How many volunteers will be with me in the same place? Would I be placed alone?
We usually place fellows in pairs. Only in rare cases are fellows placed alone. There could be a possibility that under the same NGO you may be assigned different roles that may require your placement in different locations of their operations.

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What if I want to change the placement and how?
It is difficult to change the placement unless you have a very strong reason like illness due to which you cannot continue in the placement.

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What should I take along for the fellowship?
Such queries will be answered during your pre-departure orientation and a check list will also be provided to you at that time.

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What if the code of conduct in the NGO doesn't match that of iVolunteer?
iVolunteer visits all the partner Host NGOs during the need assessment stage. This ensures that all partner Host NGOs are aware of the iVolunteer philosophy.

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Do I need to prepare for the interview? What's the screening process?
No, you need not prepare specially for the interview. Just be yourself. The first step of the screening process involves short-listing candidates on the basis of their application form. Following this, successful candidates will be called for a group discussion and personal interview.

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Can you give me brief information about the location of the NGO and other information like internet connections, police station, hospital, tourist centers etc?
Such queries will be answered during your pre-departure orientation and a fact sheet about your Host NGO and the location will be provided to you.

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If I'm not in Delhi, can I join the India Fellow programme?
If you are not in Delhi/Mumbai/Bangalore, you may still apply for the fellowship.

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How do I convince my parents about this kind of a rural fellowship? Will it be safe for me?
You would know how best to convince your parents. We take care in identifying suitable placements for you and identifying NGOs that can reasonably guarantee your safety and security. You can tell them about the benefits of the fellowship and how it will benefit you as an individual. Yet, the India Fellow project coordinator would be available to answer any queries your parents might have regarding the fellowship.

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Do I have to get consent from my parent or local guardian?
Yes, it is compulsory for you to get consent from your parents or local guardian to be able to participate in the India Fellow Youth programme.

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Can I take my pet with me?
No, you cannot take your pet along with you.

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How much living expenses can I expect during the Fellowship towards food etc?
Living in rural areas is very cheap, comunities are very hospitable and there is little else that you can spen on. From experience, Fellows are able to manage well within Rs 1500 for the entire period.

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What will it cost to participate in the programme?
The fee of the programme is Rs. 12,000/- per fellow

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I really want to be an iVolunteer India Fellow, but I cannot afford the fee to participate in the program. Do I have another option?
iVolunteer offers a limited number of scholarships for deserving students. Selected Fellows who are chosen for the scholarship need not pay any fee for participation in the program. However, the Fellows will have to bear their own cost of travel and living i.e. they receive no stipend or travel re-imbursements.

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Can my friend or parent visit the Host NGO during my stay?
Yes, they can visit you, provided they cover their expenses and meet you after office hours or during holidays.

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When will I get my second installment of the stipend?
You will get the second installment of your stipend after successful completion of the fellowship.

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What should I do if I'm sexually harassed or physically abused during my fellowship?
Each partner Host NGO signs an agreement with iVolunteer agreeing to reasonably guarantee security of the Fellow/s and make every reasonable effort to ensure that the Fellow/s are not subjected to verbal, physical or sexual harassment. Despite this, if such an incident occurs report it immediately to the Host organisation's Head and to iVolunteer.

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Will I be placed anywhere in India?
Students applying from North India will be placed in the rural hinterlands of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. Students applying from West India will be placed in the rural hinterlands of Maharshtra or Gujarat. Students applying from South India will be placed in the rural hinterlands of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh.

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Can I choose my fellow partner?
No. iVolunteer will decide the fellow partner for you.

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What if I don't have any rural experience?
More reason for you to apply as India Fellow aims to involve urban youth providing them with an opportunity to experience, first hand, rural India.

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What if the work is technical and beyond my expertise?
Since iVolunteer assists the rural NGO in designing projects for Fellows, we ensure that projects are achievable and non-technical in nature. Also, once a candidate is selected for the fellowship, iVolunteer matches the profile of the candidate to the most suitable rural project ensuring no scope for such a mismatch.

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What type of accommodation can I expect?
The accommodation differs from place to place depending upon the Host NGO you are placed with and location. Either way, you can expect modest accommodation i.e. one 6 x 6 foot room to be shard with your fellow partner.

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What if I cannot attend the orientation programme?
Once selected for the fellowship, it is mandatory for you to attend and participate in the orientation programme. A concession will be made only if your examination clashes with the orientation programme.

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What if I need to return home once during the fellowship?
You need to have a valid reason if you wish to return back once (and not more) during the course of the fellowship. In this case, iVolunteer will not cover the cost of this intermittent travel from the Host Organisation to your home and back.

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What assurance can you give me about my safety?
At the time of outlining projects, an iVolunteer representative makes a filed visit to the Host NGO to assess amenities, accommodation, etc. A rural NGO is assigned the status of "Host NGO" only after this need assessment is carried out.

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Is the fellowship duration fixed? Can I extend or curtail the time period?
Yes, the duration of the fellowship is fixed for 6 weeks. You can go back to the same NGO as a volunteer or visitor at a later date.

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