Volunteering with Indian Social Services Insitute

During The 2015 Spring semester, I was accepted into the Global Scholars Program at Florida State University. The Global Scholars Program teamed up with Omprakash, an organization where volunteers can search for Non-Governmental Organizations located around the world. I was offered a 9-week volunteer position with an Non-Governmental Organization called Indian Social Services Institute, located in a rural area of Tamil Nadu State, India. The purpose of this organization is to promote Social, Economic and Cultural advancement of the rural and urban weaker sections through Education, Research and Field action programs. ISSI’s programs responds to necessities of 25,000 people in that region.

ISSI works in many different areas to support the individuals in the community, such as teaching English classes at the local schools, implementing nutritional programs to combat child malnutrition, and providing education about hygiene to adolescent girls. During my stay, I have been teaching English at the local schools, and will continue to teach during my stay.

This is a photo of me and some of the children that attend the English class.

When I am not teaching the classes, I spend my time fundraising for the organization. Currently, ISSI is in need of money to be used to complete the building of a center for disabled orphan children. All of the money I raise through this fundraising platform will go directly towards finishing the construction of a building for disabled and orphan children. To finish building a house where they will take care and help mentally challenged kids (5 children) and orphans (10 children). ISSI offer them food, care and physiotherapy services. To complete this construction they need 1500 dollars which will let them buy the main door and window doors, cement, bricks and sand and the worker’s salary.

For more information about the ISSI’s projects, see the website.

Thank you,

Jennifer Meier