InDiA

I have just over 1 week to go before embarking on a new exciting adventure in the fascinating country known as India! What will I be doing there you are probably wondering, having previously travelled pretty much all over India during my 'GAP' year sometime ago, the prospect of being able to return and give something back by working there is an amazing one!
So along came Development in Action also known as DiA, a UK registered volunteer and youth-led charity which exists to promote global citizenship by improving understanding and encouraging engagement in development issues amongst young people in the UK. These aims are achieved through the India and UK Volunteering Programmes as well as other activties which you can see for yourself by visiting the website.
Every year volunteers are recruited by DiA for its India Volunteer Placement Scheme. Volunteers particpating in the scheme opt for either a 2-month or 5-month placement during which they are placed with Indian Partner Organisations who focus on grassroots development initiatives and require additional support with their valuable work. My role with DiA offically titled as India Volunteer Coordinator will be to coordinate the India Volunteer Placement Scheme from the ground, alongside another lovely lady acting as the first point of contact for all of the volunteers and partners for the duration of the programme! We will be training the keen new arrivals and ensuring that all runs smoothly by monitoring both the partner and volunteer side of things, carrying out numerous assessments and evaluations. As if this didn't sound daunting enough, the placements which the job requires frequent travel to are pretty scattered around the country. Initially I will be based in Pondicherry for the first few weeks after which I will be working on the move and the office will become our backpacks!
So watch this space people, IVC's in InDiA coming soon...