Location
  • India
    • Dharamsala
    • Delhi
    • Himalaya
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Price Details
1) Pick up & drop off from airport at the time of your arrival and departure.
2) Pre Departure Information Kit, which has all information regarding your program
3) Program briefing on arrival at the iSpiice house & market visit on arrival.
4) 3 meals a day by iSpiice’s talented Indian chef with filtered purified water.
5) Accommodation at the iSpiice volunteer house with wi-fi and electricity.
6) Separate male and female bedrooms and western toilets (with hot water 24*7 and western toilets).
7) Daily private car transfers (to and from work placements).
8) Material required for volunteer work such as teacher’s workbooks, pens, pencils etc.
9) Certificate of service.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Jul 11, 2023
Dec 19, 2023
69 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Teach basic's of English to women & children & create a playful environment by encouraging them to learn, speak, read & write. Under the Teaching volunteer program in India, you will have the opportunity to volunteer in primary and public schools, community centers in and around the beautiful town of Dharamsala. Poor education standards, illiteracy and high student dropout rates are some of the more glaring issues for educational reform in India. iSpiice volunteers help by assisting local children and giving lessons in various educational institutions. The most commonly requested subjects for teaching are basic English and basic Computers – both of which come naturally to most volunteers. Our volunteer teachers don't need an in-depth knowledge of English grammar or TEFL qualification or teaching experience. What is important is the ability to motivate them to improve and practice their language skills. Study materials for teaching are provided at the iSpiice volunteer house.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

iSpiice firmly committed to providing full support and inclusivity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to create a safe and empowering space that acknowledges, values, and uplifts the unique perspectives and contributions of BIPOC communities. Our organization stands united in the fight against discrimination and is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive, irrespective of their background.

LGBTQIA+ Support

We are dedicated to providing our full support for individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, we strive to create a safe and welcoming space for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Our commitment extends to promoting equal rights, dignity, and respect for every individual, regardless of their LGBTQIA+ status. We aim to create a world where diversity is embraced and everyone can thrive to their full potential.

Neurodivergent Support

We are committed to fostering inclusivity, we provide steadfast support to neurodivergent individuals. Our programs create a safe and embracing environment, where diverse neurocognitive perspectives are valued. Upholding equal rights and respect, we aim to eliminate obstacles and empower all members of the neurodivergent community to thrive through our dedicated initiatives.

Accessibility Support

With a strong commitment to inclusivity, We offer support for individuals requiring accessibility accommodations. Our initiatives are designed to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully participate and contribute. Whilst some programs may be more suitable than others, we strive to empower all individuals to engage and excel in our programs and activities.

Impact

Sustainability

We are dedicated to promoting sustainability in all aspects of our work. By embracing sustainable practices, we envision a future where communities thrive, natural resources are preserved, and the Earth's ecosystems are nurtured for generations to come. We are committed to keeping our projects focused on positively benefitting the local communities and environment.

Ethical Impact

iSpiice is committed to providing ethical volunteer opportunities that truly benefit the local communities. We support a small network of Volunteer Programs in India that we have specifically chosen due to their efforts being sustainable for our volunteers and the local communities alike. We work closely with each of our local teams to ensure we are assessing and adapting to ensure quality experiences for all involved.
iSpiice does not provide volunteer opportunities in orphanages in any of our locations. Our aim is to provide the best facilities to our volunteers and also to nurture the host communities in the most effective manner.
We focus on offering alternative childcare volunteer opportunities whereby children come to and from the placement setting each day. In other words, our local teams collaborate with childcare projects which do not offer any form of residential care. These are safe and responsible projects, where participants continue to provide valued assistance supporting local staff. Volunteers, who wish to get associated with our projects, need to follow certain guidelines according to the company policies.

Program Highlights

  • Make a vital contribution to the education system in India and make a real difference in the lives of Indian children.
  • iSpiice Volunteer programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects from $250.
  • Walk down the Himalayan trails & experience the thrill of trekking.
  • Optional add on trips to India's famous UNESCO'S sites including Taj Mahal, Trekking in Himalays, Famous Golden Triangle tour, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh pilgrimage trips and much more.
  • Volunteering at stunning location of Himalayas, Dharamsala, 5 days (Monday to Friday) per week & help kids build a solid foundation for their future by teaching them English.

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Program Reviews

4.88 Rating
based on 26 reviews
  • 5 rating 92.31%
  • 4 rating 3.85%
  • 3 rating 3.85%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.8
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.8
  • Facilities 4.85
  • Safety 4.95
  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 9 - 16 of 26 reviews
Default avatar
Gia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unique opportunity.

I attended iSpiice this past May, and had an amazing experience. iSpiice staff is absolutely amazing, iSpiice volunteer house is nice and clean. Project was absolutely safe. There is never a moment where I felt unsafe. I am very thank full to Varun he is a fun loving guy. You can learn how to make other people laugh and reduce lots of problems by doing volunteering. I wish him and his team to work like this and create more volunteering opportunities for the world. This place is truly does care about the volunteers. All the best!!!

114 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kamiya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A once in a lifetime opportunity.

I really enjoyed being here and being an iSpiice volunteer. I thought everything was very organized and we were very well taken care of. I loved the staff at iSpiice so much! Everyone was so helpful and caring while we were here and made being away from home easy. I will definitely recommend iSpiice to friends and family, it was a great way to see India and volunteer even i have visited India before.” I must say that iSpiice will challenge you, inspire you, and change you. I will never forget my great experience volunteering in India with iSpiice.

75 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Zoe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome experience!

iSpiice (Integrated Social Programs In Indian Child Education) is awesome! I’ve spent a month in Dharamsala within this volunteer program. I meet nice people; I’ve seen wonderful landscapes; I’ve discovered a country full of history, religion, love to share…The volunteer organisation was safe, clean, good atmosphere, friendly…I totally recommend this organisation! I taught English and Computer Skills to women and kids. I will always remember the moments I’ve spent with all of them…My best adventure abroad ever!

77 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Caroline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing.

I really enjoyed myself here both the people and program’s have been interesting. Teaching in the slum and school was great experience. The kids are really enthusiastic and want to learn which makes the teaching less stressful and more fun. Having access to the internet to help with lesson plans was a great help. It was well worth all that it took to get there.
The experiences iSpiice have given me will be one I will never forget.

52 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sharron
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience.

I am so grateful to have been able to support this outstanding organization. The iSpiice team is making a noticeable difference in the community and I am thankful to have been a part of it. Everything was so carefully organised and cared.The iSpiice team is so dedicated to their jobs and everyone in the community is thankful for your hard work. I can honestly recommend iSpiice for anyone who wants to volunteer in India.

What would you improve about this program?
I will not change anything!
45 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Irina-Maria
3/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Not coming back

I must confess that overall my experience here was disappointing and far away for what has been presented in the borchures.The experience had both good and bad parts, of course, but the latter proved to be stronger. Among the good things I can think of the contact with the lovely, curious children, the breathtaking landscapes and the care of the staff for our safety. The programme however cost way too much for what it has offered. I later found out that the site facilitating contact between the organization and volunteers takes away no less than 40%, which is a hug amount that basically goes to the profit of some third party. Then I was very dissatisfied with the room. I myself am highly allergic to mold and humidity and unfortunately the place I stayed in was full of it. I understand it was monsoon season but the room had a broken fan, cracked walls full of mold, a dirty rusty bathroom and everything was soaked. The bedsheets were disgusting and looked like they hadn't been washed in a very long time. The matresses were also in a very bad state. Basically everything was deteriorated and dirty. My request to swap the room at least with one with a working fan went ungranted so in just a few days I found myself troubled by my sinusitis which has prevented me from focusing on other important things. During the trips I stayed at very cheap hotels which also had numerous problems (dirt, ants, very bad neighborhood). Again, quality was not reflected in the huge amount of money I paid for the project. Now about the school. It was baffling to me to see the deplorable state of the children's space and I wonder why nothing has been invested so far in the community. I tried asking questions to the organization's manager but I was given vague answers. The children were adorable but the classes were quite disorganized. Because volunteers come and go and everyone has other ideas about what's to be taught, it can get really confusing for them. Ok, let's say that is somehow understandable and we have to adapt to the needs and resources, but the fact that the accomodation is in such poor condition has no excuse whatsoever. They could at least pay for someone to clean once a week. The kitchen also looked horribly dirty. All I would have liked was cleanliness and a decent room. As for the impact, I am not sure how much I was able to help. I am seriously questioning the utility of short-term volunteering projects as I can see both from my experience and from others' that local communities don't really benefit from them. You get there, have the chance to explore a little and talk to people, but it's not enough. The programme should have included more hours per day, 6 or 7. We had gaps when there simply was nothing to do. The kids at school should also be better monitored, maybe with diaries assessing their levels and what has been done so far. My impression overall was that the organization was not interested in such aspects. Everything seemed a huge improvisation. And to repeat, what annoyed me most was the lack of respect for the guests perfectly reflected in the VERY poor quality of the accomodation. As you can also see below. In the future I will most definitely try to find something directly, no intermediaries because otherwise it's a big scam!

What would you improve about this program?
FIX THE ACCOMODATION.
54 people found this review helpful.
Response from iSpiice

Dear Irina,

Thank you for sharing the review. We will be careful from now on about the accommodation.

So sorry to hear your experience wasn't good with iSpiice.

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

Nice Place for teaching

It was my life changing experience after joining iSpiice. I can say with complete honesty that this was one of the best experiences of my life. I had always wanted to go to India and am so pleased that I chose to do it with iSpiice.

56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Larissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Immersion in India

I volunteered for six weeks in iSpiice and it was a nice and safe way to discover the North part of India and also delicious culinary specialties. I have wonderful images stored in my head of beautiful children and magical memories of trips I had the opportunity to to alone during weekends.

What would you improve about this program?
- Have a clearer program about the skills pupils have already acquired and which skills we should work on (grammar, vocabulary, ... -> a clear list of topics seen and those that need to be study)
- Work in more than one school and more than one slum
- Don't write on the website that you can help women when you can't in reality
41 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

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Wait for the provider of this program to accept you! You will receive an email to your personal inbox as well as your Inbox here on Go Overseas within 48 hours.