Both offer free, first-class care to victims of the Bhopal gas disaster or the ongoing water contamination. The survivors have nowhere else left to turn – please help if you can.
Since the clinic opened in September 1996, a number of volunteers have contributed their skills and experience in the areas of allopathy, advertising, publishing, medical research, interpreting, website building and others. We welcome serious and committed volunteers, with an awareness of, and sensitivity towards the complex issues of the Bhopal disaster. A working knowledge of Hindi will make your stay more enjoyable but is not essential.
As valuable as professional experience in a certain field can be, the ability to respect the collective spirit of working at Sambhavna and to enjoy making a contribution is of equal importance. Also important is a willingness to pass on your skills as far as possible so that the clinic benefits in the longer term. We assure you that it is not all hard work.
Past volunteers will tell you that they have really enjoyed working on socially relevant issues and learning things that school didn't teach. However, we do urge you to think carefully before considering the voluntary positions outlined below. We can offer you food, accommodation and a unique working atmosphere but we are unable to cover any other costs.
Volunteering at Sambhavna
The continuing success of the Sambhavna Clinic not only depends on your donations but also on your involvement. Sambhavna, and the Chingari Rehabilitation Centre, are the only places in Bhopal to offer anybody affected by the toxic gas of the 1984 disaster, or the subsequent water contamination crisis, the first-class healthcare they deserve free of charge.
Volunteers can contribute significantly to the work there and we encourage you to think of a project that would be both meaningful and enjoyable for you and helpful for Sambhavna. If you do have a project in mind, or have certain talents that you think may benefit the clinic, please tell let us know when you make your application. Research projects are also welcomed.
Since the clinic opened in September 1996, volunteers have contributed their skills, time and experience in areas such as medicinal care, medical and other research, advertising, publishing, interpreting, website building, production of materials (eg for health education), they have interviewed doctors in the city, made paintings of birds visiting the herbal garden, and even hauled manure!
You do not need specific professional experience as many tasks are wortwhile and valuable. The gardeners, for example, always welcome extra hands! Past volunteers will tell you that they have really enjoyed working on socially relevant issues and learned many different things. You can read about previous volunteers in the blog pages of this site.
Sambhavna offers a unique working experience for serious and committed volunteers. It is a cooperative and equal society in its own right and runs itself democratically in a spirit of collective working. A sensitive attitude for the complex issues of the Bhopal disaster and a preparedness to learn are essential for any prospective volunteer. Some knowledge of Hindi is useful but by no means necessary.
