iVolunteer - International Volunteering Opportunities

You will probably work for 40 years. Make two of them memorable.

iVolunteer Overseas and VSO offer a unique opportunity for committed Indian professionals to share their skills with disadvantaged people in the developing countries of Asia and Africa.  

VSO is an international charity that works through volunteers to fight poverty and disadvantage (voted top international development charity at the Charity Awards 2004). In India, VSO recruits volunteers through the iVolunteer Overseas Program (IVO).

VSO is  looking for skilled and experienced Indian professionals who are willing to volunteer for international assignments in the areas of Project Management, NGO Development Worker, Community Mobilization, HIV and AIDS, Microfinance, Mental Health and Primary Education.

Our volunteers make a 2-year commitment to share their skills where they are most needed. In return, they acquire a lot of expertise and abilities working with an international organization.

Who can volunteer

Post-graduate, over 25 years old, with minimum working experience of 3 years in the above work areas and fluent written and spoken English. Above all, the candidate must be willing to work in an interdisciplinary environment with sensitivity to cross-cultural development needs.

Previous Applicants:

Those who have previously applied to the program but were not called for a personal interview can again apply by sending an updated application form and CV.

How we support volunteers

Travel expenses, health insurance, monthly living allowance and other supportive grants. For a detailed working of the financial support please visit www.ivoindia.org

How you can apply

If you are interested in the program then send us your latest CV in word format at ivo@ivolunteer.org.in . You can also visit http://ivoindia.org/pages/HowtoApply.htm  download the application form, fill it and send it back to us at.

Last date for sending applications is 10^th July  2008

Thanks,

iVolunteer team

Pan-Bangalore Collection Drive - 15th June

Pankhudi Foundation is on its way to conduct its 3rd Collection Drive across Bangalore. The collections from this campaign would be donated to the Sri-Lankan Refugee Camp/School (also known as Rajiv Gandhi International Academy - IGIA) at Yelahanka, Bangalore.

Click here to see poster:


The Plan:
We will be starting early - around 8:30 AM with the collection drive and plan to return by 12 noon. We are booking a tempo and all members would be picked up from near thier residences along with the collections.

Timings:
Day - Sunday - 15th June
Time - 8:30 AM to 12 noon

What to Collect:
Clothes, Books, Toys, or any other useful household items.

Wish to be a part of this? Connect with:

Yatin Sethi - yatin.sethi [at] gmail.com
Sonali Majumdar - crazedflyer [at] gmail.com

Short Film: It is The Music

Budhan Theatre is a group based out of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) fighting for the rights and to raise awareness about the condition of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes using street plays and documentary films. Visit www.budhantheatre.org

A wonderful 4-min musical documentary by Dakxin Chhara of Budhan Theatre.

A gift from CSR Wire

I just received a copy of the recently published Chris Laszlo's book - Sustainable Value: How the world's leading companies are doing good by doing well as a gift from the CSRwire Team.

CSRwire is the leading source of corporate social responsibility and sustainability news, reports and information. Its members are companies and NGOs, agencies and organizations interested in communicating their corporate citizenship, sustainability, and socially responsible initiatives to a global audience through CSRwire's syndication network and weekly News Alerts.

Thank you Jack and Iris for this wonderful book :)

Chris Laszlo talks about his book in this video

Paul Farmer Encouraging Students to Get Involved

Dr. Paul Farmer, director of Partners in Health, gives some advice for the college generation looking to make a difference.

UnLtd India Incubation Program

Do you know exceptional individuals in Mumbai with ideas or initiatives for social change?

UnLtd India is looking for applicants from Mumbai for our unique incubation support programme.

The programme offers a one year long package of:
1. Start up funding
2. Hands-on assistance
3. Connections to peers, experts and leaders

The programme aims to develop leaders and enable them to start up sustainable, high-impact initiatives.

Eligibility criteria

The applicant must be:
1. Over the age of 16
2. Resident in India and based in Mumbai

The applicants must have an idea or initiative that is:
1. Beneficial for a deprived community or the public at large
2. Entrepreneurial in nature, i.e. resourceful, practical and/or innovative

If the applicants apply on behalf of a registered organisation then:
1. He/she must be a co-founder of the organisation
2. The organisation must not be more than 4 years old as a registered entity
3. The organisation must have a current budget of less than Rs. 10 Lakhs

Important points to note

1. Applicants could be working part time on their idea/project.
2. Applicants need not have registered organisations.
3. Applicants can apply as individuals or teams (up to three members) can apply.

Selection process

The applicants who meet the basic criteria will go through the following steps:
1. Meet an UnLtd India team member by 31st July, 2008.
2. Submit an application form by 15th August, 2008.
3. Present in front of an interview panel in September 2008.

If you know anyone within your network who meets the above criteria, then please send us their contact details at pooja.warier  [at] unltdindia.org or call us at 9867949306.

Here is the list of 10 social entrepreneurs from Mumbai who are being supported by UnLtd India.

TED Talks: Rich, poor and the $100 laptop

Paul Collier: 4 ways to improve the lives of the "bottom billion" Around the world right now, one billion people live in poverty because of a simple piece of bad luck: they were born in a poor or failing country. What can be done? Economist Paul Collier lays out a bold, compassionate plan for closing the gap between rich and poor -- and makes the case that we must. Watch this talk >>   Seyi Oyesola: Rich hospital, poor hospital Dr. Seyi Oyesola takes a searing look at health care in underdeveloped countries. His photo tour of a Nigerian teaching hospital -- all low-tech hacks and donated supplies -- drives home the challenge of doing basic health care in poor countries. Watch this talk >>   Arthur Ganson: Sculpture that's truly moving Sculptor and engineer Arthur Ganson talks about his work -- kinetic art that explores deep philosophical ideas and is also gee-whiz fun to look at. A fascinating glimpse into the creative mind. Watch this talk >>   Yves Behar: Designing objects that tell stories Designer Yves Behar digs up his creative roots to discuss some of the iconic objects he's created (the Leaf lamp, the Jawbone headset). Then he turns to the witty, surprising, elegant objects he's working on now -- including the "$100 laptop." Watch this talk >>   Robert Ballard: Exploring the ocean's hidden worlds Ocean explorer Robert Ballard takes us on a mindbending trip to hidden worlds underwater, where he and other researchers are finding unexpected life, resources, even new mountains. He makes a case for serious exploration and mapping. Google Ocean, anyone? Watch this talk >>