Volunteer in India | Most Affordable Projects Starting From $250

I recently spent 5 weeks in India volunteering and touring in the cities of Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra with a group. As a whole the experience was amazing and unforgettable, but my favorite part of the trip by far was the 3 weeks spent volunteering with the Street Children Project in Delhi. The children are so bright, full of energy, eager to learn and extremely welcoming! Our hosts at the volunteer house were also friendly and always open to questions about the Indian culture and way of life. We always felt very safe at the volunteer house and during our travels in the city of Delhi and always felt like we could bring any questions/concerns to the Volunteering Solutions staff. I was very pleased with our accommodations, and the food was amazing as well. I felt as though the coordinators provided my group with all of the tools we might need during our stay--reasonable rickshaw prices to and from our project and to local markets/tourist sites, maps, some history of the city, and safety advice.

I would highly recommend the Street Children Project to anyone who is interested. There is much one can do for the kids and so much more to be learned FROM them. I truly think that Volunteering Solutions is a great way to see India and take part in the culture, but more importantly make a positive impact on the lives you come in contact with along the way.

They say first impression is the last impression. It was my first day of the Street Children Program when the children of Jamghat, left on me, a life-lasting impression. The first day and overall experience in the program sparked questions in me that are answering all the deeper questions I have ever had about wealth and poverty, survival and transcendence.

It was two days after entering India that I found myself walking the busy streets of Chandni Chowk, amongst street salespeople vying for my business and an orchestra of auto-rickshaws, rickshaws, cars and pedestrians making their way in an interesting uncoordinated synchronicity. Bubbling with curiousity about who I would meet and what I would do, I walked down the narrow alleyways beside Pigeon market and up a set of steep stairs to my placement.

After a few minutes of meeting and greeting the Jamghat staff, the children of the shelter started pouring in like water out of a jug, steadily but readily. Wide-eyed and curious, they walked in and greeted me by calling me didi, a term in Hindi meaning sister, usually used to address an older female of sister-like age. Shortly after greeting me, the children eagerly shared with me, some of the games they play and stories they tell. They asked me many questions about myself to get to know me, and sought my assistance with their schoolwork. I was flooded with warmth! Never had I felt so welcomed in my life, and this led me to ask myself, how is it that these children appear so happy despite living in poverty? How are they so energized? So curious, keen and eager? The radiation of joy pierced through any assumptions I might have previously made. Any anxiety, stress, or reserve I might have had melted away like butter. There was no opportunity to be wrapped in the bubble of self protection and isolation because there was way too much warmth in the air! I looked around to observe my environment further: some of the children were wearing ripped clothing, there were no extravagant toys or learning materials in the room, the heat was relentless, and amongst it all, wide eyes and bright smiles. The juxtaposition was mesmerizing.

During lunch hour, a handful of the children asked me to have lunch with them, share from their plates. Dhaal and chaval, a simple meal but hearty and nutritious. The children sat in a circle and said their prayers before eating, to express gratitude for the food. They observed to see how much I was eating and whether or not I was enjoying the food. They offered me water and more servings. This was a meal the children often ate and often times their last meal of the day, as there is no guarantee the children will have food available to them after leaving the shelter. I wondered to myself, how is it that despite knowing they may not get another bite again, the children still offer me the last of what they have? And how is it that they can care so much about my own hunger in spite of their own?

As I inquired about the lives of these children outside the shelter, the Coordinators offered to take me for a stroll in the area where the parents of some of the children stayed. We visited two shelters where I met some of the parents. Many of the parents were single unemployed mothers. Some parents were working in nearby factories, street peddling or begging. The majority of parents do not have time to look after their children because they are busy fighting for survival. Hence, children are often wandering around the shelter area, playing by themselves or with each other with little supervision. They say family environments and upbringing determine success, values and behaviour in children. I wondered then, how do the children of Jamghat know how to provide attention, understanding and care to others when many have not had the opportunity to receive these things themselves from their own families due to various circumstances?

Upon returning to Jamghat I later learned from some of the children that their siblings had been lost, simply by disappearing or as a result of sickness. How matter-of-factly these children shared their stories, as if such things were an everyday occurrence. I tried to gauge the feelings underneath their words and what I encountered was strength. How is it possible to have such resilience when facing experiences of loss so frequently? Multi-million dollar industries and companies are often created to provide aids and solutions to trauma and facilitate healing, but here healing didn’t require any special tool, process
or pill. Here, healing happened because it had to; this was life, and tools were primarily internal.

As my first day ended at the shelter, I walked back to the volunteer accommodation with many questions in mind, floating around. Reflecting on my life in the West, I felt so rich yet so utterly poor. I asked myself the ultimate and conclusive question, what is rich really? And what is poor?

We are taught to make something of ourselves, to achieve in the material world, to meet our needs and survive. We learn about evolution and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We learn through media messages and advertising that we must attain various things at various times to be something, to be worthy. We have these social scripts and timelines instructing us on how to go about doing this. Yet how often during our day to day, do we smile like these children? Are eager to learn about others like these children? Want to share with others without thinking about what we have ourselves?

In one day and one experience, I felt myself unlearning all the messages that were stamped onto my being from an early age. I peeled off the old messages like an onion and immersed myself into the deep waters of this new realization. As I swam around, I grasped that these children were teaching me just as much as I was teaching them, and maybe even more so.

I have no exact answers to the questions that had surfaced for me. I critiqued myself for prior assumptions with a fine-toothed comb. All I ended up with was one foundational understanding: true wealth is internal and comes not from the external world but an inner brightness that does not cease to exist. This wealth inspires love and giving, which is infinite in supply when you sees little gifts in everything and everyone around you, when you tap into your inevitable connection with others and feel responsible for their well-being just as much as your own. The children of Jamghat have inspired me to always mine for this gold inside of me, and spread this wealth just like they do, because it is infinite and multiplies in strength with each Midas touch. We are only poor when we forget this.

Thank you to the children of Jamghat and thank you Volunteering Solutions for this wonderful, transformative life experience.

At a certain point in our trip, we had to go to Dharamsala to hike in the Himalayas: my favorite part!
The small and cosy village offers a wonderful view on the mountains. Imagine yourself surronded by huge and colourful mountains, with the nicest people on earth and fresh air everywhere! My face shines by the memory of the hiking part, 5 hours throught the climbing but totally worth it. You wouldn't be disappointed!

When I was on my way to the voluntary house, I got chills down down my spine because I had no idea what awaited me, no idea what the real India looks like except from the pictures and movies that are popular in my country.

India is not for the weak, that's what people always said, it's famous for the dogs, beggar, trash scattered on the ground and all the negative things that I believe you already heard about India. It's true, well some of it, but WAIT don't suddenly packed up your bag, reschedule your ticket and flew back home to your country yet just after only a day and you think that you had enough. That's a big mistake, a really big one. Give it a chance, let yourself immerse in the hustle and bustle of Indian life. Because I will promise you that it will be one of the best trip in your life that you will never forget.

I was volunteering as a couple for Street Children program and it was such an amazing experience for us, the kids were so lovely, and we were amazed on how good they are in english despite their circumstances. The days went by full of joys and happiness. We taught them drawing and english and in return they taught us how to sing and dance.

The staff were also very nice and friendly, they made us feel like home, surrounded by family. But, indeed they are our new family. And we will never forget them.

I made very close friends while on this trip in India. I loved the elephants and seeing the magnificent sights. The children in Delhi were adorable, lovable, and thankful. The group leaders were orderly and I felt extremely safe! I think it was definitely worth the visit.

With the summer program I did in india I got to know a new country and a new culture, absolutely different to what we're used to. Easy for first timers traveling alone, there were two in our group that hadn't got out from the united states in their whole life and they didn't have any problem. If you like to travel as much as volunteer like me, this types of programes offer you the best of both combined.

Volunteering solutions are a fun and supportive company that allow you to make a difference to children's lives who really need our help. I took part in the street children project last year in India. The children lived in very poor conditions but still had a big smile on their face and happy to learn. I met some very inspirational children and completed workshops on building self esteem as well as educating the children in s fun and engaging way. My house keeper was very friendly and welcoming and a great cook! I met some amazing people!

My best memories of the internship in India are about discoveries. When you get there, keep your eyes open and appreciate the differences. This country is proud of its culture and you must get into it. We spent so many hours in trains and overfilled bus, tried unusual food that was sometimes too much spicy, saw several temples and experienced monsoon. They are all parts of the immersion and you must live it without any regret.

We had the chance to do home visits and it was definitely the favourite part of my job. The relation with the locals is totally different and the gratitude you receive from them worth all the sacrifices.