Pod Volunteer | Animal Rescue and Children's projects in India

I have been to this Volunteer project twice now....my plan is to return each year
The work done by this project is outstanding....that is down to the vision and effort made by the organisations founders Ravi & Gaurav. The improvements made to the lives of the poorest of children where they live is amazing. The organisation works with Orphans,Disabled children,The 'rag picking' community and the local children, ensuring, through the work of the Volunteers , that education and learning is available to these children who would otherwise have none.
As a Volunteer this is deeply satisfying work....the children and the community welcome you. There is no greater pleasure than working with these enthusiastic children....it is the most rewarding venture i have ever undertaken in my 59 years.
Ravi & Gaurav support and guide us through the process.
They along with Neha(Ravis wife) care for us excellently back at the Volunteer house
You are given the opportunity to enjoy the local culture and the beautiful city of Udaipur.....to travel further afield with Ravi & Gauravs support....you will make friends from all over the world and tgere is akways fun back at the Volunteer house
For any one who wants an adventure....to help support children who clearly benefit and improve their life chances because of your effort....to meet fantastic people and enrichen your own experience then go to Udaipur...to this project and enjoy every moment and experience.
It will stay with you for always.

My time spent teaching in India exceeded my expectations on so many levels. The housing, the support we received, the enthusiam of the kids with whom we worked, the professionalism and guidance of my fellow volunteers, the directors dedication to the community and the extra activities were all excellent. All of that with the stunning city of Udaipur as a backdrop. It made for a worthwhile and wonderful experience.

So much credit needs to be given to program directors Ravi and Gaurav (along with Ravi's wife Neeha) for their dedication to improving the lives of the less fortunate in their area. This dedication is apparent in the support, education and guidance they give volunteers.

This well equipped program is lucky to have a group of dedicated volunteers. They are of all ages and all walks of life. It creates a nice balance of strengths and weaknesses. And other volunteers are also around to answer questions and provide guidance.

The city of Udaipur, a few kilometres from our "home", is absolutely stunning.

Volunteering at the animal rescue project was an incredibly rewarding experience that left me with long-lasting memories and a new perspective on compassion and empathy for other living beings. It is an inspiring place to be, and the efforts of the owners to provide a sanctuary for the city's injured animals is humbling.

The host family were wonderfully accommodating and not once did I ever feel homesick. They were eager to help me make the most of my short two weeks in India and their hospitality was above and beyond what I could have expected.

If you are an animal lover then don't think twice about taking on this program! You will be greatly rewarded with memories and impressions that stay with you long after your trip ends.

I spent a couple of weeks last September on the childcare programme in Udaipur Rajasthan India.
I cant recommend it highly enough and if you are thinking you would like to see some of India and immerse yourself in the culture, aswell as volunteering and working with children , this is the project for you . You would definetly gain more than you give.
The programme is diverse as you are involved with many differing children with many differing needs .
The charity workers out there Ravi and Gaurav are so enthusiatic about the empowerment and education of the local children , and there compassion and zest are infectious.
I am planning my next trip to return to Udaipur in the spring and cant wait to see the children , the family that run the charity and meet some more volunteers.
you are made to feel so welcome and the atmosphere is happy and homely . The memories you take from this trip will last a lifetime.

I had such an amazing time. Everyone was so helpful and friendly- made me feel very at home.

Alongside volunterring we visited different sites of India, saw a bollywood film at the cinema and took an overnight train to see the Taj Mahal. It was a fantastic experince and one I would thoroughly recommend!

It was lovely to learn how to cook Indian dishes and traditional Henna, and we were able to play volleyball and cricket with the children in the area too.

My time in India was indescribable, in only positive ways. As an individual who has not traveled as much or as far, this opportunity changed my life in many ways. From the cultural immersion, beautiful sights, and extremely amiable people, to teaching such grateful, eager, and absolutely adorable children, I could never be more thankful for this experience in every way. Everyday you arrive and the children are thrilled to see you and touch your heart. I went to India with no expectations, no certainity, and feeling nervous for what I would encounter, but left a new person. Somehow in such a short time, I fell in love with India, the children, and the culture. And I hope to return in the future, for this experience has taught me so much about the world, people, culture, and myself. If I could give one tip to people headed with any POD program it would be to let yourself whole heartedly participate, grow, experience, and be apart of wherever you go in the world. Let yourself experience the emic side of traveling and really divulge into what your doing with no hesitation. For it will be the most profound experience of your lifetime, as it has been for me. I cannot fathom enough my love, appreciation, and thankfulness for POD, the local accommodations and people, the kids, and India itself.

I have recently returned from a month working at Animal Aid Unlimited through POD volunteers.

I had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Animal Aid was life changing and I intend to return next year. POD were fantastic and advised on everything every step of the way.

My accommodation and the team in India couldn't be faulted, excellent food, fun and help if needed.

I felt happy, safe and fulfilled as a volunteer at all times and would recommend it to anyone with a real passion to help.

I have always loved the culture at India having visited the country a few times when I was young but never got the chance to visit the beautiful city of Udaipur. I searched through a lot of volunteering websites but this project stood out to me the most. I felt it was great that it gave me a chance to give something back to underprivileged children in the rural areas of Udaipur and also being able to explore the city whilst being there.

The home at Bedla had a welcoming atmosphere when I first arrived. The family at the volunteer house is very supportive and whether you are concerned about something, need help to plan a trip on the weekend (like how I did with my Jaipur trip) and just general queries, they are really happy to help.

I have lots of memories here to name - from the games we played with the children in the orphanage and rag-picking community and them always being intrigued by our life and what it was like back home haha!

Another special memory was the determined nature of the children in the disabled school
to carry out the craft task involving making a paper owl. There were some individuals who had no hands and managed to gluestick the paper on the cardboard. I also really liked when we played games with the boys in the orphanages and their 'secret handshake' they made us to do as well as their cheeky smiles upon our arrival...

Days out with the whole volunteer house was really fun as well. My best memory was when we all went to the Udaipur mall for dinner and I tried something new that was a traditional dish. It was nice to wind down and talk to other volunteers in the house after a busy day!

I realised during the end of my time here that the impact we made on the children was nothing compared to the impact they have on us and how we cannot take our life for granted.