I did International Citizen Service in India

International Citizen Service (ICS) is a scheme run by the Government enabling young people to volunteer overseas for three to six months. Ben, now in his first year at the University of Bath, tells us why he picked ICS and what it’s like.

True Stories

Ben (centre back, white shirt) spent three months in India

Why did you choose International Citizen Service?

I wanted to do something useful abroad and get off tourist trail, but most volunteering programs offered by large organisations seem very expensive. I found out about International Citizen Service (ICS) after a few weeks of hunting around on the internet, and it seemed perfect. You have to raise money, but it all goes towards your living costs and the community you’re working in, and you’re not taking away work from locals.

How did ICS prepare you for going abroad?

I was invited to a selection day by Raleigh, which runs ICS in India, where I was interviewed about my interest in the program and past experience. After I was accepted there was one training weekend in the UK. I did a couple of fundraisers but I’d advise anybody considering the program to expect to raise at least some money through working – £900-£1500 is a lot of bake sales.

Were there hidden extras?

No, but bear in mind that you’ll have to pay for quite a bit of kit, like a strong rucksack and hiking boots. Research the country you’re being sent to; Raleigh sent me a generic kit-list for my trip to India that included a woolly hat and gloves (these were most definitely not necessary). It’ll be very difficult to get hold of anything whilst you’re there, so pack extra-everything if you’re not sure.

Is ICS full of ‘gap yah’ types?

I went with people from loads of different backgrounds from all over the UK, from people who’d been to top private schools to university graduates to people who started working at sixteen. We also worked with Indian volunteers once we got there. Everybody was committed to making a difference and up for the challenge; I was constantly impressed and inspired by their grit and work ethic. ICS is genuinely for everybody – nobody cares where you’re from when you’re all foreigners in another country!

Did you have a good time?

There were massive ups and downs. We all struggled with the heat, food and alien culture sometimes. ICS is not for the delicate and certainly not a holiday, and the work could be exhausting and even demoralising at times. But I met some of my best friends on the way and some people who completely humbled me with their generosity and courage.

What was the work like?

The beginning of the programme involved running lots of discussion sessions and taking surveys of what the villagers needed and wanted to improve. Later, we moved onto the bigger projects and, with a local charity, were able to run three health camps to teach kids about hand washing and tooth brushing. We took part in sports and festivals too. As part of the program, returned volunteers are asked to show how the program influenced them – I’m taking part in the Lord Mayor’s Show with Raleigh to help raise awareness of ICS.

Did you get to have any fun?

Outside of work, we had trips to Mysore, an elephant sanctuary, countless temples and religious monuments, an insane swimming ‘pool’ and had some crazy parties during the colour festival and on volunteers’ birthdays.

Any major disasters?

There was a Dengue fever outbreak and some of us got seriously ill (with some intriguing Indian hospital stories afterwards). We had to evacuate the area, and it was tough moving to a new village. Group issues came to the surface and tested our camaraderie to the limit. Other upsets included a rabid dog in the village, fights over who deserved a toilet and some truly horrific sunburn (complete with pus-filled boils). But surviving all of this and more made our friendship and determination all the greater (and gave us some cracking anecdotes when we got home).

Anything you’d change?

If we’d had a little more specific training we might have been able to get started on the real work sooner, but Raleigh were very thorough in preparing us for the culture shock and in giving us advice for the work ahead of us. ICS certainly teaches you to make decisions independently.

What’s your advice to wannabe ICS-ers going to India?

Get used to being sociable, as there isn’t much privacy in an Indian village. You’ll constantly be surrounded by people and likely be working long hours too. Doing some background reading or talking to past volunteers would be a great way to learn what to expect. Conditions are tough and often unhygienic, so expect to be a bit smelly! Mostly just go with an open mind and aim to be positive from the start – you’ll be amazed at how infectious it is.

What difference has doing ICS made to you?

I feel much more independent now and I believe the experience was excellent preparation for university and living away from home. I made some amazing friends in India and got to see a totally different side of the world. I’d recommend it to anybody hard working and curious about the world; you won’t regret it!