I've done a 3 weeks Volunteering in Vidydhanam school in Mattancherry, Kochi.
Rainbow Volontours is very well organized. It started before I've arrived: I always got a quick answer to my e-mails, which gave me the feeling of professionalism and safety. When i arrived, everything was perfectly organized. I got the important numbers and the program of the next days etc.
On the first day, Rainbow Volontours gave me a presentation about India, Kerala and Volunteering. Although interesting, it was given very quickly and loveless. The Rainbow Volontours members showed me around town and introduced me to locals - which was a beautiful arrival for me!
During the whole 3 weeks of my Volunteering, there was always something going on. If I didn't have dinner with Rainbow Volontours or friends, they suggested me sth to do - and gave me only the best suggests!
The volunteering itself was an unforgettable experience! However, it was far more tough than i expected! I was the first Volunteer in that school - so everything was still new and unorganized. I've worked with 3-4 different classes every day, which was lovely and very hard at the same time. Most of the kids hardly knew any english.
I didn't like the first day at school: After many times having said that the first day was only to get an impression of the school they directly sent me into the classroom, without any preparation. As someone who hasn't really taught before i found this very tough.
The girl of Rainbow Volontours with whom i've always worked in class was lovely!!! She did an amazing job by translating the things i've said into the local language Malayalam and helped me wherever possible!
What I didn't like was the Homestay they put me in - as it was very loud, i couldn't sleep for 2 weeks and had to change it. Of course, this may vary from person to person. Rainbow Volontours was always there to help me.
In any event, the organization Rainbow Volontours was always asking about my well-being and needs, although i felt that they actually don't care but have to do their job.
What i definitely didn't like about the organization, was where my money went!!!
I've payed 700GBP for 3 weeks Volunteering. That's where my money went:
2'200 Rs airport transfer (go and back)
3'500 Rs island-trip (two day-trip with cycle, over-night-stay, food, backwater-tour)
3'000 Rs Munnar-trip (two-day-trip with cab, over-night-stay, food)
3'600 Rs 4times yoga a week
17'000 Rs Homestay (incl. food)
500 Rs two cooking classes
That makes in total 29'800 Rs, means 293 GBP. There last 407 GBP (41'500 Rs) for the organization. Pretty much!!! If you think about that a school teacher earns only 2'000 rs a month!! According to Rainbow Volontours, even a doctor in Kerala doesn't earn more than 25'000 Rs a month.
The team members of Rainbow Volontours were always there to help me. Still I think this amount of money is not at all legitimated.
Rainbow Volontours bought little things for the children to play - but nothing more for the school! And I am very sure, that also inside the organization Rainbow Volontours the money isn't equally spread!
All in all: For me, it was an amazing experience with loving children, very well organized, but I am upset about the spreading of the money.
If you really want to help India: don't come here.
Response from Volunteering Journeys
Dear Patrizia, Thanks for your feedback. Its great you had a lovely experience and your efforts are appreciated.
Your feedback seems to be missing a lot of the correct information and lacks constructive feedback.
The training being loveless- Im not really sure what that means? It would be good to get your recommendation to make it more loving.
The school being tough- it is hard as its a challenge and not easy to volunteer for everyone in a new country but we had a staff who was with you constantly for this reason. On the first day also we had the program manager, project coordinator and the local teacher helping in class- and you were simply teaching alphabets and rhymes from the text book with 3 helpers. We also worked in 3 classes after discussing this with you and so you get a full experience of different age groups. The timetable was also easy and you worked only had 4 classes a day (with the help of a Rainbow staff!!) Not sure how to make it better than that! Children also dont speak English- which is why we have you as a volunteer helping the project- to help with English.
Regarding the accomodation and homestay we have used this for our previous volunteers who have loved this and we hope to continue to place volunteers in our selected accomodation. We feel it is a personal preference and your personal decision to change which we honour.
Regarding the expenses- you have firstly miscalculated the accomodation and training day costs and food, this especially as you are calculating what you have seen but there are costs that we incur to actually run the company that we incorporate in the fee. This is used for our marketing and administration including staff costs and expenses. When you eat in a restaurant you dont calculate the cost of each ingredient but the entire meal. The cost of this meal includes expenses that go beyond the cost of the ingredients. In the same way we are charging a fair amount to help us run this organisation, cover our marketing budgets and bring more volunteers to help a good cause.
If you would like to volunteer for free you can always come to India and do that but you will not get an experience with the kind of support offered and the trips we have included. If you are a budget volunteer then certainly do not volunteer with us as we offer a certain standard of service that comes with a price. Our projects are also very carefully selected and we do a lot of preparations before and during the project. Our accomodation is also great and unlike budget volunteering organisations where you normally have bunk beds and basic food, we give private rooms and really nice food and families who look after our volunteers after hours. Its often easy to forget the positives that the program offers and the actual costs are overlooked by participants.
By actually deterring future participants by claiming it is too expensive without a fair understanding of true costs, and not talking to the program manager first about this, and caring to give credit the hard work of staff and array of activities undertaken, is reflective that you have not thought much before writing this review.
We can only wish you well for the future and thank you for whatever you did.