Think about what our volunteers do. They cross oceans, leave the comfort of home and give their time to children, women and families they have never met. What’s not to love?
Since 2004, we have welcomed volunteers from more than 30 countries to Delhi, and now to Jaipur too. Each one arrives with their own outlook on life, and many leave a little of it behind with us. Here are ten reasons we never tire of them.
1. They’re do-gooders at heart
Good intentions shape a volunteer trip, and the people who join us arrive with the right ones. They come to support the teachers, carers and staff who run each project, not to take over, and they listen before they act. That attitude is what makes their help count.
2. They’re flexible
Leaving your comfort zone is part of any trip, and our volunteers take it in stride. Shared rooms, a line for the bathroom before work, dal, roti and sabzi for dinner, honking traffic on the way to the project: they treat it all as part of the experience. When a class is bigger than expected or a plan changes at the last minute, they adapt and carry on.
3. They make friends wherever they go
Come the weekend, our volunteers head out to explore: Delhi’s markets and monuments, the Taj Mahal in Agra, the forts and bazaars of Jaipur. The best part of their stories is usually the people they meet along the way, from shopkeepers and auto-rickshaw drivers to families in the neighborhood, and the way they connect with them. Some of those friendships last well beyond the trip.
4. They dive into the culture
Our volunteers want to understand India, not just see it. They pick up Hindi phrases at orientation (some start with our Hindi and culture week), join the colors at Holi, usually in March, try on a sari or a kurta, bargain in the bazaars and taste every street snack they can find. In Jaipur, some choose to stay with a host family for a closer look at everyday life.
5. They eat together like a family
In Delhi, volunteers share a hostel in the south of the city, and in Jaipur, many share our volunteer house. Living under one roof isn’t for everyone, but our volunteers make it look easy. Most evenings end at the dinner table, swapping stories from the day and plans for the weekend, and by the end of the first week the place feels like a big, noisy family home.
6. They bring the fun
Our volunteers are a fun-loving bunch, and their energy is catching. Evenings at the house are full of laughter, and they bring the same spirit to their projects: songs, dances and games with the children at shelter homes and slum schools, and plenty of laughs in the women’s English classes. A lesson that feels like play is one children remember.
7. They take beautiful photos, and take them responsibly
One look at our volunteers’ photos and we want to travel all over again: the Taj Mahal at sunrise, the Hawa Mahal lit up at night, group shots with the friends they have made. They’re thoughtful about it, too. At their projects they ask the staff before taking pictures, and they follow our rules on sharing photos of children.
8. They travel responsibly
Our volunteers think about the mark they leave on a place. They dress modestly out of respect, learn a few local customs before they arrive, buy from local shops and refill their bottles with filtered water instead of buying plastic. Above all, they understand that the projects carry on long after they leave, so they fit in with how things are already done.
9. They love an adventure
Weekends are for living out loud. Volunteers take the overnight train to Varanasi to watch the evening aarti on the Ganges, cover their heads at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, or plan their own trips to raft the rapids at Rishikesh or look for tigers at Ranthambore. Their coordinator is always happy to help with the planning.
10. They’re simply wonderful
Whatever they do and however long they stay, every volunteer adds something to our story. We love welcoming each new one into our family of volunteers: a family that shares travel, food, adventure, friendship and the satisfaction of doing some good along the way.
Want to join them? See our programs, read what past volunteers say, or email info@volunteeringindia.com.