iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteeringNot a Plan. Just a Pause. I don’t have a five-year plan.I don’t have a big announcement.What I have is silence. A pause. A moment that feels like standing at the edge of a long road – dusty, uneven, but somehow beautiful. This fellowship wasn’t just a job. It wasn’t just “fieldwork.” It was a […]
I came into this fellowship full of dreams, wide-eyed, hopeful, and determined to make a difference. I believed that when your intentions are pure, the world opens up for you. That if you really want to work, you can work, and everything else will find a way. But life didn’t go that way. These two […]
There are places you visit to work and then there are places that quietly weave you into their story, thread by thread, until you realise you’re no longer just a visitor. That’s what happened to me in a quiet tribal village where I went to help women with stitching training. It started off as just […]
Women’s Day represents so much more than just speeches or celebrations; this year, in the vibrant villages of Lalband and Balibasa, women joyfully came together, united in their cooking, and proudly celebrated their strength in a way that inspires and uplifts everyone around them. The day began with Swarna Hembram confidently hosting the event. Anitha […]
After spending nearly two weeks in Bhuj for a training program under my fellowship, I returned to my beloved village, eager to reconnect with the people, immerse myself in their daily lives, and, of course, reunite with the familiar sights of cows, goats, hens, ducks, and pigs that make the village feel like home. But […]
Fellowship journeys can be exhausting—long days, endless work, and stress. But my journey took an unexpected and heartwarming turn when a dog and a cat entered my life. From the day I arrived in Salboni, I have been seeing the neighboring apartment cat – a sweet fluffy white Persian cat named Leo. He was always […]
Train journeys have a charm of their own. They are not just about reaching a destination but about the people you meet along the way—each with their own stories, perspectives, and experiences. Some leave you smiling, while others stay with you long after the journey ends. As someone who loves to travel, I find myself […]
About a year ago, I was confused about where to start and what to do in my fellowship journey. Now I am working with 17 women to set up a stitching unit in my project location. I visited villages around the JSW plant location in Salboni, West Bengal. I then ended up choosing the closest […]
Ever heard of a village where the air is filled with the enchanting scent of wet clay? That’s Panchmura, a tiny village in West Bengal, and let me tell you, it’s no ordinary place. I recently got to wander through its narrow lanes and discover the incredible artistry hidden within. In Panchmura, they create wonders […]
Embarking on a journey of discovery and transformation, I found myself allocated to Barbil, Odisha for the fellowship program, with no presumptions or reality checks. I wished to go there, all ready to live a completely different new experience for the next two years. Although scared in an unfamiliar place with no knowledge of the […]
iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteering 