Volunteer

Volunteering at Snehabhavan

We offer Volunteering opportunities at Snehabhavan-Kottayam. Every day we see the power of community: bringing together individuals who want to overcome a barrier with those who want to help out. Our volunteers get as much from the process as do participants.

There’s a wide age-range of people sharing their talents via our charitable societies, from students through to retirees, and all sorts of skills and backgrounds. What’s common is people sharing something they love – access to leisure, social or employment opportunities – and a belief that communities can be fair and accessible. Contact us to talk more about opportunities.

Online Volunteering

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Welcome to our Volunteer Calendar. Job opportunities and event updates will be posted regularly on this page. View the calendar and sign up for your preferred volunteer job.

Volunteer Calendar

If you’re new and have not registered as a volunteer, before taking on a volunteer job, please sign up here: Volunteer Registration

Internship

We accept students from various disciplines such as social work, psychology, nursing, special educators, speech therapists as interns to work with our experienced professionals. We accept the responsibility of supervising students as part of our commitment to the training and development of future human service professionals.

At Snehabhavan, the practice learning instructors, faculty advisors and students develop an educational contract specifying a work plan with learning objectives and specific activities to supplement classroom theory with practical experience and skill-building. It is the cornerstone of any successful professional practice.

As a professional human service agency in the field of Disability, we acknowledge the significance of Practice Learning as an important component of professional education programs where students learn to practice through educationally focused service experiences in a formal agency and community settings. Students work alongside (shadowing) with experienced professionals in our agency. We consider student interns as our ethical responsibility and supervise students as part of our commitment to the training and development of future professionals.

If you desire to be an intern with Snehabhavan, please sign up here: Intern Registration

The Internship Acceptance Procedure

1. Establish an agreement (MoU) with the Educational Agency/Departments: The academic agency/departments who wished to make use of our field expertise and practice experience in the field of disability, must sign an agreement with our agency, outlining the roles and responsibilities of both Snehabhavan and the educational agency/Department. (A model MoU is given below)
2. Appy for field practice/internship: Students who wish to do their concurrent/block/summer field practice or internship should apply to the Director, Snehabhavan through their Faculty Advisor with details of specific academic requirements, skills to be developed, commencing and ending date of practicum/internship. It may also include a resume of the intern, cover letter, transcripts, and any additional documentation required by the organization. Follow up can be done with the organization if students have any questions or concerns.
3. Process for screening and selecting interns: A screening process and selecting interns is followed that is fair, objective, and aligned with the requirements and goals of the internship program will be done. This may include reviewing resumes and cover letters, conducting interviews, and checking references.
4. Provide training and orientation: Training and orientation for interns will be given to ensure they are familiar with the agency's policies, procedures, and protocols. Ongoing support and supervision will be given throughout the practicum/ internship period to ensure the intern's success.
5. Establish clear expectations: Establish clear expectations for the intern's role, responsibilities, and performance. Develop a work plan that outlines specific tasks and goals for the intern to achieve during the internship, and provide regular feedback and evaluation to ensure they are meeting those goals.
6. Ensure a supportive and inclusive environment: Ensure that the agency provides a supportive and inclusive environment for interns. This may include providing opportunities for interns to network with other professionals in the field, providing resources and support for personal and professional growth, and creating a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
7. Begin internship, reflect on experience and facilitate learning: Once the internship begins, students should engage fully in the experience and reflect regularly on their learning and growth. We encourage interns to reflect on their experiences and learning throughout the internship. They should seek feedback from their supervisor and colleagues, and use that feedback to improve their skills and performance. This may include providing opportunities for the intern to discuss their experiences with their supervisor or other staff members, encouraging the intern to attend professional development opportunities, and providing opportunities for the intern to contribute to the agency's learning and growth.

A model Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between a Field Practicum Agency and the Educational Institutions/Departments for sending and receiving students for field practicum:

Memorandum of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is entered into by and between the [Field Practicum Agency] (hereafter referred to as the Agency), and the Department of ------ ------------------------- of [Name of University] (hereafter referred to as the Department).

Purpose

The purpose of this MoU is to establish a formal agreement between the Agency and the Department for the purpose of sending and receiving social work students for field practicum. This MoU will govern the relationship between the Agency and the Department and outline the roles and responsibilities of each party.

Terms of Agreement

1. Duration: This MoU shall be valid for a period of [X number of years], starting from the date of signing.
2. Scope of Services: The Agency agrees to provide social work students from the Department with field practicum opportunities. The Department agrees to send social work students to the Agency for field practicum, subject to the availability of practicum placements.
3. Roles and Responsibilities:

   a. The Agency agrees to provide:

   - A qualified and experienced social work practitioner to serve as the practicum supervisor for each student

   - An orientation and training for each student and their practicum supervisor that outlines the policies, procedures, and expectations of the Agency

   - Access to resources that support the student's learning and growth during the practicum

   - A mid-term and final evaluation of each student's performance, including constructive feedback on their progress towards meeting their learning objectives

   - A letter of reference or recommendation for each student at the end of the practicum

   b. The Department agrees to:

   - Screen and select social work students who meet the requirements for the practicum, including academic qualifications, prior experience, and any necessary documentation or certifications

   - Ensure that each student has a clear understanding of the practicum requirements and expectations

   - Provide ongoing support and supervision to each student throughout the practicum

   - Provide academic credit to each student upon completion of the practicum

   - Abide by the policies, procedures, and expectations of the Agency throughout the practicum

4. Confidentiality: The Agency and the Department agree to maintain the confidentiality of all client information and to adhere to all applicable laws and regulations related to confidentiality.
5. Termination: Either party may terminate this MoU at any time, with or without cause, by providing written notice to the other party at least [X number of days] prior to the termination date.
6. Amendment: This MoU may be amended by mutual written agreement between the Agency and the Department.
7. Governing Law: This MoU shall be governed by the laws of the State in which the Agency is located.

This MoU represents the entire understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings, and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. Agreed to and accepted: [Field Practicum Agency Name] By: _____________________________ Date: ____________________________ [Name of Agency Representative] [Title] Department of Social Work, [Name of University] By: _____________________________ Date: ____________________________ [Name of Department Representative] [Title]