Meet our Volunteers

College students, high school students, retirees, families, church groups, school groups, yoga groups, book clubs...you name it...volunteering is for anyone who wants to experience the high of giving back to children caught in a cycle of poverty and despair.

Mentor, teach, play, provide physical therapy, laugh, have fun, teach art, practice English, hold hands...there is a unique volunteer experience for every age and interest level.

You can follow our volunteer's blogs on our website in real time.

Bend Kids for India

We have quite a group from Bend, Oregon that is going to India to volunteer in June 2009. Nick Devine, the son of our board member Nancy, and six of his friends will just be completing their junior year of High School and have three weeks between the end of school and their summer jobs.

They have decided to spend this time volunteering in India at Prema Vasam Orphanage and in Auroville. We will be coordinating a new volunteer experience in Auroville that includes a school for village children and a weekend Cultural Center which gives poor village children a chance to learn to dance, draw, play instruments and be mentored by youth volunteers from their nearby villages as well as from other countries.

Bravo to Matthew, Nick, McKenna, Kelsey and Georgia and their chaperones for making the commitment to spend time teaching and mentoring poor, handicapped and orphaned kids in India.

Stay tuned for more photos of Bend Kids for India and their fund raising activities!

Mallory Moran

Mallory just completed her sophomore year at University of Montana,University of Montana, where she studied film making and photography. Mallory is taking a year off from college to travel abroad to attend photography programs, volunteer and expand her photography skills. She will have an exciting portfolio when she enters her junior year of College.

Mallory is planning to volunteer at Prema Vasam Orphanage, St. Xavier’s School and in Auroville from January through March of 2010. Look not only for Mallory’s blog but also lots and lots of photographs!

:: and here - read about Mallory's experience - her Blog/Journal >
:: see her photographic work here>

Sandy Heydt

Sandy is our Executive Director and she will be joining Mallory Moran in January and March 2010 at Prema Vasam Orphanage, St. Xavier’s School and in Auroville to volunteer with these great organizations who are serving poor, handicapped and orphan children in India.

Sandy will also be returning in June 2010 to join the Bend Kids for India during their volunteer vacation experience in India. Eric von Starck, Sandy's spouse, will be joining this volunteer group in June.

Read Sandy's blog from her volunteer vacation in India in November and December 2008