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Overview
Be a part of the 1 Week Special Short Term Volunteer Program in India with Volunteering Solutions and make a difference in the lives of the street children living in the capital city, New Delhi. In a span of just 7 days, you'll get to travel and explore some of the heritage sites in Delhi as well as see the gorgeous Taj Mahal in Agra, apart from spending time doing something incredible for the needy kids.
There's a huge number of underprivileged children who do not have access to proper shelter, education, health, and parental care. As a volunteer, you'll be working with such a bunch in a local shelter home, offering them adequate love and care, as well teach them, play with them, and encourage them for a better life. Special art and craft sessions are also arranged in order to redecorate the center and engage more deeply with the children. Your contributions will be much appreciated and it'll be a great learning opportunity for you as well.
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.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Delhi
Welcome to India! As you arrive, you'll be greeted at the airport by our local coordinator, and then transferred to their accommodation in the city. After some rest, you can head out in the evening and explore the city.
Day 2 - Get Started With Your Volunteering Work
After breakfast at the volunteer house, there will be a brief orientation session about the activities planned for the week. Then, the participants would head off to the project site. They would be introduced to the placement staff and given a brief of the work they would be doing and meeting children from the placement.
Activities at the project include teaching children, designing fun and learning games for them, assisting the local staff in administrative tasks and redecorating the center along with the kids in an interactive manner. It'll be a crazy and funfilled day, as you'll work with a naughty bunch who'll constantly keep you engaged!
Day 3 - Day 6 - Continue with Volunteer Work
You'll be continuing with the same work with the children at the shelter home for the next few days. Try to make good use of your time and help as much as you can. By the time this program ends, you'll surely feel happy and satisfied, thinking about the service you've provided to this place.
Day 7 - Amazing Trip to Agra
Today, there's gonna be an early morning to departure to Agra to witness the magnificent wonder of the world - The Taj Mahal. Participants get a comprehensive guided tour of the monument after which they will head to a local restaurant for a sumptuous Lunch. Post lunch, return journey to Delhi begins and by late evening, volunteers retire at the volunteer house accommodation in Delhi.
Day 8 - Time To Say 'Good Bye'
Check out from the accommodation in the morning for flying back home or to carry on with your journey! It's time for the final Good Bye!
Optional Activities:
1) Visit Dilli Haat, an open-air craft bazaar cum food plaza situated in Delhi. Craftsmen from all states of India display their wares here and a wide variety of handicrafts are available. Some of the things that you can pick up from Dilli Haat are hand painted Paper Mache products like bangles, jewelry boxes, and trays, which certainly makes for great buys. Shawls, stoles, and scarves in silk and cotton are popular items too.
2) Learn how to cook authentic Indian food, and know about the basics of Indian home cooking style.
3) Get Mehendi (henna art) done on your hands! (Mehndi is a form of body art originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which decorative designs are created on a person's body, using a paste, created from the powdered dry leaves of the henna plant.)
Living
Volunteers/Interns are provided accommodation in a volunteer house or in a homestay (on request) accommodation managed by the local coordinating team.
Two meals a day (Breakfast and Dinner) are provided to the participants from Monday - Saturday.
You would be staying at one of our Volunteer home base in South Delhi. The accommodations are neat and clean.
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 your convenience.
The homes are close to useful amenities like banks, ATM’s, currency exchanges, restaurants, cafes, and shopping arcades. All placements are around 10 - 30 minutes from the accommodation. Volunteers/Interns will be shown their placement site on the first day of work.
On Sunday, participants are free to eat out and explore the different gastronomical delights that Delhi has to offer.
Some volunteers/interns are also provided accommodation in the project premises itself. For example - Volunteers working in the 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.
When volunteering in Palampur, you will be living in a beautifully built volunteer house in the lap of Himalayas with an in-house and all basic facilities to keep you comfortable and safe. When traveling, living is arranged in a 3-star hotel with all facilities and on a same-gender sharing basis.
Orientation and Briefing
There will be an orientation session on the first day of the program. Volunteers/Interns will be told about India in general, and about their specific project and if there’s any question, our in-country coordinators will be glad to reply.
Meals
To give a proper feel, mostly Indian food will be provided to the volunteers/ interns.
Breakfast - Paratha, 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.
Volunteers/Interns will have to manage their lunch on their own. Our coordinator will assist you regarding the best places for lunch, that's near the program location.
We'll ensure that you get to experience a pleasant stay.
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?
- Airport Pickup
- Accommodation in Volunteer House in shared dorm-style rooms on a same-gender basis
- Orientation Session
- 24/7 In-country Support
- Agra Day Tour
- Project Placement
- Meals (Indian food)
- 100% Financial Protection
- UK Based Support
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Drinks and meals not listed
- Tips and Gratuities
- Personal Expenses and snacks
- Additional transport if required
- Other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary
- Air tickets both international and domestic
- Entry Fee at Monuments
- Visa
- 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.
