Volunteer FAQ

There are many volunteer assignments available with CSE and we will help you find the one that matches your interests and skills the best. Scroll down to find answers to some questions you might have before you register as a volunteer with us.

What are the basic differences between volunteering and internship?

• Internships are meant not only for students to get an on the job experience as a part fulfillment of their course but also for mid career professionals.  Volunteering is for anybody from any walk of life. 

• Internships may or may not require letter of agreement/authorisation from Universities, to be submitted as a confirmation to the Executive Director – Planning & Operations, CSE. Volunteering does not require any such letter.

• Internships are duration specific, usually summer or winter holidays are assigned by universities and the number of days are also fixed by the university. Volunteering can be for any duration, any time of the year.

• Both interns and volunteers must register from the website, as all records are maintained in an online system.

• Interns have to work from our head office address at Centre for Science and Environment, 41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110062. Volunteers though primarily work from our Head office address, have the option of working from the city they reside in or even from home, if the work so permits.

• No stipend is paid to interns, whereas, volunteers get an honorarium of Rs. 350/- per day.

• However, both interns and volunteers are entitled to reimbursements for any expenses incurred for officially sanctioned work.

• Both are entitled to a certificate at the end of the tenure.

What do you need to know about the organisation or institution you want to work with? 

You need to know the issues, concerns and policy positions of the organisation. You need to be aware of the different projects, publications and campaigns of the organisation. Visiting CSE’s website will help answer most of your queries.

Are you clear about what work interests you most?

What type of things are you good at? These can be professional skills or even hobbies and recreational talents. Almost every type of skill is needed somewhere. The better you are at explaining what you can offer, the easier it will be to find the right type of volunteer opportunity for you.

Why do I want to volunteer and what am I going to learn? 

Is there something you wish you had the opportunity to learn? As a beginner, we may assign a simple task to you because we know you will be motivated by tackling something new. This is one way that volunteering develops your skills and is fun. CSE has had students from various colleges who come to learn about the way a professional organisation works and functions.

Are you clear about the amount of time you will be able to spend with the organisation?

Some volunteer assignments require a lot of time. But others can be accomplished in a short period of time. Sometimes, we also provide opportunities that can be done in the evenings or during weekends. Be honest with yourself and tell us about your availability. We will need to know this before we can count on you. It may be better to start with a limited number of hours of volunteer work and later expand your schedule, rather than promising many more hours which you may not be able to devote. If you are going to spend time working on a specific assignment, you will probably be able to gauge the time you require to complete that assignment.

What are the procedures after I complete the online volunteer registration formalities?

We will ask you questions about your background, qualification and interests. Depending on the availability of the assignment, you will be asked to attend a brief meeting. In the meeting we might tell you about the assignments we have and that might suit your expertise and interests. If you visit us at our office and submit your resume and we don’t have a suitable assignment available, we will keep your information in our databank. We will contact you whenever a suitable assignment becomes available.

How do I get more information about volunteer opportunities available at CSE?

Keep in touch! Submit your detailed resume, which will give us a clearer idea about your background, expertise and interests. You can also talk to us so that we are able to give you a clearer idea about our projects and campaigns. In addition, information about opportunities is regularly posted on our website. We also sometimes advertise for volunteering opportunities in our magazine Down to Earth. 

Volunteering is a fun way to spend your valuable time, which has the added benefit of helping others and fighting for a cause. The clearer you are on your objectives from this program, the more valuable you will be to us.

Persistence pays - You may not get a prompt reply as the application screening and assignment allocation may take up several weeks. Do not get discouraged if we do not get back to you immediately. Rewards from volunteering are well worth the effort. So hang in there and keep trying. And remember, taking initiative will pay off.