Active Internationals, India

Program Reviews

Default avatar
Marina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Culture Exchange in India - At its best

India 360 is a whole sum program that covered almost everything that I wanted to do in India. volunteering, sightseeing, adventure, travel, trekking, seeing mighty Himalayas, relaxing at the beach and drinking Indian beer (Kingfisher) :p.

We travelled to some 10 different cities and equal number of states each with their own culture and traditions. Witnessing tigers in the wild and camel safari in the desert were highlights of my time in India.

What would you improve about this program?
It was perfect for me.
Default avatar
Julian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer during Indian summer

India came as a shock when I first arrived in New Delhi. The city is over populated and at once, I felt like lost. My program with Active Internationals began on March 03, 2015 in Jaipur with a day long orientation before I start my program. That is when I felt safe and confident about India with other volunteers & support staff.

21 days at women empowerment project has been an eye opener for me on the condition of women in India. I can be only glad that I went & offered all I could. I am going back again in August with my boy friend to continue the project work & hope I see some change this time.

My organisation was very supportive & you can imagine it from the fact that I had never complaint about anything. My project executive 'Radha' was an beautiful girl. She was young but knew the right way of working at a project.

What would you improve about this program?
I wanted to stay with my boyfriend but the rooms were specific to gender so I had to share room with other girl. Though, I had fun but I missed my love.
Default avatar
Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

We made a badminton court

I am happy to leave a review for Active Internationals, who were my volunteer programme organizer in India.

Last month me and my sister Liz visited India for a a four week volunteering programme with Active. We are so happy to have booked our programme through them. We opted for teaching and construction activities for the span of 20 days of working.

Liz is more of an outdoor person and plays several games. I was more inclined towards teaching.
We taught basic math, English and Geography to the kids and taught them a lot of crafts, songs and poems. Towards they end of the program we also kept a small play, which we were practicing with the kids all along the teaching.

But the fun part was making the badminton court. The schools playground was not big enough to have any other organised outdoor sport. However, it was an apt place to make a court.

Our coordinator at Active - Vaibhav, came up with the idea of leveling the ground and making markings using bricks. We then went to an steel smith and ordered two poles with pulleys welded above. As we dug the holes for planting the poles we made our concrete mixture and installed the poles perfectly straight. All the kids and the teachers were so excited. They also helped us throughout the project.

All credits to the teamwork.

For the last week we brought four racquets and shuttle cocks and started teaching the kids. Some kids picked the game really fast. It was such an overwhelming experience for us and we were elated.

We will come back and do something more.

What would you improve about this program?
More volunteers can come and create even bigger possibilities.

We would love to see more volunteers going to such programmes.
Default avatar
Malyshka
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer in India only with these guys

Hi,

I am Malyshka originally from Serbia, but living in USA for the last 8 years.
I have been actively involved in volunteering at many places.
My recent volunteer experience was in Ghana, but I was comparing it with my experience last year with Active Internationals in Rural Rajasthan.

From the day one it became a benchmark in my mind.
I was part of the girl education project at the holy town of Pushkar, which was an amazing experience in itself. Unlike other volunteers who stayed there for 4 weeks, I was in Pushkar for 9 weeks. Well, I originally booked for 6 weeks but extended it to 9 weeks just because the way I was engrossed int it and the type of support I was getting.

There was no moment where I got bored and no place where I could see any shortage of effort from the team. This was much fulfilling than anything else, since people promise a lot but never deliver.

I hope other organizations also raise their standards.

Closing with a lot of love and best wishes.

What would you improve about this program?
They should market it strongly to get more volunteers. The projects need more volunteers.
Default avatar
Victoria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer in INDIA!!!

The feeling of helping a community was something I always wanted to experience & after reviewing Active Internationals with my who have travelled to India on their programs, I decided to finally go for it.

I felt like an extra ordinary person who is helping the community understanding hygiene, teaching women, playing with kids & finally travelled for 20 days to Himalayas, Nepal & South India with other volunteers on a super exciting cultural exchange program by them.

Loved everything about it. You are doing it by heart Active Internationals & you will see me very soon as your regular volunteers.

Love from England.
VB

What would you improve about this program?
Wish they could make me stay for more time but my Visa had a limited validity :(
Default avatar
Judy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I am GLAD, I CAME

My journey to India was one of the most amazing things I have done in life. Booked my Volunteer Programs to help the local women with education & later I travelled to like 7 States of India including 9 cities in a program called 'INDIA 360'.

I am happy with everything about Active Internationals on how they managed my program & supported me when I needed it (Felt ill in Dharamshala, caught cold)

If you are planning to visit India & looking for an organization which maintain transparency without any hidden costs, go with Active Internationals!!!!

Merci beaucoup!

What would you improve about this program?
I wish I had some reading material (Novels, books, magazines) in my room to read during free time =)
Default avatar
Judy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

You are Inspiration to many

This is my 3rd review of the day on my visit to India this February and I am going to make it long as it has to be special!

24 effective days in India where I chose to volunteer at Elephant Village with Active Internationals (They are working there even before it existed). After a week of volunteer work, I realized that the volunteers from different organization were keen to see what was I doing out there & after discussion, we got to know that they were told that they would volunteer at the village but no one provided them any information on what to be done, whom to meet, what to talk and things like that and eventually they became a part of my group. That is when I realized how important it is to come to India through a credible organization and Active Internationals made me proud enough that I have now left my job and planning to move to India for a Job (Again through Active Internationals)

It is important that the intention of the host organization is to facilitate you and not just earn money out of you.

What would you improve about this program?
IT DOES NOT NEED ANY CHANGE. People make good organizations and each one working at Active International is more helpful than you could think of.
Default avatar
Fernanda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A trip that Transformed me

Was a tough call to visit India over other places that I wanted to visit. But ultimately, I end up getting myself transformed. People, Places, Food, Culture, History, Projects, Animals, everything had a positive impact on me & I think, today, I am a much better person that I was.

Kudos to your efforts "Active Internationals". Your support was more than once could ask for.

Love & light

What would you improve about this program?
I wish, I could stay for some more time in India. Nevertheless, I will be back in 2015 with my sister.
Default avatar
Cheryl
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

OUT OF THE BOX PROGRAM

Think of anything & Active Internationals make it happen for you across India. A professional bunch of young people who understand what it takes to make someone comfortable away from home. I never felt that I was not in Finland (My home country).

Taking care of Elephants
Teaching the wives of Elephant keepers
Helping them cook their meals
Lot of workshops & Presentations
Unique Walking tours by Vedic Walks (AMAZING)
Lot of new friends from different parts of the world

I completely felt like an 'Active International' who is on a tour to meet every kind of person on this earth & I truly met them.

I Volunteered in Jaipur, Pushkar & Himalayas & travelled to 8 different states & 12 cities of India

Thank you for all your efforts & making my Gap-year worth while. See you soon XoX

What would you improve about this program?
I think it will be a good idea for volunteers to have water bottles all the time as it was bit hot & I felt thirsty every 10 minutes.
Default avatar
Georgia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Most beautiful month of Life

We were a groups of 6 people (5 girls & a guy) from Columbia, U.S. It was an incredibly amazing month of my life with Active Internationals. Spent about 30 days in India. While volunteering for a deprived community centre in Jaipur, I honestly never got myself so satisfied ever before in life. Teaching little kids and helping the ladies in constructing their houses was the best thing I could ask for.

During our stay, we travelled to Agra, Udaipur & Goa. Special thanks to Kuldeep for being the best guide through-out our program. He was humble, Very good in English, "A YOGA MASTER" & a dear friend.

Not even once did we think that the organization has compromised with our safety. We travelled in clean & good vehicles, stayed at decent accommodation & I fell in love with India Food (Thanks to Sushma - our cook).

For anyone willing to visit India, It is my personal recommendation to participate in Active Internationals programs.

What would you improve about this program?
It was super the way it was. We got more than what we thought about India.