for this sort of information if you need it.  To help volunteers prepare themselves, we have begun compiling a list of basic reading suggestions-- some general, some area-specific.  This list is a work in progress, and we urge you to make suggestions!  To view the reading list, click here.

-    be familiar with and respectful of the cultural “norms” of the country in which you are volunteering. This includes dressing appropriately, respecting traditions, etc.;

-    work with the projects where you are volunteering, not for them. You should make every attempt to immerse yourself in the community in which you are working.  We are strongly opposed to situations in which development or aid workers perpetuate a dynamic in which "the rich" are helping "the poor" out of self-righteous pity.  We urge volunteers to begin every day with a humble, open-minded attitude, and to avoid assuming that they know what is best for the people that they are trying to help.

-    be in direct communication with someone from the Omprakash Foundation concerning your volunteer work, your progress, your plans to continue supporting a particular project after you finish volunteering, and any other questions you might have;

-    be flexible and patient. Living and working in a new culture can be challenging in many aspects, and these qualities will help ensure a positive experience for you and the project you are serving;

-    help represent the needs of your project on the Omprakash website and help meet those needs both while you are volunteering and after you return.  Omprakash not only encourages you, as a volunteer, to form a relationship with a needy project abroad; we also encourage and provide the resources to support you in continuing this relationship after your return to the United States. Volunteers can use the Omprakash website and network to fundraise, raise awareness, and provide information for other prospective volunteers.

Volunteer Grants
We are excited to offer grants to support qualified volunteers who need additional financial resources in order to serve.  To learn more about this opportunity, please click here.