The semester is in full swing, your friends are still posting photos from the summer, and winter break feels a long way off. It isn’t. If you would like to spend it doing something that matters, now is the time to plan, while flights are cheaper and start dates are wide open.
Winter is one of the best times to be in North India. From November to February the days in Delhi and Jaipur are dry, sunny and mild, around 18 to 20°C, with cold mornings and evenings. It is festival season too, and Christmas and New Year in Delhi are lively. Volunteering India’s programs start from one week, which makes them easy to fit into a two- to four-week break.
Here are the programs we recommend for winter break 2026.
Street children program in New Delhi
Many children in Delhi spend their days working or begging instead of going to school. The shelter homes and non-formal education centers we work with give them meals, safety and a way back into learning. As a volunteer you help the staff with informal lessons in English, numbers and general knowledge, run games, art and sport, and teach everyday habits such as hand-washing.
No teaching experience is needed. Center staff stay responsible for the children, and you are never left alone in charge. You can join from one week, and your coordinator takes you to the project on your first day. See the street children program.
Two-week mini break in Delhi and Agra
If you love to travel and only have two weeks, this program does the planning for you. You spend eight days with children at shelter homes and day-care centers in Delhi, help brighten up the centers with paint and decorations, see the city’s monuments on a guided tour and take a day trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra. There is a free Sunday to explore Delhi’s markets and temples on your own.
Medical internship in Delhi
For pre-med, medical and nursing students, winter break is a good time for a hospital placement abroad. You join a private hospital in Delhi and shadow doctors and nurses through the departments you choose, such as emergency, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics or obstetrics. The internship is observation-based: how hands-on you get depends on your training and your supervisor.
Placements start from two weeks, and you live with other volunteers and interns at our base in South Delhi. See the medical internship.
Hindi and culture week
Only have a week? Our Hindi and culture week is a gentle introduction to India: Hindi classes, frank conversations with our coordinators about family life and religion, a guided day around New Delhi, a temple day, and a day trip to the Taj Mahal. Many volunteers take it before a placement, and it works well on its own too. See the Hindi and culture week.
Before you go
- Pack layers. Days are warm, but early mornings and nights can be cold, and North Indian buildings are rarely heated. Bring a fleece, a warm jacket and something cozy to sleep in.
- Allow for fog. In December and January, morning fog sometimes delays flights and trains around Delhi. Leave a little slack in your plans.
- Book early for Christmas. Flights to Delhi fill up over the holidays, so book once your dates are set.
Read what past volunteers say, see dates and prices, or email us at info@volunteeringindia.com with any questions. Winters in India are lovely, so why not spend yours here?