Thinking about volunteering in India but not sure what to expect? Every volunteer’s experience is different, but some things come up again and again when people tell us about their time here. Here are seven things to look forward to if you volunteer in India in 2026.
1. A wide range of projects
With placements in Delhi and Jaipur, you can choose work that suits your skills and interests: street children and childcare projects, teaching in schools, women’s empowerment, special needs care, renovation work, a medical internship, and a childcare and elephant rescue trip across Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. See all our programs.
2. Weekend trips to bucket-list places
Project days run Monday to Friday, which leaves weekends for travel. Our weekend trips go to the Taj Mahal in Agra, the forts and palaces of Jaipur, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the ghats of Varanasi, with transport, hotels and guides arranged. Many volunteers also head to the Himalayan foothills, such as Rishikesh or McLeod Ganj, on a long weekend.
3. Living the local culture
Volunteering lets you live in a culture, not just look at it. Our Hindi and culture week is a gentle start, and in Jaipur you can stay with a host family for a close look at everyday Rajasthani life. Festivals such as Diwali and Holi are unforgettable if your dates line up.
4. An inside view of development work
India’s economy is growing fast, but the gap between rich and poor is plain to see. Working alongside local NGOs, schools and centers shows you how community projects tackle that gap day to day, which is valuable experience if you are thinking about a career in development, education or social work.
5. New skills for your career
Volunteering builds empathy, problem-solving and confidence. Health students on our medical internship see how a busy Indian hospital works, teaching volunteers learn to plan lessons for mixed-ability classes, and everyone gets better at communicating across languages and cultures. Take part with enthusiasm and your CV will show it.
6. Stories for a lifetime
This is the kind of trip that changes you for good. You will come home with stories to share with friends and family, and maybe inspire someone else to travel more responsibly.
7. A gateway to more travel
India sits at the heart of South Asia. Once you are here, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the rest of Asia are a short flight away, so it is easy to add more travel before or after your program.
Questions? Email info@volunteeringindia.com and our team will be happy to help.