Program Reviews

Volunteering at a community center in Dharamsala was one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had. The kids were great and so enthusiastic and fun! It was truly a most gratifying experiences. Since the first day in India the adventure was amazing, the places I went, the people I met, the food, everything was just incredible. I would recommend anyone who is looking for a pleasing, satisfying as well as a real experience of volunteering abroad to go with iSPIICE. The staffs are very warm, friendly and funny and they make feel at home. The project itself was very safe and organized. The time spent with the children will definitely stay in my memories forever. Additionally, the trip to Agra and Jaipur was a blast with the other volunteers in the group. The tours were incredibly informative, and we had a great time seeing the cities. The accommodation at volunteer house was lovely and clean and the food was delicious. I would highly recommend iSPIICE to all my friends considering volunteering in future! Saying goodbye to our students was one of the hardest parts of the trip. I can honestly give positive volunteer in India reviews and recommend iSPIICE for anyone who wants to volunteer in India.

Keep an open mind and GO! The guidance and preparation resources I received pre-departure were spot on target and the in-country volunteer coordinator was absolutely fabulous! Very passionate and dedicated. I had an absolutely amazing experience in India with the iSpiice Volunteer program. This experience truly made me a better person, taught me new things and has allowed me to see the world differently. I took part in the community development program where it was amazing to see the things you were able to teach them and see how they progressed so much over such little time. The teaching experience was a bit challenging, yet it was worth it.

“iSpiice (Integrated Social Programs In Indian Child Education) is awesome! “My experience with iSpiice changed my life. It opened my eyes and my heart to a world that was so similar to mine, yet so different. It was also such an honor to be part of a global community of volunteers who were there for the same reason - to be of service and to have fun. It was well worth all that it took to get there.” The iSpiice team is so dedicated to their jobs and everyone in the community is thankful for your hard work. The volunteer organisation was safe, clean, good atmosphere, friendly. I totally recommend this organisation!

“Working with iSpiice has been a phenomenal experience. From its mission, to the people who run it, to the Programs we volunteer at. I’ve loved working with all the people behind iSpiice because they’re all nice, funny, accommodating and such joys to have around. Varun is so passionate about the Programs that we work at and that passion is contagious – I wanted to work harder to make his Programs a success. I’ve loved it all and am so glad to have had this experience. ”My time volunteering with iSpiice has been 10 out of 10 – great hospitality, Programs and structure.”

Doing for the first time a volunteer abroad as a seventeen years old French girl. I am still learning how to speak English well. Indeed it is really open to every age and different level of English.
Because without knowing exactly how this trip would look like it could be easy to worry about so many things. For example, would communication be complicated ? Would it be hard to be around people that are much older ? or else How to be sure to behave well without knowing precisely the codes of Indian culture ?
And at the end everything was just perfect. Indeed the language doesn’t matter so much because you always find a way to communicate with at least one person who understands English. Also all the people are very present for you if you need anything. Everyone is kind and open-minded. Local people are very friendly and interested in learning and sharing their culture.
So if you might need to take one thing from this review is just to be confident about this program and that will just bring you so much enriching and improving skills.
Ps : In addition to all of that, I really want to mention how enlightening this experience is ! Spending time with Indian people during 4 weeks and being really immersed in their daily life made this trip more memorable because you truly discovered Indian culture. Another thing that is excellent is the different trips we have the possibility to do because they can teach you so much. So I really recommend you to try the trek in the Himalaya and also the visit to the Taj Mahal :)

There are two parts to the program I did. The first is the day-to-day in a rural Indian Village in the Himalayas. From Mon-Fri you will spend 4 hours a day teaching, playing, and impacting people in the community, for the rest of the time you can explore the mountains, the different cities (30 min from Dalai Lama and Daramsala), or just relax and take in the peaceful ambience of the private volunteer terrace.

The other part is the excursions, of which they offer many. From the Ganges to the Golden Temple and the Himalayas to the Taj Mahal, each one can touch your soul in a different way.

Lastly, to me, the good hearts and good minds of the people here make this a great choice of program to truly experience India.

I spent two weeks volunteering with community children and women through iSpiice and it was an incredibly enriching experience.
Viki, the host, is a wonderful person, cooking homecooked meals every day with homegrown ingredients from the surrounding fields. His wife Bindu and son Kitu are two extremely kind-hearted and bright people - making you feel at home at the volunteering site, their home. The village is small, tucked away in the mountains, away from the hussle of a city and tourists. The walk from the campus to the volunteering site is a gorgeous 15min walk through the rice fields. It creates for an intimate experience with the nature around, the kids, the community, the food, and the culture. You don’t feel like a tourist here. You live the life of the people in the village - simply, peacefully, and seasonally.
The trekking weekend was a definite highlight of my time. Despite the fact that we went during the off-season (monsoon) and were soaked for the entire hike with most of the view covered in mist, the entire experience was so much fun. We had a great guide, and the view from the camping site once the sky cleared up was breathtaking and worth every millimetre of sweat and rain! The food (dinner and breakfast) cooked by the guides was absolutely delicious. (See photo)
I finished my time with a trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Definitely worth the trip!! The hotel had a view of the Taj Mahal and it was only a 5min tuktuk ride away from the mausoleum. The whole trip was super well organised - I felt safe and guided the whole way!
Wish I could stay longer but I’m so grateful for this enriching, inspiring, and spicy experience. :)

As a mature volunteer visiting over my summer teaching break, I found it an amazing, yet highly supported experience.
I was made so welcome in this small village. Vicki and Bindu, our hosts on the ground, cooked vegan home grown food and let me watch their cookery secrets.
The combination of teaching ladies in the morning and a walk home for a home cooked lunch, before a longer session teaching the children. Both women and children were such a pleasure to teach.
In addition to teaching, the extra activities on the mini break, such as trekking and visiting city sites is an excellent combination.
The volunteer house has a great verandah for sitting outdoors communally during breaks and the evening.

Volunteering with iSpiice was an amazing experience! I spent the weekdays of the first two weeks teaching kids and women English grammar, and I've learnt so much from this trip. Teaching and playing games with the kids was so much fun and brought a light to each day.

Not to mention the amazing opportunity to visit many landmarks throughout northern India. Seeing many famous monuments has been absolutely brilliant, online photos don't do them justice!

I'll remember this trip for the rest of my life! Thank you Varun and iSpiice for making me feel comfortable during my entire trip here, it's been wonderful!

Volunteering for iSpiice was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. From the moment you step out of the airport everything is looked after and the staff at iSpiice make sure you are comfortable every step of the way. Volunteering with the kids and the community classes was an immensely gratifying experience. Volunteering in India with iSpiice was more than a service experience- it impacted my perspective on the life that I live. We were welcomed, respected and trusted and I would absolutely return to volunteer if that is where my life takes me.”I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants an amazing volunteer experience and wants to enrich themselves through the Indian culture.