Community Action at Sangam
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Sangam often receives inquiries from groups and individuals who are interested in doing volunteer work in India. If you are considering doing so, this page provides information on three ways Sangam can help you to get involved: Community Action Project Events, the Community Volunteer Programme, and Independent Guest Projects. Details of each are below.
One option is to join a Sangam event. All Sangam events include the chance to visit a local organization to learn about social issues in India and the organization’s efforts to serve the community. Beyond this though many events have themes such as Children’s Rights or Women’s Issues. In many of these events, participants work cooperatively with local organizations on a multi-day Community Action Project. Recent projects have included:
- Teaching income-generating crafts to a women’s cooperative
- Planning and running seminars on children’s rights and women’s issues
- Running games and activities for children
- Painting of facilities/classrooms
- Teaching 1st Aid/CPR
- Teaching hygiene and nutrition to elderly women
- Weighing children as part of a health and nutrition programme
Joining an event has several advantages. Key among them is that Sangam staff will do the groundwork of organizing the Community Action Project – contacting a partner organization, identifying their needs and the ways in which we can support them, arranging the schedule, getting supplies, arranging for transport and meals, etc. Then, all of the event participants, usually representing different countries, work together on the final planning and project work – ie designing and painting a mural, choosing and preparing crafts and games for children, or making, practicing, and performing a drama to educate on a pertinent issue. A second option for getting involved in the community is Sangam’s Community Volunteer Programme. Running from November to March, this programme gives individual participants the chance to volunteer with local community organizations four days a week while participating in a complementary educational programme at Sangam which includes a two-week orientation, language training, cultural learning, and more.
Sangam event participants also have many fun and interesting opportunities to learn about Indian culture in a hands-on way by having dinner with a local family, trying out the art and music of India, touring contemporary and historic landmarks, learning sari-tying, and much more.
A final option is for groups or individuals to stay at Sangam as Independent Guests, on a bed and board basis, and do a Community Action Project on their own. This option is available if rooms are not fully booked for events. If you choose this option, you will be responsible for contacting the organization and making all arrangements for the project.
Sangam can assist by arranging your transportation, and if the event schedule allows, sending a staff member with you on your first visit to the organization. As Independent Guests, if you are at Sangam while an event is running, you will have the opportunity to participate in certain event activities such as campfire and international night for a small fee. However, the primary responsibility for arranging sightseeing, shopping, and other activities will fall to the group leader.
If many of the group members are first-time visitors to India and need an initial introduction to the culture, explanations of how to travel in rickshaws, advice on bargaining, etc., it may be particularly time-consuming for the group leader. That said, each year a few groups stay as Independent Guests (sometimes following participation in an event) and have very satisfying experiences exploring India and contributing to the community.
If you wish to organize your own project, you can contact one of the organizations on our Community Partner page. Before getting in touch with them, please give some thought to the type of activities that you would like to do, what skills you can offer to the organization, how many days of service you would like to do, what age group you are most interested in working with, etc. Then, contact the organization to find out if their schedule and current needs fit with what you have to offer.
Be aware that in Indian culture, plans are often not confirmed until the last minute and changes to plans are quite common. This is a benefit in that it offers great flexibility to your group, but it can also be a frustration if you want to make concrete plans in advance. Please let us know if you have any questions about any of these options for getting involved with the local community or if there is anything we can do to help.
Sangam Community Partners
Anand Gram Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre
Poona School and Home for the Blind
St. Mary’s the Virgin in India
Young Women’s Christian Association