Every year on November 14, India celebrates Children’s Day, or Bal Diwas, on the birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister, who was famously fond of children. Schools mark the day with games, performances and treats. The United Nations marks its own World Children’s Day a few days later, on November 20.
Not every child gets to enjoy it. In Delhi and Jaipur, many children miss out on school because they work to help their families, live on the streets or have fallen too far behind to keep up. The shelter homes, education centers and community projects we work with give them a safe place to learn, play and catch up.
A different kind of gift
If your son or daughter is 17 or older, this Children’s Day could be the moment to give them something they will remember far longer than the latest gadget: a volunteer trip to India. Or make it a family trip, as long as everyone who comes is at least 17.
Why it makes a good gift
- It is a learning experience no classroom can match: a new culture, a new language and a very different way of life.
- Young people see how much local staff achieve with very little, and come home with a new appreciation of their own opportunities.
- It builds responsibility and independence, from showing up on time at a project to finding their way around a new city.
- Their time supports projects for children run by people who know their communities.
- It stands out on university and job applications, and a certificate of participation is available on request.
- As a family, you share something more meaningful than a vacation, and you still get to explore India together at weekends.
Who can go
Volunteers must be 17 or older on their start date, and 17-year-olds need a consent form signed by a parent. Some programs, such as teaching and childcare in Jaipur, start at 18. Anyone working with children needs a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of the start date, and everyone needs travel insurance. If you are coming as a family, tell us who is coming when you apply and we will keep you together wherever we can, and ask us about group prices.
Programs that suit teenagers and families
- Street children, Delhi: games, art and basic lessons at shelter homes and education centers, from one week.
- Two-week mini break, Delhi and Agra: eight days with children, a guided Delhi tour and a day at the Taj Mahal, all planned for you.
- Childcare and elephant rescue: a week with children in Delhi, three days at an elephant rescue center near Agra and sightseeing in Jaipur.
- Slum schools, Jaipur: small-group lessons with a grassroots project that teaches children for free.
- Construction and renovation, Jaipur: painting and repairing schools and clinics, a good fit for families who like to work as a team.
All five are open from age 17.
How to give it
Choose a program and a start date: Delhi programs begin on two Sundays a month and Jaipur programs every Sunday. Then apply online and hold the place with the booking deposit, which is part of the total price. Programs start from $495 for one week. Planning a surprise? Email us first at info@volunteeringindia.com and we will help you choose.
For more ideas, read about volunteering as a teenager in India and what makes a group trip special.