Frequently Asked Questions
◊ What does Sankalp mean?
◊ Am I eligible to be a Sankalp volunteer in India?
◊ Do I have to be from a certain country to volunteer?
◊ How safe is it to volunteer in India?
◊ When can I start volunteering in India?
◊ What is recommended day for program start?
◊ What is the program duration?
◊ Should I pay for volunteering in India?
◊ Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer?
◊ What are the accommodation arrangements when volunteering?
◊ What kind of transportation is provided?
◊ What do volunteers normally do on off hours?
◊ Should I be single if I am thinking about volunteering through Sankalp?
◊ Who organizes my flights?
◊ Do I need travel insurance?
◊ How do I make the reservation for the post of volunteer with Sankalp?
◊ What about Hygiene?
◊ What about medication?
◊ What vaccinations should I consider having prior to arrival?
◊ Can I schedule my own volunteer service for the dates that interest me?
◊ Will I have access to communication mediums such as e-mail, telephones etc?
◊ Can I come with a friend or can I be placed near other volunteers?
◊ What types of clothes are allowed to wear? Should I wear specific types of clothes?
◊ Where can I obtain a VISA?
◊ Visa
◊ Traveling
◊ Will there be anyone at the airport to receive me?
◊ How we can support Sankalp in other way?
What does Sankalp mean?
The literary meaning of the Hindi word SANKALP in English is Take a Pledge. A pledge to make with people from all parts of the world by Sankalp and in turn a promise with Sankalp by the people to create a unique and different world by way of turning the entire population harmonious and helpful to each other through taking parts in the programs concluded by Sankalp.
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Am I eligible to be a Sankalp volunteer in India?
If you are enthusiastic, and motivated to learn and help the needy people, especially children and women, you are perfect and exactly what we are looking for. You do not need specific skills and past experience. We organize sufficient in-house orientation programs for all selected volunteers to enable them to work effectively with target groups.
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Do I have to be from a certain country to volunteer?
We welcome volunteers from all places from the world; you can come and volunteer with us from any country.
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How safe is it to volunteer in India?
Overall India is a very peaceful country and people are very friendly and supportive. We ensure all possible measures regarding safety and security of the volunteers while working with us.
When can I start volunteering in India?
Volunteers can start as per your own suitable time and date but they should get themselves applied at least 10 days before they arrive in India.
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What is recommended day for program start?
The recommended day for program start is Saturday for Jaipur & Dharamshala location and given start dates for other location, please read this section at Fees and Start Dates
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What is the program duration?
We provide short terms programs starting from 01 to 16 weeks and long term programs starting from 04 to 12 months; program could be extending in multiple weeks/months.
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Which is most popular project destination?
Jaipur and Dharamshala
Should I pay for volunteering in India?
We try to keep costs as low as possible, a difficult task in itself. Our volunteering programs are absolutely the most affordable in India. Volunteers have to pay for their food and accommodation and all of which is included in the overall fee. We charge our volunteers a nominal amount for raising the funds needed to carry out all of our many projects. The program cost depending heavily upon the program and the length of stay. Certain programs like summer program, gap year India expedition and work & travel program follow a stricter schedule and include a good deal of traveling, trekking, safaris and other activities. These programs are thus slightly more expensive, in order for Sankalp to provide for all travel arrangements and accommodations. The starting range of programs is 2 weeks, depending upon the availability of the volunteers. For more detail please see why volunteers to pay? section.
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Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer?
Yes, it will be helpful if you speak English, but it is perfectly acceptable if you speak English as your second language. When you arrive in India you will be placed into an orientation program that includes an intensive language course on basic India phrases that you may need while volunteering.
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What are the accommodation & food arrangements when volunteering?
We offer comfortable accommodation with easy approach to project sites for the volunteers in every running project locations.
Jaipur location - you are provided accommodation in volunteer’s home established by the organization with perfect setup. The volunteer's home is fully residential with some modern and traditional arrangements. The home is furnished with TV, DVD, Refrigerator, Music System and other entertaining gadgets with sufficient vacant space for celebration and spent leisure time. There is a facility of 3-4 sharing rooms with western toilets. During summer season the rooms are cooled with AC system. The team serves quality India food prepared by expert cooks to the volunteers in the home itself.
Rural Camp; Jaipur - the Rural Camp is the volunteer's home. It is characterized by its unique appearance. The camp area is fully residential and volunteers' dwellings are fully equipped with modern and traditional arrangements. The clay finished earthen huts, roof duly thatched with straw and reeds gives a picturesque view and are very comfortable to live in. The beds are having a look of the traditional style. These huts stay cool in summer and remain warm in winters.
Dharamshala, Delhi & Bangalore Location - on placement, you ought to live with a local Indian family like a family member. A separate living room on dual or triple sharing basis with volunteers will be provided. The host family will serve 3 local area meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). The food they prepare and serve to you would be delicious one with daily changed varieties. You may help the host in preparing the meal so that you may learn cooking of various India dishes, which would be liked by your inmates when you go back and serve them with. You may also cook food of your own choice. Living with the Indian family will prove for you the best track of learning the India tradition, culture and behavior without much cost and efforts.
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What kind of transportation is provided?
Daily Transportation: You will be picked up from the place of your residence and drop at work site and pick you up from work site to place of residence at the set timings at both ends. Thus you are saved to spend much more amount and time in arranging transport at your own.
Pickup & Meeting at Airport: On arrival at Delhi Airport you will meet our representative who will take you to a hotel for an overnight stay if more than one person arriving on the same date at different intervals. The following day the representative will take you from Delhi to project location by Train/Bus/Car. If no other participant is arriving on the pickup day, you will directly depart to project location on the same day. This pickup service is excluded for the programs having duration upto 3 weeks. But on request, we can arrange transport for the volunteers having duration upto 3 week to pick them up Delhi airport on payment of applicable amount ($100) of expenditure.
What do volunteers normally do on off hours?
There will be plenty of time to relax in the evenings and weekends. In general volunteers tend to visit the local countryside, read, write their diaries, play sports and plan excursions to local points of interest. Most Friday evenings, volunteers arrange a get together to celebrate the end of the working week.
If volunteer(s) desire we provide them weekend short excursion tours to visit various historical and other interesting destinations within and around the place of dwelling at nominal and reasonable cost. They will also be provided expert driver cum guide having perfect knowledge about the location selected for excursion so that you get complete and thorough knowledge of the place and don’t get boring. The way expenditure on refreshments etc for self will be borne by the volunteer(s).
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Should I be single if I am thinking about volunteering through Sankalp?
That is not necessary. We organize volunteer programs for individuals, couples, groups, students and families.
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Who organizes my flights?
Definitely that will be borne by you. You will need to organize your trip to and from India.
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Do I need travel insurance?
As with any overseas traveling, health insurance is recommended. Please obtain necessary health and travel insurance before come to India. Talk to your travel agent about this or search on the internet to see what offers are available, and make sure you look into the details of the policy. Find out if it covers airfare in case of a medical emergency. We also suggest that volunteers consult a physician or an international travel clinic for recommendations on immunizations, and you should carry with you small first aid kit. India offers basic medical services and there are some places for emergency medical treatment. If you are taking any prescription medicine, we suggest that you bring an ample supply from your home country.
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How do I make the reservation for the post of volunteer with Sankalp?
Fill out and submit the online application form. The form will ask you about your personal information, choice of volunteering program, location, duration and others. Sankalp team member will review your application and when your application is approved, you will receive a request money email to deposit your application fee US $200. Once your application fee is done, your place on the program is secured.
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What about Hygiene?
We always try our best to ensure that the food and water during training and placement is safe and clean.
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What about medication?
All program location has several national and international level hospitals, nursing homes and health clinics available.
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What vaccinations should I consider having prior to arrival?
This depends on which country you are traveling from. You should always consult your doctor before purchasing any medication, as some may not be necessary. In addition, depending on where you are from, you may have already had some of the required vaccinations as a child. We suggest that you consult a travel doctor at your country before you leave. However, you should consider the following vaccinations:
Hepatitis A & B
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Yellow fever
Rabies
Tuberculosis
Malaria
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Can I schedule my own volunteer service for the dates that interest me?
Sankalp is very flexible on when volunteers can start with the program, and it’s possible to start any day of the year. It just depends on your availability.
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Will I have access to communication mediums such as e-mail, telephones and the post office?
Yes, all placements will have access to a post office. If your program location is in a city limits, there are many places in which you can use a phone or have access to e-mail.
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Can I come with a friend or can I be placed near other volunteers?
Yes, we welcome individuals, couples, family, small and large groups, students and experts, as well as senior and young professionals to make a great contribution and bring changes by getting involved in our volunteer program.
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What types of clothes are allowed to wear? Should I wear specific types of clothes?
We advise all volunteers to wear decent cloth especially female volunteers not to wear very short and tight cloths. Indian dress modestly covers most of the body; it is the Indian tradition.
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Where can I obtain a VISA?
You can apply and obtain a visa for India from Indian Embassy office at your home country.
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Visa:
It is highly recommended that you obtain a tourist visa at the Indian embassy in your country. A non-tourist visa is difficult to obtain and is twice as expensive as the tourist visa. It is the responsibility of volunteers to manage their own tickets and visa.
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Traveling:
India is a cheap place for shopping and traveling, but if you are planning to travel in India before or after your volunteer program, you will need extra money. You may change your major currencies and travelers checks in Jaipur/Dharamshala/Delhi/Bangalore and at the airports
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Will there be anyone at the airport to receive me?
Yes, on arrival at project location you will meet our representative/driver, he waits for you at airport / railway / bus stand holding with your name sign (placard).
For the Jaipur and Dharamshala location; pickup service from Delhi Airport is available on payment of applicable amount ($80) of pickup expenditure. On arrival at Delhi airport you will meet our representative/driver, he waits for you at Delhi airport holding with your name sign (placard). He will take you from Delhi to project location by Car.
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Where can I find more information about visiting India?
The best source of information that we have found is the Lonely Planet guide book which can be purchased from any good bookstore, or check lonely planet online for more details.
How we can support Sankalp in other way?
Please read this section at http://volunteeringindia.org/street-to-school-project-india.htm
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