Community Development

In these programs, volunteers work directly with local villagers in village-based projects, sleeping in local houses, eating the same food and working under the same conditions as those in the local community. In many cases, these communities are without much infrastructure - little or no electricity, modern toilets, or shower facilities. Yearoutindia will ensure that volunteers are provided with clean and basic aminities where ever possible.

Yearoutindia looks for volunteers who have a variety of academic backgrounds, skills, and experiences and who are sincerely interested in international service. As Yearoutindia volunteers, we should approach our field work as an invaluable opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures, development issues both abroad and at home, and to learn about ourselves - our assumptions, our willingness to learn from others, our limits and abilities, and our capacity to effect personal, community, and global change.

For community development programs, cultural sensitivity may be one of the most important and often difficult aspects of your volunteering experience. There will be aspects of the local culture that confound your sense of logic or challenge your sense of justice. However, remember you are the visitor. No solitary volunteer can change centuries of tradition or culture. You must look deep inside yourself and determine if you are flexible enough to respect the local culture.

Volunteering in these programs require flexibility, patience, those who are self-starters, and people who genuinely respect the host community and their culture. Volunteers never go to teach the people western ways, nor are they there to save the people. Volunteers go to share their energy and time with the people, contribute positively, to experience their culture first hand and to grow themselves.