Is India on your mind? We don’t blame you! India is one of the world’s best-loved places to volunteer, and millions of people visit every year.
Its culture, heritage, landscapes and natural beauty win over almost everyone who comes.
A volunteering trip to India will spark your curiosity, wake up your senses and warm your heart.
Whether it’s the bustle and lights of Delhi, the forts and palaces of Rajasthan or the breathtaking Taj Mahal, India has something for every traveler to enjoy.
Here are five of the best volunteer opportunities in India
1. Street children program, Delhi
Hands down, this is one of the most popular volunteering programs in India. It is all about supporting the well-being and development of children from Delhi’s poorest neighborhoods, some of whom have lived on the streets.
The program welcomes volunteers of all ages from 17, but it asks for real dedication, patience and optimism throughout your stay.
You will be based in the capital, New Delhi, at shelter homes and non-formal education centers run by local organizations, where you can make a real difference to the children’s lives.
Your role will involve a variety of activities, all designed to help the children learn and to put smiles on their faces.
The list isn’t exhaustive, but here is what you can expect to do:
- Help run informal lessons for the children.
- Organize games and introduce new and exciting activities.
- Encourage good habits such as hand-washing, hygiene and good manners.
- Join the staff on occasional outings to museums and the zoo, so the children learn while having fun.
- Give the children attention, encouragement, basic literacy support and time to play.
Your time on this program can leave a lasting mark on these children, giving them hope, encouragement and the chance to enjoy their childhood.
2. Special needs care, Delhi
If you are ready for the challenge of supporting people with disabilities, consider our special needs program in New Delhi.
Volunteering India works with local organizations dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities, most of them from low-income families.
The program brings together three centers: a special education center, a skill development center and a school for autistic children. You can work at any of the three, depending on your skills and what each center needs at the time.
At the skill development center, you join vocational sessions such as baking, paper-bag and envelope making, clay modeling, tailoring, candle making, book binding and computer training.
At the autism center, you help the students at mealtimes, with simple lessons and with their daily tasks.
You can also teach them to sing and dance, make origami or paint. Trained staff lead all therapy, and volunteers on this program must be 18 or over.
3. Childcare and elephant rescue
Looking for a volunteer trip to India that combines meaningful work with travel? Try our childcare and elephant rescue program, 15 days that offer the best of both.
Starting in Delhi, the trip takes you around the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Along the way, you see UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world.
Alongside the sightseeing, you spend a week with children at day-care centers and shelter homes in Delhi.
Then you spend three days at a rescue center for elephants near Agra, helping the keepers prepare food, build enrichment and look after the grounds. There is no riding and no performing.
The program is everything a responsible trip abroad should be: service, adventure and culture in one.
4. Women’s empowerment, Delhi
Thinking about volunteering for women’s empowerment in India? On this program, you support women and girls at community centers in Delhi’s poorest neighborhoods. Come with patience and understanding, be ready to adapt, and share what you know.
The aim is to help these women gain the skills and confidence to earn a living and make their own choices.
As a volunteer, you will:
- Teach spoken English to young women, most of them aged about 17 to 20, which will help them as they start work or further study.
- Help with vocational classes such as beauty work, stitching and crafts, if you have those skills.
- Even without special skills, make a real difference by helping the women practice English and gain confidence.
- Share simple advice on nutrition and healthy eating.
- Help with computer classes that open doors to digital skills and jobs.
5. Medical internship, Delhi
If you are a medical or pre-med student, or study nursing, dentistry or physiotherapy, and want hospital experience abroad, our medical internship in Delhi is ideal.
Your internship takes place at a private hospital with modern facilities and experienced staff.
Throughout your internship, you are paired with a doctor, nurse or other professional.
The hospital follows ethical standards that do not allow anyone without the right training and qualifications to take part in procedures.
So your internship is mainly observation: you shadow, observe and help with basic tasks, as far as your training and your supervisor allow.
For more information, email info@volunteeringindia.com and our team will get in touch with you.