Volunteer Options in Goa

Education related

Assisting local teachers in rural schools has been one of the most successful efforts by our volunteers and the most popular activity. In Goa, volunteers participate in educational enhancement for students of class 1 till class 3 specifically in the areas of English, Math and creativity stimulation.

The volunteer activities in the field include:

• Regularly teaching children English and Mathematics in the schools.
• Creating a playful environment and enhance the creativity of the children through painting, playing games, singing etc.
• Working with local teachers in creating low cost teaching material and to train them in making education more fun for the children.
• Ensuring regular health check ups of the children in each school through cooperating with the local doctors and hospital staff.
• Creating basic hygiene awareness amongst children on a regular basis.

Child Care related

In addition to our attention to schools, early childhood care and education is identified as an area of need in a region of Goa:

Drawing upon our experience we have also taken up the responsibility of maintenance and care of local child care centers. Also called "Anganwari" , these centers carry out holistic child care in the area. In line with the expected activities of such institutions, the volunteer activities include :

• Personal attention and care to the children coming to the center everyday.
• Assistance to the local worker for record maintenance for each child based on health, vaccination, growth and nutritional condition.
• Making and feeding the children a specially prepared nutritious meal everyday with the help of a local worker.
• Continuous survey of all pregnant women and new born babies in the area for regular health check ups and vaccination.
• Creating a colorful and enjoyable environment for the children with games, stories and other creative activities(all material support and training for such activities would be provided by our partner.
• Developing the motor skills of the little children by making them use their body parts in various games etc

ASRO- Shelter for HIV/AIDS affected patients

ASRO is a Community Care and Support Centre CCSC), for People living with HIV/AIDS. As transitional Shelter for AIDS patients, ASRO acts as a bridge between health care institutions and patients' families to create awareness in the community. This option is only available for up to 2 volunteers at any one time, and is open only to participants staying 8 weeks or more.

Volunteer intervention ( limited placements, for longer term volunteers only) is required and very welcomed at the institution to help in care for the patients who have often been left out of the social circle due to their condition. The volunteer activities include:

• Everyday care for the patients and assisting nurses in the centre
• Maintenance of the facilities for the patients.
• Help improve and look and feel of the centre through decorations etc.
• Assisting in making the centre more patient friendly and giving company to often lonesome patients.

Elder Care Home, Margao

The Elderly Care home in Margao is being operated by the Goa government. The home houses 51 residents that are in need of care and assistance due to a variety of social and personal reasons. Volunteers' support is required by the Home's administration due to a chronic shortage of staff and poor maintenance of the place.

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