Overview
The Language & Orientation Program is a week's plan that's highly recommended for volunteers to understand and soak in a bit of India before they start their volunteering program in India. It'll be a great opportunity for you to pick up some Hindi words that you can make good use of, during your volunteering days! This entire week would give you Hindi Lessons, teach you about the culture and history of India and let you explore the nooks and corners of Delhi. Of course, you'll get to visit the taj mahal as well - how can you miss that!
It's an optional week program that we would suggest you opt for before you kickstart your meaningful journey towards making a difference.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
- Learn the basics of Hindi language and try to understand Indian culture, closely.
- Observe the lives and lifestyle while living in New Delhi for a week.
- Know more about the history of the country, and how time has shaped things.
- Learn about the social problems that exist, and find out how you can make a difference through your active contribution.
Itinerary
Sunday: Arrival at Delhi airport and be welcomed by a local staff member. Head to the Volunteer’s Home in South Delhi.
Day 1: Welcome to India, introduction to the program in Delhi, safety issues, basic culture and history about India. Also, learn about your week’s program and details about your volunteering program in India to follow after the first week. In the evening, welcome dinner with the coordinator and other volunteers.
Day 2: Take a Tour to some of New Delhi's most well known historical and heritage sites. You’ll get to witness Qutab Munar and Humanyun’s Tomb, both of which are the symbols of the Mughal Rule in India. Additionally, you’ll also visit the India Gate, a memorial for martyred soldiers and Lotus Temple, a Baha’i place of worship. In the afternoon, lunch will be provided at a restaurant where you will get to experience authentic Indian food.
Day 3: Interactive session with the volunteers and the local coordinator on different topics such as the arranged marriage system in India and the joint family system. Hindi language class starts in the afternoon and you are introduced to basic Hindi words and phrases.
Day 4: Hindi language class continues till the afternoon introducing you to more words usage of which will be helpful during the volunteer placement. In the evening, watch a Bollywood movie at a cinema or in the volunteer house to understand, some of the terms you have learned, better and get a grasp of the culture of the country.
Day 5: Temple Day Today. Visit Akshardham Temple and Birla Temple.
One of the beautifully built temples in Delhi, the trip to Akshardham temple is bound to leave spellbound. Second in line is Birla Temple, a temple spread over 7.5 acres, adorned with many shrines, fountains, and a large garden with Hindu and Nationalistic sculptures.
Day 6: Finally the day to experience the quintessential bucket list experience of India. Take a day trip to Agra to see 'Taj Mahal' - one of the seven wonders of the world, along with the local coordinator or representative.
NOTE: Volunteers should keep $55-60 handy as the monuments entry fee.
Cost $250 for this 1-week program.
Taj Mahal trip cost - $100
The Language Week Starts on 1st and 3rd Monday of every month
Living
When you choose to volunteer in Delhi, we make sure that your altruistic journey is comfortable and enjoyable. As a VolSol volunteer, you will not have to worry about the airport pick up, your accommodation or your stay. Besides these, your dining, local travel is also taken care of by us.
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Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the Indira Gandhi International Airport by a member of the local coordinating team in Delhi. Pickup will be provided between 6:30am - 10pm on the program start date. Participants already in country or arriving early can also be picked up from a designated meeting point decided beforehand as well.
Accommodation
While volunteering in Delhi you would be staying at one of our Volunteer home base in South Delhi. The accommodations are neat and clean and provide volunteers a home away from home experience. Our homes are equipped with wifi internet, filtered drinking water, geysers, air conditioning, satellite television, modern toilets and comfortable beds. The homes are close to useful amenities like banks, ATMs, currency ex-changers, restaurants, cafes and shopping arcades. All placements are around 10 - 30 minutes from the homes and volunteers travel to the placements everyday and come back home in the evenings.
Orientation
A half day orientation will be provided by our staff on the next day after your arrival. We cover areas like culture, greetings, locations, transportation etc. Start your volunteering experience by taking the 1 week Language & Culture Orientation Program in Delhi.
Meals
Indian food is famous around the world for its diverse flavours, colors and aroma. While staying at the homes, you would be provided with freshly cooked breakfast and dinner, we have cooks at the home who prepare meals for the volunteers. A sample of the meals you can expect are mentioned below.
Breakfast - Parantha, Bread, Tea (chai), Jam, Butter, Porridge etc.
Dinner - Dal (lentils), vegetable, rice, roti (indian bread), pickle, yogurt may be provided along with some sort of curry.
For lunch volunteers usually eat somewhere close to their placement at a local restaurant, our coordinators would show you around at the time of orientation. This also gives you a chance to eat a variety of food that India has to offer. You would be able to have a comfortable lunch for around $3-$4.
During Your Free Time
During the free time volunteers can visit the local markets, visit internet cafes and the different restaurants in Delhi and try out the different Indian cuisines. During weekends volunteers visit the neighboring states of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Our specialised Travel Desk can help you to book tours to any part of India or to neighbouring countries like Nepal or Sri Lanka.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of £149 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Orientation
- Food (2-3 times a day)
- Accommodation
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
- 100% Financial Protection
- UK Based Support
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
Program Dates
| Months | 2021 |
| January | 0317 |
| February | 0721 |
| March | 0721 |
| April | 0418 |
| May | 0216 |
| June | 0620 |
| July | 0418 |
| August | 0115 |
| September | 0519 |
| October | 0317 |
| November | 0721 |
| December | 0519 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Medical Program volunteers must be at least 18 at the time of joining.
16-year-old volunteers can participate in Childcare projects with a Letter of Consent from their parents.
Volunteers need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.
Participants must be in good health.
India is a country of different cultures and traditions, though it is modernized, the cultural sensitivities need to be kept in mind before volunteering in India. The volunteers should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
Volunteering Solutions India program has hosted large student groups as well as families coming to volunteer in the program. We have hosted groups from universities in UK, Europe, and USA as well as other countries, in Delhi.
To add to the project experience, you can also join the Language and Orientation Week in Delhi before beginning the program. It's an optional week, besides that we recommend participants to brush up their Hindi skills (learn basic terms and phrases, greetings) before traveling.
Flights and Visa
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air India, Jet Airways, Etihad Airways, United Airlines, Swiss Air, KLM Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian, Air France, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Finn Air.
Health and Safety
If you already have a valid Travel and Medical insurance, you can email us a copy of the same. It is also advised to bring along the Insurance documents during your trip.
Accommodation and Living
You will be told about the directions to the project from your accommodation as well as the best and the most affordable mode of transport you can use. Volunteers use a variety of modes of transport to commute to different locations in Delhi. Major modes of transport are Delhi Metro and auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk?).
On Sunday, volunteers eat out and explore the different gastronomical delights that Delhi has to offer. Accommodation is shared amongst volunteers on the ‘same gender sharing’ basis rooms. Air conditioning facility is provided during the night in the volunteer home accommodations. Wifi internet is also available for volunteers’ convenience. Some volunteers are also provided accommodation in the project premises itself. For example - volunteers working in orphanage project can be provided accommodation in the project premises itself in a separate room that is allotted for volunteers. All meals will be provided to the volunteers in that case.
Connect with Past Volunteers
Volunteers can also view the volunteer testimonials of Delhi program participants by clicking here.
