Volunteer in India | The Ultimate Guide

Volunteering in India is an amazing experience. There are many different reasons for it. If you decide to volunteer in India to support a social project and their cause, you will be surprised by how much the country has to offer. It is home to diverse cultures, many many languages, its breathtaking landmarks and traits that are unique to this corner of the earth. Here is an overview of relevant facts and figures that will be important for your volunteer trip to India.

Get to know India as the diverse and culturally rich country which it is known to be. Learn all about what time is best to travel, what costs you can expect and what precautions you might want to consider. In addition you will get to know the types of available volunteer opportunities in India.

Of course volunteering in India isn’t all about working. Let us show you how to spend your free time and experience everything beautiful India has to offer – from its traditions including colorful festivals and spicy dishes to the mountains, beaches and the unique wildlife.

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• All of India is under a single time zone.
• Around 20-40% of Indians are vegetarians. Therefore India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world.
• Cows are considered sacred and can be found freely wandering the streets.
• Dancing is one of India’s most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple.
• The village of Mawsynram receives the highest recorded average rainfall in the world.
• India’s movie industry, “Bollywood”, is the largest in the world. The B in “Bollywood” comes from Bombay, the former name for Mumbai (where it is based).

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Social Projects in India

After deciding on the best time for your volunteer opportunity in India and making sure the costs you are going to face are in line with your budget, you can start to search and compare Indian volunteer programs on Volunteer World!  This is probably the most exciting part of planning your stay. So what are the most common fields for voluntary work in India?

Environment

Even though India has made great progress in the past, there are still many environmental issues that the country has to face. You think that protecting the environment is one of the most important challenges of our time? As a volunteer in India you can help where it is really needed. The country’s main problems are air pollution, water pollution, garbage and pollution of the natural environment, which are also a cause of diseases. For this reason volunteering in an Indian NPO that is active in this field is a great chance to not only help the environment but also the people.

Community

Community development work is a popular volunteer cause in India. The social issues the country has to face are overpopulation, a lack of proper sanitation and the substantial poverty. As a volunteer, you can improve various aspects of the people’s every day life. Some of the possibilities to make a great difference are: Helping with child care or street children, the empowerment of women and maintenance work like renovating houses.

Education

Volunteers who help in this field give children the chance for a good education, who couldn’t afford to go to school otherwise. Although there are many initiatives to work on the issue of poor education, it is still a concern in India. Volunteering as a teacher and mentor for these kids isn’t only very rewarding, it will also help you grow. Work in a team, plan classes independently and use your creativity to organize games to play with the children.

Other fields

The previously mentioned problems like poor sanitation and the lack of protected sources for drinking water are some of the reasons for India’s health issues. There are also great inequalities in health between the states. Because of this, volunteering in health care can be a great opportunity for you to really make a difference. In addition to these opportunities, you can also find volunteer work in social projects that are active in helping animals and promoting animal rights.

Living costs for a volunteer in India

The suggested daily budget for living as a volunteer in India is between $ 12.00 and $ 29.00, based among other things on the average price for eating out (around $ 2.95). Public transit is very cheap and can be used starting from only $ 0.18. The average price for a hotel is around $ 42.00 and for a hostel around $ 12.00.

Additional costs you should consider will be: program fees, costs for your flight and costs for your visa.

An exemplary overview on cost of living for the Rajasthan region:

Hotel $ 42.78	Big Mac® $ 2.21	Coca-Cola® $ 0.56	Eating out $ 2.95	Rental car $ 221.27/week
Hostel $ 12.54	Marlboro™ $ 1.68	Beer $ 1.95	Fuel $ 0.90	Public transport $ 0.18

Best time to volunteer in India

To find out what time or season is the best to volunteer in India, it makes sense to take a look at the weather conditions in the different regions. The best time to volunteer in India depends on your destination. Generally speaking the seasons in India are divided into summer, the monsoon season and winter.

Summers (Mar – May)

Indian summers start in March with the Northern parts of the country heating up first. Southern India stays “cooler” (with temperatures up to 35 °C/95 °F 😉) but humid. Also, thunderstorms and dust storms can be expected. Some regions stay pleasant in the summer though, like the states Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Goa and the Northeast India states.

Monsoon (Jun – Oct)

The Southwest Monsoon is the main monsoon and starts in June at the west coast. By July it rains in most parts of the country. During October, the Northwest Monsoon affects the eastern regions. Good places to stay at during the monsoon season are The Valley of Flowers National Park, Leh Ladakh, Kerala, Goa and Meghalaya.

Winter (Nov – Feb)

While much of North and North East India gets snow after the monsoon season, Southern India doesn’t get cold. Good places to visit in winter, if you like snow sports activities, are therefore the North and North East parts. If you don’t like the cold, spend your winter at Southern India’s beaches instead.

I liked the program, because it was sustainable. They really needed the help. I am planning to volunteer in India again – Sarrah (21), volunteer from the UK

What precautions should I consider as a volunteer in India?

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When moving to a different country it’s important to familiarize yourself with its unique culture and the social characteristics. This helps you to settle in quickly and avoid misunderstandings. Regarding the Indian culture, please keep in mind that:

• It is not appreciated to show affection publicly
• The same applies to nudity
• It is prohibited to smoke in public places
• You shouldn’t give money to beggars

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The majority (80 %) of the people in India practice Hinduism, but there’s also a reasonable community that believes in Islam (14%). Other religions are an important part of its culture too. It’s important to respect religious habits and places:

• Cover the head before entering a religious place
• Ask for permission before taking pictures of women and religious places: Sometimes it’s prohibited to take pictures and sometimes the places charge for it

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Keep in mind that there are different laws in every region you need to know before going to India. Generally, you can follow these simple tips:

• You must be able to identify yourself at all times
• But: Instead of carrying your documents around with you, carry attested photocopies and keep the original documents in a safe place
• Check the legal drinking age of the state you are volunteering in: The legal ages range from 18 to 25 depending on the state
• In some states (the so called “dry states”) alcohol is completely forbidden

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Since the biggest cities of India often have a population of many million people, there are crime issues that go along with their size. But also as a volunteer outside of the city, just keep in mind that:

• Safety of women is a concern in India: Women should take particular care, even in a group
• Use pre-paid taxis or taxis booked from hotels rather than hailing them on the street
• Do not use private unmarked cars as taxis
• Check your government’s website for current safety advices

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It’s annoying to get sick when traveling and although it’s a common concern for travelers to get a stomach illness when traveling to India, there are some basic precautions you can take to avoid it:

• Eat and drink safely: Don’t eat undercooked eggs, be careful with uncooked food and don’t drink the tap!
• Wash your hands often, especially before eating
• Make sure your routine vaccines are up-to-date
• The recommended vaccines to get when traveling to India for most travellers are: Hepatitis A and Typhoid
• Ask your doctor for other vaccines and medicines you might need
• Plan for how you will get health care during your stay
• Prevent bug bites: You might want to cover exposed skin, use an insect repellent, and use a bed net

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• Full-sleeved clothes will protect you from sunburn and mosquito bites
• Good sun cream (it is expensive to buy in India)
• Earplugs
• Comfortable sturdy shoes!
• Good quality suitcase locks (for train and bus rides)
• Tips for women:
• You should wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. This is even more important when you’re visiting places of worship like temples.
• It is practicable to carry a light scarf with you always. You can use it to cover your head when it gets really hot or when visiting religious places.

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How to spend your free time as a volunteer in India?

Of course the most important part of volunteering is the social work, but volunteering is also about your personal development. What better way than exploring a new place on your own? Here are some of India’s features you shouldn’t miss:

Culture

The Indian culture is diverse and old. It is affected by foreign influences, the different religions in the country and by the various languages and tribes. Exploring India’s cultural heritage is a must when visiting India and a great way to spend your free time as a volunteer.

One way to experience the Indian culture closely is by attending one of the many festivals taking place throughout the year. Some of the most popular festivals are:

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[item title=”Pongal (January, 14^th)”]Pongal is a harvest festival and is also called makar sankranti. People decorate their houses with flowers and mango or banana leaves and thank the Sun God for the good harvest that he has given. Part of this tradition is also to visit the neighbours and exchange gifts.[/item]
[item title=”Eid-ul-Fitr (The 29^th night of Ramadan)”]On this day, the breaking of fast is celebrated. After thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting, in this night the people pray to the moon, exchange gifts and buy new clothes. This Islamic festival isn’t only celebrated in India, but everywhere in the world.[/item]
[item title=”Onam (4 days between August and September)”]The festival is celebrated by the people of Kerala, living in the Southern part of India. They celebrate the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali by decorating a pyramid with beautiful flowers, wearing traditional dresses and eating traditional food. This festival is said to bring peace and harmony to their homes.[/item]
[item title=”Diwali (5 days between October and November)”]The “festival of lights” represents the start of the Hindu New Year and is celebrated in every part of the country. People worship Goddess Laxmi and God Ganesha, ask their blessings, organize fireworks, light candles and exchange gifts as part of the tradition. Many different cultural programs are taking place.[/item]
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..I enjoyed my whole journey in India. During this period I also travelled India’s most popular places like Taj Mahal, Hawa mahal, Tiger Safari, and many other places. I hope I will come here again. – Kristina (25), volunteer from the Ukraine

Cuisine

The Indian cuisine is – not surprisingly – as diverse as the country’s different regions. It is known for its rich use of herbs and spices and the different cooking techniques. Every Indian state has its special dish. East India and Goa for example are popular for their seafood. Other regions have rich Muglai food, Hyderabadi food, Gujrati food, Punjabi food, spicy Kashmiri food, Rajasthani food and many more.

Beaches

White sand, palm trees and the sound of waves crashing as they’re rolling in: Another great way to spend your free time in India is by exploring its beautiful beaches. The coastline with a length of more than 7500 Km offers everything from red cliffs, snorkelling and diving spots to beach parties at night.

Some of the most famous Indian beaches are:

• Agonda Beach, Goa: A 3 Km long cove of white sand and palm trees
• Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The small Island with its turquoise blue water is only 2 Km long and can be explored in one day
• Cavelossim Beach, Goa: Enjoy your day at the beach with some good seafood, offered at various beach shacks along Cavelossim Beach
• Varkala Beach, Kerala: This breathtaking setting consists of a long stretch of red cliffs towering above the Arabian sea
• Baga Beach, Goa: A quieter beach, perfect for water sports and fishing

Wildlife

A stay in India also offers you a rare chance to see animals like lions, tigers and rhinoceros in their natural habitat. Outside of Africa, India is the only country that is home to the Asiatic Lion. Some of the national parks that are popular destinations to see wildlife are: the Bandhavgarh national park, Corbett national park, Kaziranga national park, Periyar national park, Ranthambore national park, Gir national park, Sundarbans national park. The parks won’t be the only place you are going to get close to wild animals though. Don’t be surprised to see Elephants walking around on the streets and monkeys trying to steal from you (this is important – don’t get too close to the monkeys!).

Volunteer Requirements

Are you thinking about volunteering in one of these areas but are unsure if you are qualified enough? The following list shows the minimum requirements the programs ask for. It also gives an idea of the program fees and how long you can stay for.

• Most of the programs ask for a basic knowledge of English and that you are at least 16 or 18 years old.
• Regarding the duration of your stay, anything between 1 and 48 weeks is possible.
• The average fee you can expect for a volunteer program in India is $ 150.

How to find Volunteer Opportunities in India

Explore volunteer programs in India and find your very own volunteer opportunity in beautiful India on Volunteer World. This platform is all about making the planning of your volunteer stay in India simple and transparent. Featuring more than 500 volunteer programs and over 600 social projects in 70+ countries, Volunteer World is a one-stop resource for volunteer abroad opportunities.