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Learning/Short Term Volunteer
Our Learning Volunteer & Short Term Volunteer programs are suited to those who intend to stay with AHM NGO for a week up to three months. Recognising that not all volunteers are able to commit to a long term placement we have developed these alternative programs. Giving participants the opportunity to learn about AHM NGO’s campaigns and the running of a grass roots NGO; with scope to immerse themselves in a specific field of interest provided this matches with AHM NGO’s overall goals.
The Program
Your schedule will begin with an induction into AHM NGO which will include visiting the various programs and getting an overview of AHM NGO’s initiatives including bridge schools, Self Help Groups,training programs and women social enterprise programs. It will also include cultural tours providing the opportunity to spend time in the rural environment to get a taste of village life in South India and visit silk weavers in their homes.
As well as the basic induction program above you will be offered unique learning experiences organised by AHM NGO to enhance your understanding of rural life and culture.
The schedule for your stay will be discussed on arrival with AHM NGO Director C.Arockiaraj when you will get the opportunity to express your personal areas of interest and agree a plan for your time with AHM NGO.
AHM NGO will act as facilitator, mentor, orientation and support but stresses that volunteers must take an active role in planning their involvement in the organisation. The AHM NGO programs are wide ranging and different people will adapt at different levels, therefore only you will know how far you wish to be immersed and at what level you want to participate in activities.
The working day is usually 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm, however this is flexible depending on your role and external factors (e.g. power cuts and climate). Sometimes meetings will be held in the evening or the schedule may require an earlier start.
On completion of your volunteer program you will be provided with a letter of recognition of service to AHM NGO.
Learning Volunteer
The Learning Volunteer program is so named as it is aimed at those who are only with AHM NGO for up to two weeks.
Recognising that there will be limitations as to how much you can achieve in terms of volunteering during this time, the focus is on your learning about AHM NGO and our programs, developing your own knowledge and gaining exposure into rural Indian culture and the issues being faced by the rural population.
We will endeavor to involve you in current projects and activities in some capacity thus enabling you to make a practical contribution if you wish to do so.
Short Term Volunteer
The Short Term Volunteer program is aimed at those who will be with AHM NGO for up to 3 months. You will commence as a Learning Volunteer before identifying an area in which you feel you would like to contribute. You will be welcome to work in one of our programs or carry out set pieces of work in accordance with your comfort level and through agreement with the Director. This will be determined by both your skill level and the opportunities available within current programs at the time. There will be opportunity for discussion and debate throughout your time with AHM NGO to aid your understanding and help you digest what you have learnt.
Fees
All our volunteer programs are unpaid. For the Learning and Short Term Volunteer programs we request that participants pay the following fees. This goes towards: accommodation, three meals per day, full induction to AHM NGO and our programs, travel during excursions, access to internet (limited): .The revised tariff effect from 1.1.2016
1st Week - IR 10,000
2nd Week - IR 7,500
3rd & 4th Week - IR 6,000
5th Week on wards - IR 5,000 per week
Application Process
We are happy to accept applications throughout the year and urge people from all backgrounds to apply. We feel that anyone can make a difference, no matter how small, with willingness and a positive attitude.
If you are interested in volunteering with AHM NGO, please download our Volunteer Information document which gives you further detail on what to expect from a volunteer placement with AHM NGO.
You can visit our Volunteer page to get an idea of the areas in which you could volunteer, although this is not a definitive list and you are welcome to come with your own ideas and suggestions.
TO APPLY: Please download our Volunteer Application Form. Please complete and return, along with two references, to info@ahmngo.org
We look forward to hearing from you!
Eco and Medical Tourism
AHM NGO offer a range of activities ,cultural tours and medical tours which will immerse you in South Indian village life, religion and customs and help you understand the challenges facing the rural population in India. These tours have been designed to help AHM NGO in our quest to become self sufficient and reduce our reliance on outside funding. As well as providing the local community with job opportunities and new revenue streams.
Medical Tourism: All our medical tourism exposure visits are sidha, ayurvedic and naturopathic based mud bath, banana leaf bath, oil bath, ayurvedic or sidha based massage , Research centre on herbal and herbal nursery visits most of the time.The ultimate goal of this program one should has to adopt this technique and willing to do this responsible business in their respective country. It will open the new avenue of income generation by win win situation approach.
RELEASED CHILD LABOUR PROGRAM: The AHM NGO program strikes at the entrenched culture of child labour from many sides, by providing Bridge Schools that ease the transition from workplace to classroom and by training and supporting the families of released child labourers to become economically self sufficient. You will learn about the history of child labour in Kanchipuram and the various ways AHM NGO is working to eliminate it, meeting some of the children who are part of AHM NGO’s program.
Half Day all days except Sunday.
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INDIAN COOKERY CLASS & LOCAL MARKET VISIT: You will learn to cook authentic and original homemade Southern Indian food in a private kitchen, after visiting and purchasing ingredients at the local market.
Half Day all days except Sunday.
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SILK WEAVING & VILLAGE TOUR: Spend half a day visiting one of the few unique villages where they still work in hand-loom silk weaving, using their houses as both home and work room.
Half Day all week days
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TEMPLE TOUR: A local professional English speaking guide will introduce you to this small rural city of Kanchipuram known as Temple City, home to 126 temples and considered the religious capital of the South India. During the tour you’ll get to know about some of the famous legends and stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses which fascinate our visitors.
Half Day all week days
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TAILOR MADE TOURS: If you require an alternative day to those advertised, to fit in with your schedule, we may be able to accommodate this with enough advance notice. We can also arrange the following additional tours or tailor made packages to suit your requirements. Please contact us in advance to discuss your requirements and allow us time to make suitable arrangements (prices will vary for tailor made packages): Kanchipuram silk shopping tour; Visit and learn about Self Help Groups (SHG) and micro finance; Learn block printing; Make flower chains; Colum art (decoration in front of the house); Learn silk weaving, Ayurvedic gardening
PRICES (revised prices with effect from 1st January 2016):
Half Day Tour (including lunch)
IR 1000(per person)
IR 1,800(2 people)
Full Day Tour (including lunch)
IR 2000 (per person)
IR 3500 (2 people)
Private Group Full Day Tour (including lunch)
Price on request (5+ people)
Our visitor’s book is filled with praises for the experience AHM NGO offers. In some cases we have had travellers returning for longer stays to participate in voluntary work.
‘I have had a wonderful experience at AHM NGO. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and family. All the staff have been so friendly and extremely strong and inspiring. Pappanallur is a great place with gorgeous smart children and very committed parents.’ Jamie cat USA. Dec 2014.
‘Thank you for a most inspiring day and for sharing your original ideas with us and showing us the proof of your tremendous amount of work in favour of rural development.
Nigel Majakarai Cofounder Chilasa.org, Switzerland
RELEASED CHILD LABOUR PROGRAM: You will see where the children used to work and understand the issues surrounding society and what motivated parents to allow their children to work, both in the silk weaving industry and stone quarries. You will be given a glimpse of village life and visit a silk weaver to understand the reasons why children were involved in the silk weaving industry. You will also understand the process by which children were released from labour and the ongoing challenges associated with this. You will get the opportunity to visit a local school and meet some of the children who are changing their family path through education.
INDIAN COOKING CLASS & LOCAL MARKET VISIT: You’ll learn the authentic and original homemade Southern Indian food in a private home, after visiting and purchasing local ingredients at the market. First, you’ll take a trip to the Kanchipuram local market, shopping with Indumathi to pick up the ingredients for your lunch. Meeting the greengrocers and the fruiters selling products from their gardens, you will learn how to distinguish the highest quality ingredients and to get to know some vegetables and fruits you’ve never seen. Then it’s time to start your cooking lesson in a private kitchen at the family home of AHM NGO’s director, Arockiaraj and wife Indumathi. During this truly hands-on experience, you will learn how to prepare a genuine traditional South Indian meal. All food and cooking equipment is strictly supervised for health and cleanliness.
And at the end of your lesson you will be rewarded with the delicious lunch you have prepared, under the watchful eye of Indumathi. You will then be able to wow your friends and family back home when you re-create the dish using the written recipe we have prepared for you.
SILK WEAVING & VILLAGE TOUR: Spend half a day visiting one of the few unique villages where they still work in silk weaving field, using their houses as private home and working room together. This is an in-depth look at village life including work, education and religion. Silk weaving is an integral part of the traditional lives of people and is still popular today. Visitors will get to learn the process of silk weaving from how to dye textiles, to pattern making on through to the weaving process. (The tour also includes orientation regarding history, background and style of weaving from the cocoon). Silk is not only beautiful but strong and resistant. A single silk thread is stronger than an equal thread of steel.
TEMPLE TOUR: a local professional English speaking guide will introduce you to this small rural city of Kanchipuram, home to 126 temples and considered the religious capital of the South India, this is why it’s called the Temple City. During the tour you’ll get to know about all the famous legends and stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses who fascinate most of the visitors and will get the opportunity to visit some of the important temples in the region:
Kailasanatha Temple: the oldest temple in Kanchi and the third largest one in Asia
Sri Ekambanathar Temple:The temple boasts a Sthala Vruksham, sacred mango tree said to be more than 3500 years old bearing 4 different varieties of mango on 4 branches.
Devarajaswami Temple: the temple complex of 12th century is also known as the Sri Varadaraja Perumal a foremost Vishnu shrine”temple.
Kamakshi Temple: Although this temple was built in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 14th, this is one of the few temples dedicated to one Goddess and it’s really fascinating to get to know about the legend which joined Parvati in her guise as Kamakshi with Shiva in marriage.
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