[alexisisis]

I want to go to India to live for a while and want to volunteer when I'm there. I'd like to do something hands on rather than working in a charity office or something like that, whether it's farming, building, humanitarian based etc.

I'm also learning Hindi at the moment and expect to be reasonably ok at it when I go (not for at least another year) so I'd like to obviously work on the language when I'm there with the aim of becoming fluent. Now I understand that where I go will make a difference to this as not everywhere speaks Hindi.

Basically I love India (been there once before) and have become sick of life in the UK so it could be for quite a long time that I go for. I really want to do something that makes a difference after working in meaningless office jobs in the UK for most of my life (28 now) but I really don't know what area I am interested in or where I should go. I'm not that interested in teaching English as I'm quite shy & I think standing in front of a class of kids could be my worst nightmare. I just know I want to do something at grass roots level, to act rather than talk about what's going on there.

I was looking at WWOOF to start with (this is how I became interested in volunteering & realised that it's what I want to do with my life) but I'm not sure how I feel about living in a small remote village growing vegetables for however long.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas with this in mind?

[john.sw]

Hi Alexisisis.

There'd be little point in coming to the South as the only people who speak Hindi are those professional office types you want to avoid!

There is so much to choose from - you could work with people, animals, wildlife, village cooperatives producing crafts; tourism, archeology, ski instructor, industry, etc.  The list is endless.  

It is a good idea to be within striking distance of a town.  You'll probably find that every now and then you need to spend an evening in an a/c bar or get some retail therapy!