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With mountains, jungles, deserts and beaches, India has it all! Bounded by the great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.  With 28 ethnically diverse states, each with its own music, dance, architecture, and food, India offers the visitor immense diversity.  Home to over a billion people, India is the second most populous country in the world, the largest democracy, and the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Yet despite its rich history, culture, and significant economic progress, a quarter of India’s population earns less than the government specified poverty threshold of 30p per day.

Udaipur

Udaipur was voted the best city in the world in 2009 by Travel & Leisure magazine and known as the “Venice of the East” this beautiful Rajasthan capital offers plenty to do. Visit a host of temples and palaces, including the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Walk around the beautiful city lakes that give the Udaipur it’s nickname “The City of Lakes”, enjoy the culinary delights of ‘real’ Indian food and browse the sea of handicrafts in the shops and emporiums around the city.

Intern Abroad with ProIndia
NGO Internship - Supported internships in ProIndia host communities with cultural classes, excursions, and group living. You will live in communities near our ProIndia office and 4 to 18 other NGO Interns, work alone or in small groups, and receive extensive staff support.

HEALTH PORTFOLIO IN INDIA
Health Projects at ProIndia are broken down into Clinical and Public Health experiences.  ProIndia partners with local NGOs to place interns at area clinics and regional health camps to learn about the Indian healthcare system and have the opportunity to work with both patients and healthcare professionals.

Through its partners, ProIndia supports a number of ongoing Public Health initiatives as well including rural health camps, HIV outreach, and maternal and public health education.  Interns work in rural communities, learning the ins and outs of the planning, executing, monitoring and evaluating of these projects.

Interns are placed based on their skills and experiences along with their interest, and will find a balance between field and office work.

Health projects in India

• Medical Outreach Clinics
• Maternity Education Program
• Public Health and Nutrition Research
• Regional Preventative Health Camps
  

Medical Outreach Clinics
This project aims to provide medication, education and primary healthcare to people living in the rural areas of Rajasthan. Small medical camps are regularly organized where the people can get free check‐ups, consultations and medication. Through educational workshops people are made aware of general health, hygiene, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and STI/RTI diseases. Special clinics focusing on the health of women are also organized for women to help treat and educate about gynecological problems, care during pregnancy, reproductive child health issues and pre/post natal nutrition. So far 255 medical camps have taken place, helping thousands of people living in the slum areas of Rajasthan.

Why the project needs you:
In Rajasthan there is big concern about the lack of availability of medical and health services to the poorest communities living in rural areas. The project focuses on sick children,  pregnant women and the elderly. There is a real need for these communities to receive check‐ups, consultation, education and medication.
Role of the Intern:
During this project you will assist doctors and paramedics. Activities depend on experience, but you may be involved in taking blood, blood testing, vitals measurements, vaccinations, injections, removing sutures, etc. You will be providing education in a health field that you are familiar or interested in.
Skills Required:
Those with experience in the healthcare field or those currently studying a relating subject are preferred in taking part in this program. Your level of qualification will determine your exact role and how hands‐on you can be.

Maternity Education Program
This maternal health program, works in rural communities with the aim of reducing infant mortality rates as well as the high number of deaths within women following complications from childbirth. The project centers on educating traditional birth attendants within communities and developing their skills to ensure a safe birthing experience for rural women. It also raises the importance of maternal health within the community. Knowledge and skill areas that the project is trying to improve are delivery skills, pre‐natal nutrition and general care during pregnancy. Over 350 traditional birth attendants have been trained so far.
Why the project needs you:
With high infant and maternal death rates during pregnancy, combined with the lack of facilities, the need to educate communities and improve knowledge and skills of birthing attendants is vital to help minimize problems at birth. Those with health, nutritional and medical experience are vital in improving this area of public health in Rajasthan.
Role of the Intern:
The role of the intern will be to help educate communities and help improve the knowledge and skills of birthing attendants. This will take place in the form of workshops with birthing
attendants and informal small help groups with women.
Skills Required:
You will need to have a background in a health related practice, preferably relating to maternal health.

Public Health and Nutrition Research
This program carries out ongoing health and nutritional research for the local government of Rajasthan and has conducted some cutting edge studies to those who need help. Recently these studies have included rural research in child immunization. The results showed that for children under five years, the rate of total immunization was as low as 2.66%. Based on these findings and in consultations with the district Government, an action project was implemented to help improve immunizations in children. Other research projects address anemia and the positive health effects and feasibility of enhancing dietary intake through village‐level iron‐fortification of flour.

Why the project needs you:
Public health and nutritional issues in Rajasthan need to be continually explored and interventions need to be provided to improve the health of those living in poverty. Too many people suffer from common malnutrition disorders, yet through research we can help to identify the exact problems and create feasible ways to take action to help eradicate these issues.  Volunteer assistance brings much needed resource hours to a project with far reaching effects.

Role of the Intern:
Depending on experience, your role will be to assist with on‐going research related to your skills. Depending on your time on site, you maybe be given scope to identify and begin new research.
Skills Required:
Interns will need some past experience in research and general education in a health related field. Those with more experience will be able to help lead and push the program on with its research.

Work in Regional Preventative Healthcare Camps
This project aims to address health issues with a focus on long‐term health. The major emphasis of the program is on “preventive health”, but also includes involvement in a polio camp, heath check‐up camps for women and provision of nutritional food for students in the child labor schools and crèches. Interactive awareness meetings are organized in different project villages on the issue of reviving a traditional health care system. People have poor access to health facilities located in distant centers. There are many diseases, which given the  proper attention and timely action, can be controlled. So awareness generation, skill building, and local treatment etc. of deadly diseases is key. Throughout 2009, 19 health camps were organized in 19 remote villages of Kotra and Jhadol. During the health camp, children and adults were checked and treated for diseases like viral fever, malaria, sexual diseases, immunization of children, reproductive problems, cough, stomachache, headache etc.

Why the project needs you:
The tribal community in this region lacks basic medical facilities. Very few doctors are available at the primary health centers and thus timely medical help is difficult to obtain. It has  been observed that in desert villages where health facilities are located far away, any minor ignorance/delay can cause “fatal” situations. These camps look to educate families to know what to do in emergencies as well as educate them on preventative healthcare. The volumes of people are large and any medical help is of great value.
Role of the Intern:
Interns will be involved in the direct hands‐on medical activities of testing blood, giving immunizations, medication, and providing educational workshops in the areas described above.
Skills Required:
A background in a health related field or present study is required.


ENVIRONMENTAL PORTFOLIO IN INDIA
This project aims to increase the availability and accessibility of water within rural villages through construction of various water‐harvesting structures (wells, dams, rain tanks), soil
and water conservation work and plantation activities. Vital parts of this project also include: operating with villages, providing water solutions for an entire community, as well as  within schools with sanitation facilities.

Why the project needs you:
Rajasthan is the driest of all Indian states and its search to provide water solutions is at the heart of the city’s very design. The population in the state has continued to grow at one of the fastest rates in India, yet the water supply has not been able to keep up and the need for alternative solutions is a necessity.
Role of the Intern:
During this project you will work in local villages and construct water‐harvesting structures. Alongside building work, volunteers may also be required to assist in workshops, activities and support groups with the local community where help from the group is requested for income generation programs and advice.
Skills Required:
No specific skills are required, but the work is very physical and a moderate degree of physical fitness will be required.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO IN INDIA
ProIndia’s social and economic development projects focus on programs that meet the basic needs of India’s poorest class, in Udaipur’s slums as well as in rural villages in its immediate surroundings. Projects aim to provide basic services like food, shelter, and education as well as addressing issues like illiteracy and the lack of services for the disabled. The goals of these programs are to empower beneficiaries and give them tools and resources to get ahead.
 

• Women's Empowerment
• Child Development and Care
• Rural Literacy Program

 
Women's Empowerment
Work on a project empowering women of the local tribes who have been denied opportunities in the past. This project provides residential education, health education, counseling, a women support group and income generation programs within the tribes on the outskirts of Udaipur.

Why the project needs you:
Opportunities remain limited for women in the poor areas on India. Literacy rates are lower than for men, abuse is not uncommon and girls are expected to focus on the family from a young age. Death rates in childbirth remain high and malnutrition for mothers and their babies is a common cause of death. By providing women with better education and knowledge of their rights, a support network and more opportunities for income generation, they can be empowered to improve their own situations.
Role of the Intern:
Through this project you will assist the project leaders in health education, good nutrition practices, counseling, and discussion on topics that refer to women’s empowerment.  Interns can also bring their business knowledge and administrative skills to this project to help educate women in business opportunities and be creative about ways to generate income.
Skills Required:
No specific skills are required, however interns should be knowledgeable about issues facing women today in India. 

 Rural Literacy Program
This project has set up six schools (primary, secondary), eight colleges, 16 child labor rehabilitation & education centers and 17 child learning centers (CLC). So far through its comprehensive education program, it has helped educate 7,831 students.

Why the project needs you:
Overall literacy rates in India are estimated around 65%. In 1991, Rajasthan had one of the lowest rates, but in the past 15 years has improved dramatically through programs such as this. Female literacy remains below average and this program looks to provide a level of education, which can provide more than just a basic level of literacy.
Role of the Intern:
During this project you will assist teachers in a variety of subjects at the education centers to provide one‐on‐one assistance for pupils who are falling behind and need extra help. You will also be working with those students who are excelling and need extra stimulation to keep them developing.
Skills Required:
No specific skills are required but any interns with experience in teaching would be very valuable. Interns without a background in teaching but who have a specialty that they want to teach are also highly valued.

Child Development and Care
This project works with children in shelters, orphanages, daycares and creches, as well as mother and child support groups. It provides a host of support facilities for these children ‐ from infants to adolescents ‐ including care, nutrition, development and support for parents.

Why the project needs you:
Child mortality remains high in India, and in the poorest communities malnutrition and disease are identified as the key factors. Working with these children to provide them with food and shelter, as well as the care and attention they need to develop social skills and personal development is the first step in proving these kids with a better future. Limited resources need to stretch very far and any additional help is valued.
Role of the Intern:
During this project you will assist staff with looking after, feeding and entertaining the children, running classes and workshops and helping them with homework. With mother and child groups, interns will help educate the women in health issues that affect their children as well as provide support for them as they bring up their children in an environment with so many challenges.
Skills Required:
No specific skills are required, but a lot of patience, enthusiasm and understanding is needed to work with children and any previous experience is a bonus. Child therapists and psychologists are very welcomed to work in specific areas.

Excursions
ProIndia offers cultural visits to palaces and temples, local parks, and cultural events. Interns can expect weekly cultural events and at least two weekend excursions per month. During free weekends, volunteers can also plan their own adventure.
When you're ready, apply at www.myproworld.org/apply