Supporting Disabled Children

In recent years the Government of India has changed various policies and laws to enable young people with disabilities to receive education. However, conflicting goals and a lack of clarity still affect disabled young people’s experiences and outcomes of education.

According to the India office of the World Bank, Indian children with disabilities are five and a half times more likely to be out of school than non-disabled children. Those who do attend school rarely progress beyond the primary school level. Currently, 52% of adults with disabilities are illiterate, compared to 35% amongst the general Indian population. In India 74% of people with physical impairments are unemployed. People with disabilities face many barriers within and outside the Indian school system.

As a volunteer on the PMGY India Disabled Children Programme you will be assisting on a project founded by a former PMGY volunteer. Isabella School was founded in 2013 and now provides support to seven children with special needs. Lack of awareness combined with the limited access to special needs resources has left many disabled people in India without the care they desperately need. Isabella School aims to give the children the best opportunity in life they can have. Isabella School has two hired teachers, all additional support is provided by PMGY volunteers. Volunteers with the relevant experience can carry out physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions under the guidance of the local teacher. The sessions take place in a medium sized room located a short walk from the PMGY Volunteer House. This is a truly inspirational experience where your efforts will be met with appreciation and warmth by all staff and children. 

Each child has their own file, so that we can monitor feedback and work with families to continue their children’s development outside of the classroom. The children receive homework from time to time, such as learning about basic hygiene.

Travel Tips

You should arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi (airport code DEL) on the selected Sunday start date. Programmes start on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure.

The programme ends on the Sunday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day.

Can I use this program as part of a university or college placement? 

It is certainly possible to use one of PMGY’s programmes as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. PMGY regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects around the world and we have ties with some of the leading universities.

If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY’s programmes could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our volunteers work in the developing world, we always ensure our host locations are safe. Each programme has been extensively researched and has passed our strict vetting process. Our UK team undergo an extensive routine when establishing our in-country infrastructures and we continue to monitor our safety procedures on a regular basis. Furthermore, we monitor the stability of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. Through our constant contact with consulates and embassies and our reports from our overseas teams, we are able to ensure that our volunteers are never placed in unstable regions.

The PMGY team have visited and participated in every programme we offer and verified them based on our own independent criteria. We carefully inspect every little detail of our set-up. From inspecting the living conditions, checking out the neighbourhoods you’ll be staying in, to tasting the food you’ll be eating – each and every programme we establish has gone through a lengthy and rigorous vetting process. Risk assessments have been written for all areas in which PMGY operate and our experienced local coordinators are always on-hand to manage any emergencies that may occur. Our UK team are always on the road reviewing our risk management procedures in the field and monitoring local conditions. 

In emergency situations we have the necessary protocols and equipment in place and we are able to evacuate our volunteers from potential dangers. Our local coordinators are trained to deal with emergency circumstances. 

When you join PMGY we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visa issues etc. Furthermore, our UK team are only ever a phone call away should you wish to discuss any aspect of your upcoming programme. When you arrive in-country, you’ll be given a comprehensive safety briefing during your orientation course by our local coordinators. We will go through everything from emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. You’ll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM card, something we strongly suggest, so you’re contactable at all times. We will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you’ll need to know.

All our local teams are experienced development professionals who have years of experience in hosting international volunteers. They are our representatives on the ground and will assist you 24/7 throughout your stay. Whether you need to call home, travel at the weekend or require urgent assistance – they are there to support you.

While we cannot guarantee your volunteer experience to be 100% trouble free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each programme is as safe as possible.

The daily activities include story telling, physical exercise, basic life skill lessons, singing songs and games to get the children to interact with each other. Volunteers with the relevant experience can carry out physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions under the guidance of the local teacher. 

If you wish to use this volunteer placement as part of your college/university degree course, we can happily provide and sign any documentation your educational facility may require.

IN & AROUND FARIDABAD
PMGY volunteers are based in Faridabad, a satellite city of Delhi located In the National Capital Region (NCR) of New Delhi. Just 25km from Delhi, volunteers are far enough away to enjoy a quieter setting (by Indian standards!) but close enough to absorb all the magic, mystery and mayhem that Delhi has to offer.

Faridabad is a comfortable, well-connected location to live and work in. There are a few tourist spots worth a visit such as: Baba Farid’s tomb (its believed Faridabad was named after him); Badhkal Lake and Raja Nahar Singh Palace. There are also some interesting temples and local parks for you to visit as well as markets and shopping malls, including a cinema if you fancy going to see some Bollywood flicks!

Our participants are situated in a great location to explore the local sites and also travel further afield.

DELHI
Delhi is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and home to 25 million people. Despite this it is a relatively easy city to find your way around in and made infinitely easier by its gleaming, cheap and efficient metro. The city is split into two parts: Old Delhi, a 17th Century walled city with narrow alleys, constant traffic and main tourist sites and the spacious, planned areas of New Delhi.

Old Delhi is littered with the relics of lost empires such as the imposing Mughal-era Red Fort, a symbol of India, and the sprawling Jama Masjid mosque, the largest in India, whose courtyard accommodates 25,000 people! Nearby is Chandni Chowk, the main street of Old Delhi and a vibrant bazaar filled with food carts, sweets shops and spice stalls.

TAJ MAHAL
The magical allure of the Taj Mahal draws tourists to Agra like moths to a wondrous flame. Widely considered to be the most beautiful building in the world, despite the hype, it is every bit as good as you’ve heard.

The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. The death of Mumtaz left the emperor so heartbroken that his hair is said to have turned grey virtually overnight. Construction of the Taj began the following year but the whole complex was not completed until 1653, 22 years later. Not long after it was finished Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb and imprisoned in Agra Fort where, for the rest of his days, he could only gaze out at his creation through a window. Following his death in 1666, Shah Jahan was buried here alongside Mumtaz.

JAIPUR - 'PINK CITY'
Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the ‘Pink City’ for its trademark building colour in the wonderful old city. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and is a feast for the eyes. Vegetable-laden camel carts thread their way through streets jam-packed with cars, cows, rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians frantically dodging the incessant traffic!