Volunteering abroad isn’t only for students on a gap year. You might be on a career break, newly retired or enjoying a quieter house now that the children have left home. Whatever the reason, volunteering in India lets you see a new country from the inside while giving your time to people who will value it.
Our programs are open from age 17 (a few start at 18), there is no upper age limit, and most need no special qualifications. Here is what to expect as an older volunteer, and how to plan a trip that suits you.
What you bring to a project
Years of work and family life give you patience, a calm head when plans change and the confidence to step in when a room full of children gets noisy. Local staff run every project we work with, and they value volunteers who listen first, follow their lead and turn up every day. A girl struggling with her reading, or a young woman nervous about speaking English, gains a lot from an adult who takes a steady interest in her progress.
Time to stay a little longer
Retirement and career breaks come with something most volunteers are short of: time. You can volunteer in Delhi for up to 18 weeks, with start dates on two Sundays a month, or in Jaipur for up to 12 weeks, with a start date every Sunday. The longer you stay, the better the people at your project get to know you, and the more progress you see.
Programs that suit older volunteers
You can join any of our programs, but these four suit a steady pace and a lifetime of experience:
- Hindi and culture week, Delhi: a gentle start with no project work. Beginners’ Hindi, open conversations about Indian life, Delhi’s monuments and temples, and a day trip to the Taj Mahal. Take it on its own or before a Delhi placement.
- Women’s empowerment, Delhi: help young women practice spoken English at community centers run by local NGOs. Sewing, embroidery or computer skills are welcome too.
- Teaching in Jaipur: assist local teachers with English, math or sports from about 8am to 1pm, with your afternoons free. A natural fit for retired teachers. Open from 18.
- Special needs care, Delhi: three centers for children and young adults with disabilities, where patience counts for more than anything. Qualified occupational therapists and physiotherapists may be able to support therapy sessions. Open from 18.
To match professional skills to projects, see our guide to volunteering opportunities for over-40s.
Choosing where to stay
In Delhi, you stay at our South Delhi hostel, within walking distance of the Metro, alongside volunteers on other projects. You share a room with volunteers of your own gender, with air-conditioning in the hot months, or you can pay extra for a private room. The kitchen cooks vegetarian breakfasts and dinners from Monday to Saturday.
Jaipur has two options: our volunteer house in the north of the city, with shared rooms, Wi-Fi, hot water and air coolers, or a twin room with a local host family if you’d like a quieter home. Both come with three vegetarian meals a day. Mention any dietary needs or health conditions when you apply.
Health and insurance
- Book a travel clinic appointment six to eight weeks ahead. Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date, and ask about the ones often advised for India, such as hepatitis A and typhoid.
- Pack all the prescription medicine you’ll need for the whole trip, in its original packaging, with copies of your prescriptions.
- Read your insurance policy closely. Travel and medical insurance is compulsory. Some policies have age limits or exclude pre-existing conditions, so check that yours covers you, your volunteering and your whole trip. See what your policy should cover.
- Let us know about any medical conditions in advance, so your coordinator can help quickly if you need it.
- Pick your season. The hottest months are April to June, and the monsoon rains usually last from July into September. From October to March the weather is dry and mild, though mornings and nights from December to February can be cold.
Go at your own pace
You work Monday to Friday, roughly 10am to 4pm in Delhi or three to five hours a day in Jaipur, and your evenings and weekends are your own. Before you start, your coordinator takes you to see your project and helps you work out the route.
Research on older adults has linked volunteering with better well-being and a stronger sense of purpose. It also puts you in a real neighborhood, talking with people you would never meet as a tourist.
Seeing India
Weekends are for sightseeing: a day trip to the Taj Mahal by private air-conditioned car, three days on the Golden Triangle, or the train to Amritsar for the Golden Temple. Our weekend trips take care of the transport and bookings for you.
If you have time, curiosity and patience, you already have most of what a good volunteer needs. Questions about health, accommodation or which program suits you? Email info@volunteeringindia.com and our team in New Delhi will help.