Read and understand the information sheet and to attend the preparation meeting organised by the sending organisation.
Cooperate with FSL India by adapting to their new culture.
Cooperate with the work camp team leader, who is in-charge at all times of the volunteer's security.
Show responsibility towards their work.
Adjust to the way of life in the project and camp surroundings.
Realize that the living conditions are many times different than at home (no warm water/air-conditioning, no easy access to international phone or internet, no easy transportation at all times, mosquitoes etc.)
Be open-minded, flexible, leave prejudices behind and show initiative.
Understand that a lot of time will be spent with local people who do not speak English fluently. Volunteers should make an effort in trying to communicate in the local language; this shows their interest.
Be creative. Ideas for the work, discussions, the campsite, excursions, and free time are expected to come from the group during the camp. Share your thoughts and ideas!
Only English is accepted when others are around, even if they do not join in the conversation.
Behaviour and dress code should be culture sensitive, especially while in the village or schools.
Moreover being part of FSL India team means that you are member of an international community of volunteers from all over the world, which represents a unique and enriching experience for the youth. Besides, gaining new skills of communication, practical knowledge and hands-on experience, volunteers become aware of the importance of being socially active.
Costs Involved
FSL India is a non-profit organisation and does not depend on public or external funding. All costs of the camp are sustained through participation fees from volunteers. Therefore volunteers are expected to pay the participation fee mentioned below besides all their personal costs needed to come to India (travel/visa / vaccinations etc.):
All work camps conducted by FSL India last for two or three weeks.
FSL India Work Camps
15,000 Rupees
FSL India Special Work Camps (SPL):
FSL India organises Special Camps in order to facilitate further improvement and to go an extra mile to maintain a stronger relationship with its local partners. Special camps deliver extra support to the communities. For example: Happy Hearts, building play parks, construction, painting, distribution of materials for education, medical aid, depending on the specific needs of the present situation.
Some special camps are conducted for a period of three weeks.
What does the volunteer participation fee cover?
We are a non-profit organisation, and therefore we have kept our prices as affordable as possible. We have not increased our participation fee for the last 10 years ever since we started volunteering programme. We do not receive any financial support from the government of India or from any other foreign agency. The main source of income available for FSL India is the participation fee that is collected from the volunteers.
The participation fee is spent as follows (from the most to the least expensive item):
1. Project development: this is the money that is spent to identify and set up projects. Some projects require more expenditures than others.
2. Volunteers hosting payments: FSL India pays for the food, accommodation, transportation to project site for participants - which differs from project to project.
3. Running the camp: This includes all the materials needed for the project, tools, and professional charges for masons, plumbers, carpenters and so on. Happy hearts for the teaching projects is also included in the Project running cost.
4. Support expenses of local Indian youth trained and supported by us.
5. Donations to local social projects: apart from supporting local NGOs by the placement of volunteers and by organising short-term work camps, FSL India also makes occasional donations (in kind or in cash) to its International network and partner NGOs.
6. Office expenses including staff salaries, rents, telephone, internet, postage, photocopy, printing, stationery, electricity and other equipment.
7. International travel costs to attend Conferences and international meetings: FSL India sends representatives to statutory meetings and conferences to interact with its worldwide partners and develop its activities.
8. Participation fees to international conferences and meetings: on such occasions, FSL India also has to pay a participation fee.
9. International membership fees: Every year FSL India renews membership of international networks and platforms of like-minded organisations.
10. Promotional Material and website costs.
Other Details
All Camps start on a Monday.
The info sheet will contain the general work details as per each project as well as information on the meeting points, contact information and other guidelines. The info sheets shall be sent at least one month before the camp starts. We expect you to read it at least once before joining the Work Camp.
The volunteers should subscribe to their own health insurance and take care of medical vaccinations needed for the specific area.
The social contact in the camp is as important as the work itself and respect for the local environment and community is expected at all times.
Initiative, Creativity and involvement are expected and could give the camp the personal direction of that group. So work together with the camp leaders in creating a successful project.
The participation fee must be paid on the first day of the camp to the Team Leader and in the local currency (Indian Rupees).
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