Assistance with Volunteering

Mission Builders International (MBI) also coordinates volunteers. This organization specializes in sending volunteers to projects worldwide. They have experience with obtaining insurance, healthcare questions, travel issues, etc. MBI personnel are well acquainted with our Indian foundation. They provide much of its finances and several MBI staff members have visited on site. They can help you with your entire trip.

Opportunity India Guesthouse

We have a three suite guesthouse (three large bedrooms and three bathrooms) with a large kitchen, washing machine and a living room on both floors. It is located in the new middle class community of Yapral, about a mile from the slum.

Costs for India

The costs for a round trip ticket from the U.S. to Hyderabad are about $1500, but you can get a more accurate price for your case by checking the various ticketing websites. On the ground costs can be minimal. You can stay at no cost at our guest house. It has three large bedrooms, each with bath. There are living areas both upstairs and down as well as a kitchen and washing machine. It is about two miles from the slum.

There is a Chevrolet van for those up to driving in India. Our last advisors did drive, but it is more difficult than driving in the U.S. We also have a motorbike, but restrict its use to those already having motorcycle experience in the U.S. Driving a motorbike in India can be dangerous for the inexperienced.

Food is obtained from “foreign food” restaurants at perhaps slightly less than U.S. small town restaurant prices. Indian style food from Indian restaurants is less. Volunteers have also prepared meals for themselves at our guest house. Some food can be purchased from small nearby supermarkets at about U.S. prices, other from various vendors for less.

Immunizations, Medical Issues

As early as possible, see your doctor or county health department regarding any immunizations you should have. Tell them where you are going (south central India). They will see that you have Hepatitis A and B and various other immunizations. Some of these you should have even for living in the U.S!

We have had only a few volunteers take Malaria prevention medicine while in India. None of the foundation principals have ever taken it and most volunteers do not. Malaria is pretty rare in and around Hyderabad. We have not had any cases among our Indian staff who certainly do not take this medicine (it would be too expensive for Indians to take long term) and are not aware of any occurring in our slums. The CDC has stated that in India there is a “low overall incidence of disease, probably because of the high volume of low-risk urban business and tourist travel to that country”. Our slums are in the Hyderabad urban area. Still, Malaria is known to be present in some parts of India so this is a decision you should make with your doctor.

While you will be in the slums you would not be sleeping there. Few specific health issues (at least we don’t know of any) arise from spending some of the daytime there.

Medical insurance is available at low cost for long term volunteers. This will pay for treatment in India or in neighboring Asian countries. For example, this would cover treatment in Thailand (a three hour plane ride away) where the facilities and care are world class and preferred by many Americans to those in the U.S. Contact Mission Builders International for more information.