Projects Abroad in India - arrival and induction procedure for new volunteers

Projects Abroad in India – Arrival Procedure in Madurai

Volunteers arriving in India fly into Madurai airport. As you leave the airport the heat and the hectic, noisy and colourful streets make your arrival in India an experience in itself. But don't worry - one of our staff will be there to meet you.

From the airport, you will be driven to our office in the Pasumalai district just outside of the city centre. The local member of staff travelling with you will tell you all about India and its people, their customs and habits.

Volunteering in India: Orientation and Induction

Upon arrival at our office, you will receive a Welcome Pack containing a wealth of information, including a map. Our staff will talk you through the pack and take you out around town to show you the main sites and useful services like the bank, post office and internet cafes. You can call our India staff 24 hours a day if you have any questions or problems. Otherwise you can just walk into our India office during the day.

My host-family made the experience a lot easier to handle and were always ready to help."
Martin Clarke, Teaching in India

In general, girls stay with local families whilst most boys stay in hostels or in accommodation attached to the placement. This is for cultural reasons - families with daughters usually feel uneasy at the thought of contact with males outside the family. As you may imagine, accommodation in India can be quite basic. Don't expect western-style toilet facilities, and your shower will be a bucket shower - it is what it sounds like! However, you will have everything you need - your own bed, a light, and a fan.

As part of your induction one of our staff will take you to be introduced formally to your place of work and meet your placement supervisor. During this meeting your schedule and working hours will be arranged and you will have the chance to ask any questions you may have. Most volunteers then start work properly the following day and our staff will make sure that you are happy with the plans for this.

Most volunteers have a short walk to work, get a lift with a member of their host family or catch a school bus. A small number of volunteers travel to work by auto-rickshaw or public bus and if this is the case a member of staff will show you the route. Please note that you will need to cover the cost of the auto-rickshaw or public bus, which on average should be less than 60p per day.

"Don't expect chicken tikka masala - that is an anglicised North Indian dish. Southern food is very different. Iddli, dosai and iddiapam will become part of your vocabulary very quickly."
Karen Slevin, Medical volunteer