India

About India

While the official languages of the Indian government are Hindi and English, each state also designates its own official language, making a total of 22 official languages.

India is undergoing an epidemiological transition, as both non-communicable and chronic diseases are now the leading causes of death. There is no national health insurance, so private companies are the only option. Most families pay their healthcare expenses out of pocket, often leading to catastrophic health expenditures and medical payments that damage a family’s ability to maintain a basic standard of living.

ISL India is based in Visakhapatnam, often called “Vizag”, a coastal city and is one of India’s hidden gems. With a rich blend of history, modern infrastructure, and scenic beauty, Visakhapatnam is home to ancient Buddhist sites, bustling fishing harbors, tribal villages, and cutting-edge health institutions. Known for its welcoming communities, this city offers a unique mix of tradition and innovation. The population of Visakhapatnam is around 2,385,000. This city is also known as the “City of Destiny” due to it’s historical significance and potential for future growth in to major port and industrial hub. The city is part of Andhra Pradesh, where Telugu is the main spoken language, but English is widely understood in urban and healthcare settings.

Join ISL in serving alongside local relief organizations and learn about global health in a unique cultural context.

The Need in Visakhapatnam, India

Though Visakhapatnam has several modern hospitals, a significant portion of its population lacks access to preventive care, especially in rural and tribal regions. High out-of-pocket expenses force families to delay or avoid necessary treatments. The tribal people especially need health education and awareness of the diseases and its precautions to take. Volunteers from ISL will help provide health education, screenings, basic treatment, and referrals in the urban community hospital. As we will also be serving at Araku, the volunteers will be learning about the local diseases and how to manage these diseases. This area has very poor medical facilities.

Where We Serve in India

With healthcare being mostly privatized, many in underserved areas struggle to access quality and affordable medical care. ISL India partners with Harvest Misson to bridge that gap through compassionate service. We will also be serving in Araku valley which is also know for its coffee plantations, pepper plantations and rich tribal culture. It has the famous Borra Caves, waterfalls, hills, and lush greenery. We have a special train from Visakhapatnam to Araku known as the Vistadome and it offers a panoramic view of landscape through large glass windows as we pass through around 50 tunnels before we reach Araku. Araku has many villages which have different languages, with each village speaking different dialects. ISL volunteers work in a mix of rural villages, urban slums, and coastal tribal communities around Visakhapatnam. We also work with the semi orphan boys and girls, and old aged widows.

Cultural Exploration

With ISL India, you’ll have many opportunities to explore the culture of those you serve through a variety of activities such as visiting the Simhachalam Temple, a centuries-old temple with striking architecture, the Borra Limestone Caves, known for their stalactites and tribal legends, Tribal villages where you can experience the customs, and local dances, cooking classes where you will learn to prepare Andhra delicacies like biryani, dosa, and payasam, and local markets where you van visit bustling bazaars selling handmade textiles, spices, and jewellery. Visakhapatnam is a cultural mosaic of South Indian traditions and tribal heritage.

Recreational Activities

When it comes time to get out and explore, you’ll see why India is said to be one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Dependent on the location of the clinic you may have opportunities to explore the RK Beach, where you can relax on Vizag’s pristine urban beach. The Araku Valley is a hill station known for its cool climate and coffee plantations, while the Kailasagiri Hill Park allows you to take a ropeway up to a scenic viewpoint. The Submarine Museum provides an opportunity to step inside India’s first submarine-turned-museum, while the Dolphin’s Nose requires an uphill hike to enjoy panoramic coastal views. The Aircraft & Helicopter Museum, as well as the Visakhapatnam Museum are also worth visiting.

Country Coordinator

International Service Learning (ISL) is very proud of their Country Coordinators and we would like for you to get to know them, before you visit their beautiful country. All of our Country Coordinators are hardworking, passionate individuals who enjoy serving their communities and working with ISL volunteers, and they all have their own very unique stories.

Jessy Mindi has been serving with ISL from 2025. Originally from Visakhapatnam, he brings deep local knowledge, fluency in regional languages, and a heart for holistic transformation. Jessy, a government employee, took voluntary retirement, to help the poor and needy. He has four Masters Degrees, in Education, Business and Theology. His wife (Sunitha) is a retired government school teacher, his daughter (Dr. Lydia) is a dentist, his son in law (Dr. Sandeep) is a doctor, his son (Enoch) works in London, and he has a grandson – Allen (Frank ).

As the ISL Country Coordinator he helps the volunteers to acquire knowledge as well as serve the poor and needy in India