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My experience as a volunteer at RIDE
Sibylle, our French volunteer, is leaving RIDE to start a trip in Kernataka and Kerala. You will find bellow her feedback about her experience at RIDE.
” I stayed two weeks as a volunteer at RIDE office. During that time, I had the chance to understand RIDE’s priorities and key actions and see how my competencies could match with their needs. I realized I could help them through marketing and communication skills.
Working for RIDE is being flexible about the schedule as we face in India several electricity cuts every day (which is surprising at the beginning!). In between work office sessions, Jeyaraj took me everywhere : I visited several schools and villages and had the chance to meet with kids, teachers and key project coordinators. It was very interesting for me to see how Jey works with local NGO’s and how he manages so many different projects (children labor, women’s rights, self help groups, microcredit projects ..etc)
Being a volunteer at RIDE is also a amazing chance to understand and see the Indian culture from a daily life perspective. As I stayed at Jeyaraj and Britto’s house, I really felt like a new family member. They go out of their way to feel at home, safe and throughly looked after.
I cannot thank them enough for their kindness. I had a wonderful time !”
Anja & Markus saying: Good bye RIDE
After 2 exciting months at RIDE, Anja & Markus leave Kanchipuram continuing their journey through South-Asia. (follow their travel blog) Finally, they would like to share some feedback comments with you about their stay.
“At the moment we take a career break traveling through Asia. Meanwhile, it is our intention to meet other people and cultures by sharing our skills and doing charitable work. We came across RIDE’s website which mentioned an open volunteering position in the marketing affairs. As this perfectly matches with Anja’s working background we just applied.
When we joined in the late July as a couple, RIDE’s director S. Jeyaraj assisted us in getting our Employment Visa registered. After the first days of introduction into RIDE’s progam, we arranged our own working place. By then we were ready to work on different topics like:
- frequently update the website with news about RIDE activities
- improve the social media communication of RIDE
- new project proposals
- promotion of the tourist and volunteering program
- get in touch with guidebook authors and funding agencies
- online fundraising via betterplace.org
- volunteer recruitment
Most of our work has been office based. However, for collecting success stories and news about RIDE’s achievements we sometimes went out to talk to different people like Self Help Goups, weaver families, RIDE coordinators and teachers. In addition we assisted at the RIDE Children’s Camp in August.
Furthermore, we prepared a small school lesson about our home country Germany in Sevilimedu. The children very much enjoyed our tuition and were very impressed by the pictures we have shown them about the German winter season.
After all we can say that we had a good time at RIDE and made experiences which we would otherwise not have made. Especially, living in the house of Mr. S. Jeyaraj and his wife gives you the opportunity to learn a lot of things about life in India. The intention of the volunteering program is to get new input by intercultural exchange, ideally on both sides.
If you would like to volunteer with RIDE, you should get in contact with RIDE in advance and try to find specific subjects in which you can be engaged in. This makes it a lot easier to plan working tasks for both, you and RIDE.
As our time is over now, we would like to thank again RIDE India (esp. Mr. S. Jeyaraj and Mrs. Britto) for their kind hospitality.”
Anja & Markus
Posted in Communication, Vacancies, Volunteering
Tagged Germany, India, Kanchipuram, RIDE, Tamil Nadu, travel, volunteer program, volunteering, volunteers
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Gain a unique experience as a Marketing Volunteer at RIDE India!
Over the last 15 years RIDE had the pleasure to host so many different Volunteers from all over the world. We appreciate their commitment and effort for our goals: abandon child labor, empower women and the poorest, develop the rural areas and improve village infrastructure, road safety and children’s education. And we look forward the comments in our guestbooks telling our Volunteers have had a memorable time. We are now currently looking for new Volunteers as Marketing & Promotion Assistants.
Are you interested in gaining a unique Indian experience?
You will be responsible for the marketing of RIDE through various channels in order to raise awareness of our current programs and grow our network of supporters both on and offline. You will be responsible for preparing and distributing the monthly newsletter via email and keeping the news page up to date on our website. You will therefore be required to stay up to date on current events at RIDE which will give you the opportunity to go out into the field and attend our programs in order to document and take photos. You will be involved in various other promotion and marketing campaigns and are encouraged to input your own ideas into this.
Which skills should you have?
- English language and computer skills are essential for this role, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, internet and social media (Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn etc).
- Previous marketing experience would be an advantage.
- The candidate will ideally be able to commit to a minimum of 2-3 months up to 1 year.
What can you expect?
- We offer our Volunteers an in-depth induction program led by RIDE
directors and staff who will be at hand to support and assist throughout your time with RIDE. - You will be give the opportunity to get involved in debate and discussion to support your experience working in rural India as well as assist your personal development.
- In addition, the RIDE Volunteering program includes an accommodation in the RIDE guesthouse as well as three meals per day.
- On completion of your volunteer placement you will be provided with a letter of recognition for your work.
Get in contact!
- If you are interested in volunteering with RIDE, please have a look on our Volunteering section and download our Volunteer Information. Both gives you further detail on what to expect from a volunteer placement with RIDE.
- Do you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via e-Mail.
- If you would like to apply for this role, please fill out the Volunteer Application Form and return, along with two references, to marketing@rideindia.org, stating in the subject that you wish to apply for this role.
Posted in Vacancies, Volunteering
Tagged application, international, Kanchipuram, marketing, placement, promotion, RIDE India, RIDE staff, vacancy, volunteer, volunteering
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Presenting our two new volunteers: Anja & Markus
For three weeks now Rural Institute for Development Education (RIDE) has been hosting two new volunteers, Markus and Anja. They both come from Dresden in Germany and will be staying at RIDE for two months. Their main focus is RIDE’s marketing affairs, the eco-tourism program as well as the Child Labour Project. RIDE welcomes them warmly.
Markus has studied Computer Science and has invaluable expertise in this field. We really appreciate his knowledge and support in updating our computer devices and software. Anja has recently completed her studies in Media Communications and has gained experience in online communication, marketing and online fundraising while working for a German internet agency and an NGO. Now they have both planned a gap year to work and travel around India and beyond, keen to experience and learn through new intercultural experiences. Continue reading
Posted in Volunteering
Tagged Kanchipuram, RIDE, students, Support, volunteer programm, volunteers
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RIDE is on Trip Advisor!
This photo of RIDE Guesthouse is courtesy of TripAdvisor
RIDE guest house is now on Trip Advisor!
Thank you to past volunteer Alice who made this possible for us!
If you have stayed with us in the past please take a minute to provide us with some feedback, you can also share any photos and experiences during your time at RIDE. The more the better, it would be nice to use this as an outlet for you, our community, to share their experiences of staying at RIDE, and of course to offer any improvements you think we could make.
Please follow the link to access Trip Advisor.
Posted in Ecotourism, Volunteering
Tagged accommodation, eco-tourism, guesthouse, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
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Volunteer Job Vacancy- Marketing & Promotion Assistant
Marketing & Promotion Assistant (Long Term Volunteer)
Closing Date for Applications: ongoing
We are currently looking to recruit a Marketing and Promotion Assistant as part of our Long Term Volunteer Program, based in our RIDE office in Little Kanchipuram.This is an unpaid, voluntary position.
You will be responsible for the promotion of RIDE through various channels in order to raise awareness of our current programs and grow our network of supporters both on and offline. You will be responsible for preparing and distributing the monthly newsletter via email and keeping the news page up to date on our website. You will therefore be required to stay up to date on current events at RIDE which will give you the opportunity to go out into the field and attend our programs in order to document and take photos. You will be involved in various other promotion and marketing campaigns and are encouraged to input your own ideas into this. English language and computer skills are essential for this role, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, internet and social media (Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn etc). Previous marketing experience would be an advantage.
The candidate will ideally be able to commit to a minimum of 3 months. We are looking for someone to start in the next couple of months however are also happy to receive applications for future start dates.
The successful candidate will be provided with an in-depth induction program led by RIDE directors and staff who will be at hand to support and assist throughout your time with RIDE. You will be give the opportunity to get involved in debate and discussion to support your experience working in rural India as well as assist your personal development. On completion of your volunteer placement you will be provided with a letter of recognition for your work.
Please feel free to contact us via email and ask any questions you may have, we have tried to answer as many as possible throughout the website but are aware that we cannot answer them all.
If you are interested in volunteering with RIDE, please download our Volunteer Information which gives you further detail on what to expect from a volunteer placement with RIDE.
If you would like to apply for this role, complete the Volunteer Application Form and return, along with two references, to marketing@rideindia.org, stating in the subject that you wish to apply for this role.
RIDE Are Currently Looking to Recruit for the Following Two Positions
Eco Tourism Assistant/Guide (Young Indian Internship Scheme)
Closing Date for Applications: 17th February 2012.
We are currently looking to recruit an Eco Tourism Assistant/Guide as part of our Young Indian Internship Scheme. The successful applicant will assist RIDE in delivering our Eco-tourism programs and in communicating with visitors from across the globe. We are looking for someone who can speak both Tamil and English and ideally is able to commit to at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 3 months. We are looking for someone to start immediately however are also happy to receive applications for future start dates.
This opportunity would suit a tourism student looking to gain experience in the field of rural Eco-tourism. You will have many opportunities to converse with the local community as well as visitors of all nationalities. The candidate must be open minded and able to translate information in a clear and non-judgmental way to people of all backgrounds.
The successful candidate will be provided with in depth training from RIDE directors and staff. You will have the opportunity to get involved in debate and discussion to aid your understanding as well as assist your personal development; we are open to support you in any particular area of interest you may have.
Our Young Indian Internships are unpaid, however you will receive a letter of recognition on completion of your volunteer placement.RIDE will provide all transport while you are at RIDE and will provide lunch.
Please feel free to contact us via email and ask any questions you may have, we have tried to answer as many as possible throughout the website but are aware that we cannot answer them all.
If you are interested in applying for this role please complete the Young Indian Internship Application Form and return, along with a reference from your tutor, to marketing@rideindia.org
English Teacher (Working Volunteer)
Closing Date for Applications: 24th February 2012.
We are currently looking to recruit an English Teacher as part of our Working Volunteer Program. The successful applicant will assist RIDE by teaching both written and spoken English to our First School teachers and RIDE staff. We are looking for someone who has a high level of spoken and written English, preferable a qualified teacher,TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) trained or with equivalent experience. The candidate will ideally be able to commit to at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 3 months. We are looking for someone to start in the next couple of months however are also happy to receive applications for future start dates.
The successful candidate will be provided with an in depth induction program led by RIDE directors who will be at hand to support and assist throughout your time with RIDE. You will be give the opportunity to get involved in debate and discussion to support your experience working in rural India as well as assist your personal development. All our volunteer programs are unpaid however you will receive a letter of recognition on completion of your volunteer placement
Please feel free to contact us via email and ask any questions you may have, we have tried to answer as many as possible throughout the website but are aware that we cannot answer them all.
If you are interested in volunteering with RIDE, please download our Volunteer Information Pack which gives you further detail on what to expect from a volunteer placement with RIDE.
If you would like to apply for this role, complete the Volunteer Application Form and return, along with two references, to marketing@rideindia.org, stating in the subject that you wish to apply for this role.
Visit our Current Vacancies page for details on all our openings.
Program for Female Day Labourers
This week RIDE carried out a program for a group of 15 women who are all day labourers from the village of Arpakkam in Kanchipuram. They work mainly in agriculture and also in the stone quarries and struggle to get work on a daily basis. The process for labourers to get work on a daily basis is to stand at a collection point first thing in the morning and wait for a land owner to come and offer work. The landowner will chose their workers based on their looks and build alone and if you are not picked you go home.
RIDE first provided the women with half a days paid work to clear the ground of weeds at the RIDE training centre. Two of our volunteers, Emma and Letizia, also took part in the program, which gave them invaluable insight into the daily life of female labour workers.
At the end of the day RIDE held a discussion with the women where they were asked about the problems affecting them and their families. Their main issues were not having a sustainable income. Also, many of the women have husbands who work in the stone quarries and are dependent on alcohol, which is where a lot of their wages go. Some are also beaten by their drunken husbands. One woman told the group that she finds it best not to ask her husband for money or challenge him and instead she makes do with whatever money he gives her plus whatever she can earn. This highlights how important it is for these women to have their own income in order to support themselves and their children, the majority of whom are now in full time education and changing their future paths!
Posted in Female Empowerment, Volunteering
Tagged Self Help Groups, volunteers, women day, women empowerment
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RIDE’s First Christmas Celebration
Yesterday was the first time that RIDE has celebrated Christmas, this was thanks to RIDE volunteer Emma and Alex and their ‘Alternative Christmas’ fund raising inititive. Instead of exchanging gifts with their family and friends this year, they asked them to donate to a collection which was used to buy gifts for some of the children of Kanchipuram district.
Through the generosity of their family and friends from the UK, Australia and Germany, they raised enough money to buy over 130 gifts which were yesterday donated to the poorest children from villages around Kanchipuram, most of whom have been released from labour through RIDE’s child labour programs.
Impressions of India by Kate
Kate Bottomley, from Australia, came to volunteer with RIDE during October 2011. Here are her impressions from her time with RIDE:
It has been the most wonderful and amazing journey to India, staying and working at RIDE – Rural Institute for Development and Education in Kanchipuram, quite life-changing.
Spending time with Mr Jeyaraj, Director, and witnessing the RIDE education program for the children in Arpakkam villages has been fascinating. Mr Jeyaraj and the RIDE team have done so much to help the people, setting up schools and education programs to eliminate child labour from silk and mining industries, and empowering the women through self-help groups.
I had the privilege of attending a special book presentation to the students at a school in front of their parents. A simple exercise book was given to each child, something we so take for granted in the west, which brought such delight to the children here. Seeing the joy on their faces on receiving the book is a memory that will stay with me forever.
Mr Jeyaraj and his wife, Britto welcomed me into their home and have shown great care and kindness. Britto has spoilt me with her delicious cooking with fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, brinjal, gourd, okra and baby bananas. I have learnt much about the spices and flavours of south Indian cuisine and dishes like dosa, idli and sambar.
India is a complex and overwhelming experience for the westerner. There is such great material poverty which is really hard to process, yet there is also such spiritual wealth, generosity of spirit and kindness, time and respect, not the hurried and often thoughtless moments of life one can experience in the western world.
I am very blessed to have had this experience. Thank you.
sending...
