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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. During this project you will assist doctors and paramedics depending on your abilities. Those with experience in the healthcare field or those currently studying a related field are preferred.

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. 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. 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. Other research projects address anemia and the positive health effects and feasibility of enhancing dietary intake through village-level iron-fortification of flour. 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. Interns will need some past experience in research and general education in a health related field.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. Through this project you will assist the project leaders in residential education, 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. 

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). Overall literacy rates in India are estimated around 65% and female literacy remains below average. 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.

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 older children - including care, nutrition, development and support for parents. Child mortality remains high in India, and in the poorest communities malnutrition and disease are identified as the key factors. 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.

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