Why should I pay to volunteer with Kerala Link?

Frequently asked questions

I know there are volunteer opportunities where the volunteer is hosted by the organisation with whom she works. Why should I pay Kerala Link?

Both the organisations for whom Kerala Link provides volunteers are registered charities themselves and do not have the resources, neither in terms of space nor finances, to accommodate a volunteer in return for the volunteer's work.

Anything the host organisation provides for the volunteer would use up precious resources of the organisation, taking funds away from the beneficiaries of that organisation.

Hence, Kerala Link provides not only the accommodation to enable the volunteer to work with these two organisations, but also the whole package of support, lifting the burden from the host institution. And this we do as volunteers ourselves: all Kerala Link trustees are volunteers - we receive no remuneration whatsoever for our roles.

I know that there are volunteer opportunities where the volunteer is not asked for any financial contribution at all.

Having done some research into these 'free' placements, whilst you would not have to pay the volunteering organisation directly, you would often end up spending much more - on, for example, daily accommodation, having to eat out each day. Yes, I agree that accommodation is very reasonable in India, yet paying a daily rate would work out considerably more than the fees we ask, which covers the monthly rent on an apartment we have on a long term lease.

Additionally, we provide plenty of extras that are included in our fees, such as pickup, mobile phone, orientation training, language lessons: all things which would otherwise cost the volunteer directly and which, based on feedback from our volunteers, are very welcome.

The fees also include the services of our local representative: a resource all our volunteers have found invaluable. Our representative is the only salaried person within our charity and we are pleased to be providing work for a local woman.

On balance

We feel Kerala Link is a balance between those huge volunteering businesses you will have heard of and truly independent volunteering: you don't want to pay a western businessman's salary but you do want a well run and organised placement. You are not 'paying to volunteer' but you are paying for your accommodation and for a number of services you avail yourself of whilst you are in India, and you are not a burden on your host organisation.

One final point

If, at the end of a financial year, the fees which our volunteers have paid amount to more than the expenses which have been incurred on their behalf, all these excess monies are directed to our fundraising account for the direct use of both the organisations with whom we work.

Can I see your financial records?

Of course you can! As we are a registered charity, we are bound by UK charity law to make all our financial records public. All our records can be viewed online: please visit www.guidestar.org.uk , the UK charity commission website, for full details.