I'd been in India for one week prior to going to a volunteer placement in Jaipur. From the moment I arrived I was taken good care of, given a private room and also my own toilet. Being provided with breakfast upon arrival was really lovely as I had just come from a long train journey. The children were at school when I arrived but when they returned they all came to welcome me and were all very friendly and happy to see new friendly faces coming to visit. I spent one week working with Didi and the children helping to improve their English, which for many of them was already at a very high standard... (more about Eve).

We did try to teach as often as possible, but it is quite hard with the younger ones because of language barriers until you develop some kind of sign language everybody understands. It is quite fun, though, and the students are absolutely lovely and so cute! Once Alice and me did some drawing with all the year 1-4s, and because they enjoyed it so much, they did some Indian Dancing and Singing for us at lunch break. It was just so fluttering! As far as I know, I also was Didi Sampriiti's first volunteer. So she was not only new to the area, didn't know Malayalam AND was (home) sick in the fist weeks, but also didn't really know how to use my help and how to handle a European girl, I guess. After I realised Didi was unsure, I took initiative and asked her what I can do to help her all the time. And I offered her that we could settle in together which we did as well... (more about Raphaela).

I'll never forget the experience that I had there and I've gained so much from it, so thank you very much for the opportunity. Didi was wonderful and extremely kind and the children were the most amazing I have ever met. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of being with them and feel privileged to have been able to live with them and teach them. There is still lots to do at the school though. I wish I could do more to help... (more about Sarah and Abigail).

I have had a wonderful experience. The project is so worth while. We were made so welcome by the girls and the Didis and teachers. Sunita cooked for us so well. Didi Vratiisha is lovely, as are all the Didis. I was treated to a ride on the back of Didi's scooter into the village to meet some of the families and the children. It was safe to go with her and it's lovely the way everyone respects her. (more about Denise).

My husband and I worked at the Ananda Marga Girls High School from February 2008 to March 2008. We had such a fantastic welcome from the Didis and all of the girls. Everyone was so friendly and they made us feel completely at home. We taught English classes, helped with the gardening and played cricket with the girls. While the girls were studying we would either talk to the Didis or just relax in the sun... (more about Vanessa).

Zoe is a young volunteer from Canada who helped at our two Trivandrum schools for three weeks in August of 2007. She taught English to the children and helped paint one of the schools. Zoe lent an artistic hand when we livened up a very drab partition wall by painting it with cartoons. Zoe is back in Canada with some creative fundraising plans... (more about Zoe).

I remember when Zoe, my friend whom I met at York University in International Development Studies first invited me on this trip. It was somewhat spontaneous; she was already going anyway and figured she would probably have to drag one of her less enthusiastic girlfriends with her. I was already looking to volunteer overseas... (more about Jesse)

My name is Evan and I am a 28 year old primary school teacher from the United States. I volunteered for POOR in the spring of 2007 in the city of Shillong and it was truly a beautiful experience. Volunteering allowed me the opportunity to work closely with the children of India inside a community that I would otherwise never had access to... (more about Evan)

I stayed and worked at Uma Nivas with Simon for a month from mid February to mid March 2007 and we helped out with teaching, gardening and IT training as well as working with other volunteers on a film project. Our rooms were comfortable and we were very well taken of with delicious food and treats of hot milk and biscuits... (more about Lyndsey).

Simon: I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a month at Uma Nivas earlier this year and can honestly say that it was a unique and fascinating experience. I had travelled in India for several months previously but I feel that the time I spent at the school and the friends I made provided the most unique cultural insight I gained throughout my trip... (more about Simon).

We arrived back in Japan yesterday morning and still have wonderful memories of India, the AM school and the wonderful children we shared our lives with for a week reeling in our heads. It was really nice to meet you and hear the stories about the wonderful work you are doing. Thank you for your help in settling us in... (more about Anna)

I loved my babies in the 5 year old’s class. I loved the Didi’s in the English class and in the ashram in Calcutta later. I loved working with Malati and watching her amazing commitment to India and to the poorest of the poor. I loved the 3 little puppies on a sand pile and several other aspects of village life in Panskura... (more about Linda).

I spent six months volunteering in 2004, and I still think about my time in Jaipur almost every day. The girls at the orphanage where I stayed were genuinely affectionate, curious, hard-working, creative, and grateful for what little they had. Coming from a wealthy country, it was an enlightening, and humbling, experience for me... (more about Dawn).