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"Last week I started at the orphanage. I found it a bit heart breaking at first, but am enjoying helping with the feeds and playing with the children.  They seem to have nothing but are so happy just to have a bit of attention. Each weekend I have travelled out of Madurai and enjoyed that very much.  It is lovely to go to the hills where it is much cooler, and the scenery is amazing."

What experience do you feel you are gaining? With the teaching I feel I have gained confidence in dealing with children and adults. With the orphanage I have gained a lot from working with the young children and feel I might possible look to work with children when I return home.

So far what is the best thing about your placement? I really enjoyed the orphanage. The children and staff were lovely and you really felt as if you were helping them. 

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else? Yes. The orphanage I would recommend to anyone who didn't mind hard work. 

What type of person do you think this placement would suit? The orphanage would suit most people who loved children and was prepared to get stuck in with the staff. 

Can you describe a typical day? (E.g. start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties....
Orphanage: I was collected at 8am and arrived at the orphanage around 8.20am.  The staff would be just finishing the early feed and I would help to wind some of the younger babies.  Then I would help undress the children ready for bath time. I usually dried all the children which were very hot and hectic but good fun.

Once the children I usually played with the older ones (3 - 4years) in the foyer, Sometimes colouring or teaching numbers and the alphabet, but mostly they just wanted your attention for cuddles etc.  At 10.45 it was time to start feeding the babies and toddlers their bottles which usually took about 1/2 hour, followed by playing with the children again.  At 12noon the older children had lunch and they liked us to sit with them, sometimes helping dish out seconds.

After lunch the children were all put to bed so we would get picked up at 12.30 to go home for lunch.

Please use this space to note down your any general comments on your placement that you think may be relevant. This will help us to maintain the standard of our placements or make any improvements which become apparent from your input.  

I would just like to say that I have really enjoyed my time in Madurai.  The Traveller’s house is very comfortable and Jaya is a very good cook.  Pradeep and Robin are both very helpful and so know if you have any problems that they will be able to help you.  I would recommend this trip to anybody. Many thanks, Judith

"Thanks for your email. Thanks also to Trevor for his phone call and message (sorry I missed him). Yes both Sally and I arrived with no problem ... and with all our bags! Pradeep met us at the airport and is really helpful ... as is Robin. We're both finding the heat difficult but are coping. Aside from this, it's all good. We've visited the temple and the tailor so far. Having a quiet weekend and starting our projects on Monday ... which we are both looking forward to. I will certainly let you know how it goes but I think it's going to be good ... Sandy & Judith both seem happy there."

Mid-way through Emma's placement:

"Well, I arrived quite broken down and tired from the journey - it took about 13 hours from I left my home, until I actually was in Madurai. And then there's the heat. But, even though a bit tired (think that may be the heat), I really enjoy the place! Haven't been able to see much of the town yet, but I'm seeing the temple today. Maybe going to the "Monkey Temple" tomorrow. Robin picked me up at the airport, and has been really kind and helpful - he fixed me an Indian simcard, drove me on his bike to my placement to introduce me to the manager and took me with him to visit a small village near by where he was going to buy some land. I've just had a short visit to the orphanage, but I really loved it! The children were so cute and friendly, and the staff seemed genuinely happy about me coming to work there. It's weekend now, so it's my time off, but I'm looking forward to showing up at the orphanage on Monday.
Anyway, off to see the temple!"

What experience do you feel you are gaining?

I feel that I have got some insights to the world of adoption etc (mostly through the social worker, who will tell you the story and situation of each of the children if you just ask her) - which is useful for me since I am going to be a social worker.  

So far what is the best thing about your placement?

The kids! Without doubt. They are fantastic! From the first day I arrived, the children have been nothing but loving, kind and open. They love the attention that the volunteers can give, because the nurses usually don't have that much time to play with the children. The nurses working at the orphanage are great as well, especially Elisabeth, staff nurse! We have had quite a few some chats in the nursery while feeding the babies.

Would you recommend this placement to anyone else?

Yes

What type of person do you think this placement would suit?

Anyone who like kids! I think the good thing is that you don't really need any qualifications to be able to enjoy the placement. The nurses are really happy to get all the help they can, and they thank you for coming and helping every day! They will give you the same tasks as the regular nurses have, and I really feel that they trust me, and appreciate the help.

Can you describe a typical day? (E.g. start time, morning duties, lunch hours, afternoon duties, any other duties….)

I have been working the morning shifts, and get picked up by Das - our great driver - at 8 am. He drives us to the orphanage - a 15-20 min drive away. A bumpy drive, but with great music (Das loves his music)! Usually the nurses would already have started to feed the babies by the time we get there, so we help them with the rest. At the moment there are about 13 small babies. Then its bath time for all the children - babies first and the toddlers last. We undress the babies, then Elisabeth usually gives the babies a bath in a small tub, and we tie their nappies and get them dressed. We then help carry the older babies and toddlers into the bathroom, pick up the ones that have finished their bath, dry the children and dress them. Usually one person will carry the children, one dry them and one dress them etc. We get picked up by Das again at 12.30, and go home for lunch, which is around 1 pm. Our cook Jeya makes great food! After lunch we go shopping, send e-mails, relax, chat, go sightseeing etc. At 6, Steve and I get picket up by Ramu - our "private" auto driver - to get yoga, which finish at 7. We then get back home and wait for dinner at around 7.30 - 8 pm  

Please use this space to note down your any general comments on your placement that you think may be relevant. This will help us to maintain the standard of our placements or make any improvements which become apparent from your input.

I just really love my placement!! The orphanage is everything I could have dreamed of and more. Love it!! Pradeep, Das, Jeya, Ramu are all great, and if we have any problems, we'll always get help!

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