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Childcare & Elephant Volunteer Experience India
Be a part of Childcare & Elephant Volunteering Experience in India, teach street kids in Delhi, volunteer at an elephant and bear rescue center near Agra, and enjoy touring Jaipur, the pink city of India.
This program places you in South Delhi, working at day care centers and shelter homes for street children run by local organizations, and later at an elephant rescue center on the outskirts of Agra. In Delhi you support informal education classes, play with the children and help with basic literacy and recreation. At the Agra center you help with elephant kitchen work, enrichment repairs, gardening and fodder distribution, always alongside center staff. It suits volunteers from 17 who want a short, structured placement that combines hands-on work with children and animals, no prior experience required.
The program runs for 2 weeks, starting twice a month (sundays), with the next start on 4 Oct 2026. You stay in a hostel in Delhi, a volunteer house near Agra, and a hostel in Jaipur, with meals provided as set out in the itinerary. Prices start at $1,414, deposit included. The program-specific draw is the built-in Golden Triangle route: your placement work in Delhi and Agra is bookended by guided sightseeing in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, including the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort.
- Volunteer for the Street Children in Delhi and make a difference in the lives of the little ones
- Assist in the administration work of the local center, fundraise for their necessities etc
- Get to volunteer at an Elephant rescue center/hospital in the outskirts of Agra
- Explore Delhi and get to witness the beauty of UNESCO Heritage monuments such as Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fort
- Sightseeing in Agra, visit the Taj Mahal
- City tour of Jaipur, thus completing the ‘The Golden Triangle’ of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur
Your role on this program
- Take informal education classes with street children at day care centers or shelter homes in Delhi
- Play games and introduce new recreational activities to the children
- Assist local staff with basic literacy and recreation activities
- Spend time with the children at the center, providing company and attention
- Help with elephant kitchen work, including cutting fruit and preparing porridge or enrichment treats
- Assist with enrichment structure repair and building new enrichment items
- Help with gardening, plantation and nursery maintenance at the elephant center
- Distribute fodder and walk with the elephants alongside center staff
- Support with tasks such as cleaning the gift shop or visitor center, filling the guest register, or assisting visitors
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You support local teachers and carers at the Delhi day care centers and shelter homes and are never left in sole charge of children; a criminal background check is required before you start, and Volunteering Solutions does not place volunteers in orphanages. At the Agra center, elephant care and any veterinary treatment are handled by trained staff; volunteers assist with kitchen, enrichment, gardening and fodder tasks under supervision, and duties may vary with the placement's needs.
Program itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday) – Arrival at Delhi and transfer to accommodation
Upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, our coordinator will welcome you and then take you to your accommodation. Take some time off to relax and overcome jet lag. Later you can have a walk around the accommodation or select from one of the optional activities for the day.
Meals – Dinner, subject to arrival time
Day 2 (Monday) – Orientation
Enjoy your breakfast at the accommodation, which will be followed by a detailed orientation session. In this session, our program coordinator will give you all the information about your program and schedule. Rest of time is free for leisure activities or for optional tours.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner
Day 3 (Tuesday) – Delhi city tour
Today, after breakfast, we will take you for a city tour of Delhi. You will be visiting some of the most famous places in the capital; such as Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Humayun’s Tomb and India Gate. You can have lunch at a local restaurant (at own cost).
(Meals – Breakfast and dinner)
Day 4 (Wednesday) to Day 6 (Friday) – Volunteering in Delhi
You will be volunteering in Delhi for 3 days. Volunteers will be working in the Street Children or the Child Care Project in Delhi. Under this project, volunteers take informal education classes with the children, play games with them and introduce them to different new activities.
Volunteers work at the various contact points or shelter homes, being run by various organizations, which serve as day care centers for these street children. They can assist in providing love, care, basic literacy, recreation and most importantly spend time with them and shower affection on them.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner
Day 7 (Saturday) – Free day
This day is free to roam around in Delhi and visiting places of interest. If your placement is open on Saturday you can also go to the placement.
Meals – Breakfast and dinner
Day 8 (Sunday) – Delhi to Agra, visit Taj Mahal
Early morning we will transfer you to the train station in Delhi and you will travel to Agra by air-conditioned train. Upon arrival at Agra, our representative will transfer you to the accommodation booked for you. After getting refreshed you will visit Taj Mahal. After the visit to Taj Mahal, you can see how the marble inlay work is done and you can buy gifts. You can have lunch and dinner at the hotel or at a local restaurant nearby.
Meals – Breakfast
Day 9 (Monday) – Transfer to Elephant program accommodation, orientation at the project site and volunteering work begins
After early breakfast, at 8 am we will transfer to your program accommodation. Get familiar with the accommodation and then at around 9.30 we will transfer you to the program placement site. There will be an orientation where all program related information will be given to you.
Main tasks at the placement are:-
Elephant Kitchen work (Cutting fruits / Distributing porridge / Making enrichment treats)
Enrichment Structure repair / Making new enrichment
Gardening / Plantation / Nursery maintenance
Fodder distribution
Walk with the Elephants
Other tasks may include:-
Cleaning the gift shop/visitor center
Cleaning the area around the education walkway center
Help to fill in the guest register
Assisting guests during their visits
Working hours:-
9/9.30 am to 5 pm
Meals – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 10 (Tuesday) and day 11 (Wednesday) – Elephant volunteering continues
Work at your placement continues.
Meals – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12 (Thursday) – Transfer to Agra, Agra to Jaipur
Today, post breakfast we will transfer you to Agra city. You will have lunch in Agra (at your own cost) and then we will transfer you to the train station in Agra. You will travel to Jaipur by an air-conditioned train. Upon arrival at Jaipur, our representative will pick you up from the station and take you to the booked accommodation. You can have dinner at the accommodation or in a local restaurant nearby (at own cost).
Meals – Breakfast
Day 13 (Friday) – Jaipur city tour
After breakfast, you will go for the city tour of Jaipur. In this tour, you will visit City Palace and monkey temple. You will also have a photo stop at Jal Mahal (Palace in the lake). You can also do shopping in Jaipur.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 14 (Saturday) – Visit Amber Fort, Jaipur to Delhi
After early breakfast, at around 8.30 am, you will first take a photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds) and then you will see the historic Amber Fort. After the fort visit, you will have a photo stop at Jal Mahal (Palace in the lake). You will be back to accommodation by 12 noon. After check out, you can have lunch at the hotel (at extra cost). Later you can wait at the hotel lobby (if the hotel allows late check in then you can stay back in the room). At 5 pm we will transfer you to the train station in Jaipur and you will travel to Delhi by air-conditioned train. Upon arrival in Delhi, we will transfer you to accommodation.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 15 (Sunday) – Departure
This is the last day of your Program. You can contact the program coordinator if you would like to arrange airport transfer at a nominal cost.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17
- No prior childcare or animal-handling experience needed, but an open mind and a flexible attitude are expected
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program, with willingness to work outdoors
- Clean criminal background check report required, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Parental consent form required for participants under 18
- Travel/medical insurance required, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
- Interest in working with wildlife for the elephant center portion of the program
The placement, its limits and your part in it
In Delhi, you work at day care centers and shelter homes for street children that are run by various local organizations, supporting the teachers and carers already in place. Near Agra, you work at an elephant rescue center, assisting the regular staff with day-to-day animal care tasks rather than clinical or veterinary work. In both settings, a local coordinating team manages your schedule and orientation, and you are supervised throughout.
Because placements involve children, a criminal background check is required and you are never left in sole charge of a child; safeguarding and welfare decisions rest with the local staff and organizations running the centers, not with volunteers. Your contribution is best understood as short-term, supervised support to existing local staff and routines: extra hands for lessons, play, basic center tasks, and elephant husbandry support, not a substitute for trained professionals and not a guarantee of any particular outcome for the children or animals involved.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in IndiaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,414 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Comprehensive pre-departure guide
- Round the clock assistance from support staff and In-country program coordinator
- Airport pickup
- Program orientation
- Accommodation in Volunteer House/Guesthouse
- Volunteering at an elephant rescue center near Agra
- Breakfast and meals as specified in the itinerary
- Delhi-Jaipur-Agra train tickets
- Guides for local sightseeing in Jaipur and Agra
- Visit to amazing Taj Mahal in Agra and famous monuments in Jaipur
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- International/Domestic Airfare
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance (available at nominal cost)
- Entry fees at monuments
- Local transportation to and fro program location
- Departure transfer to airport (can be arranged at nominal cost)
- Meals that are not mentioned
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, volunteers will be greeted by a member of the local coordinating team in Delhi. Scheduled pickup services are available between 8 am and 8 pm on the program start date. Participants who are already in the country or arriving early can also be picked up from a predetermined meeting point. If you arrive outside scheduled pickup hours, we can arrange for pickup at extra charges.
Accommodation
Participants in Delhi are provided accommodation at a conveniently located hostel in South Delhi. Located at just a five-minute walk from a Metro station in South Delhi, the hostel offers easy access to iconic landmarks like the Lotus Temple and Khan market.
The hostel has spacious dormitories and private rooms that are perfect for a cozy stay. Whether you’re lounging in our cozy common area or enjoying a hearty meal at our in-house cafe, every aspect of your stay is designed for comfort and convenience. Additionally, the hostel has an open outdoor area, which is ideal for connecting with fellow travelers.
All rooms in the hostel are air conditioned. While bedding is provided, you should bring your own towels and toiletries.
On the day of arrival in Agra, 1-day accommodation will be provided in a hostel. When volunteering for Elephants, volunteers will stay in a volunteer house located in the outskirts of the city, close to the countryside. This accommodation will be provided on same-gender sharing basis. The accommodation is basic but comes with all necessary facilities such as a fully-functional kitchen, water filter, a common seating area, a common dining area, a collection of books to read, basic WiFi, clean linen, blankets etc. In Jaipur accommodation will be provided in a hostel as well.
Upgrades to private single or double rooms are available at extra charges.
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 flavors, colors, and aroma. Renowned worldwide for its diverse flavors, Indian cuisine takes center stage during your volunteering experience. All meals shall be provided as per the itinerary.
During Your Free Time
During the free time in Delhi, volunteers can visit the local markets and monuments. In Agra, volunteers can see the marble inlay work. In Jaipur, volunteers can do shopping and see the walled city. Volunteers can also plan for extended trips to various destinations in India like Varanasi, Udaipur, Goa, Kerala etc.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in India
Airport pickup in Delhi
A member of the local coordinating team meets you at Indira Gandhi International Airport and transfers you to your hostel accommodation in South Delhi. Scheduled pickup runs between set hours on your start date; pickups outside that window can be arranged at extra cost.
First night and settling in
After arrival you have time to rest and recover from travel, with dinner provided depending on your arrival time. You can take a short walk near the hostel or opt into an optional activity.
Orientation
On your first full day, after breakfast, the program coordinator runs a half-day orientation covering your schedule, the center you will work at, culture, greetings and local transportation.
First days and ongoing support
Sightseeing in Delhi comes before your placement work begins, and volunteering at the Delhi center runs over several days before you travel onward to Agra. Throughout the program, the local team provides 24-hour emergency contact support.
From volunteers in India
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually be doing day to day?
In Delhi you take informal education classes, play games and help with basic literacy and recreation at a day care center or shelter home for street children. Near Agra, you help with elephant kitchen work, enrichment repairs, gardening and fodder distribution at a rescue center.
Do I need childcare or animal experience to join?
No experience is required for either the Delhi childcare placement or the Agra elephant center; you need an open mind, a flexible attitude, and willingness to work outdoors.
What are the working hours like?
At the elephant center in Agra, work runs approximately 9am to 5pm. Hours for the Delhi childcare placement are not specified, so this can vary by day and by the center you are assigned to.
How long is the program and when can I start?
The program runs for 2 weeks, with new intakes twice a month (sundays). The next available start date is 4 Oct 2026.
What does the price include and how much is the deposit?
Prices start at $1,414, deposit included. This covers airport pickup, accommodation, meals as specified in the itinerary, in-country train travel between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, local sightseeing guides, and program orientation and support.
Where will I stay and what meals are provided?
You stay in a hostel in South Delhi, a volunteer house near Agra on same-gender sharing basis, and a hostel in Jaipur, with private room upgrades available at extra cost. Meals follow the itinerary: breakfast and dinner in Delhi on most days, breakfast, lunch and dinner during the Agra elephant placement, and breakfast on travel days.
How does airport pickup work?
You are picked up at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi by the local coordinating team on scheduled hours on your start date. If you arrive outside those hours, pickup can still be arranged at an extra charge.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
The local coordinating team runs your orientation and stays in contact throughout the program, and a 24-hour emergency contact is provided for the duration of your stay.
Do I need a visa, insurance or vaccinations?
Visa fees and travel insurance are not included in the program price; insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions. Specific visa and vaccination guidance is sent to you before departure.
Is a background check required, and why?
Yes, because the childcare placement involves working around children you need a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date, in addition to parental consent if you are under 18.
Will I be alone with the children or the elephants?
No. In Delhi you support local teachers and carers and are never left in sole charge of children, and at the Agra center you work under the supervision of the center's regular staff on all elephant-related tasks.
Who is this program a good fit for?
It suits volunteers from 17, including families, who have a limited amount of time and want a structured mix of childcare support, elephant center work, and guided sightseeing across Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
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