We choose to use the word intern because of the inherent sense of coming to learn that it embodies, as opposed to volunteer which more suggests the giving of something that you have. It’s really important to know that the most important thing anyone can come and do at Hunar Ghar is learn. This is a remote and small culture and society with, as all societies have, a great deal of positive aspects to it. We want people to come who appreciate the importance of first recognising what people already have that is great, and what to contribute their energy and skill to the existing infrastructure, not come in with some idea of ‘helping the poor and needy’ – bleagh, pass me a sick bag!

As inappropriate volunteer is, in some respects so is intern. That can often be understood in the context of coming to learn from people that might be considered you superiors, like if you sort mail at a firm on a summer internship job. Although there are more experience people at Educate for Life and less experience, or more confident in decision making and less confident in decision making, we don’t really do superiors at Educate for Life. By interning with us in India, pretty soon you are probably going to be a great friend and, dare we say it, feel a little like family.