English (US) ▾
Nederlands
English (UK)
Deutsch
Italiano
Português
Español
1 Week Special Volunteer Program in India
Join the 1-Week Special Volunteer Program in India with Volunteering Solutions and make a lasting impact on the lives of street children in New Delhi. In just 7 days, you’ll explore Delhi’s heritage sites and visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, all while making a meaningful difference for underprivileged children.
This program places you at a shelter home for street and underprivileged children in South Delhi. Day to day, you teach basic lessons, play organized games with the children, help redecorate the center with art and craft activities, and assist the local placement staff with administrative tasks. No previous experience is required, and the program is open to volunteers aged 17 and up, including families.
The placement runs for 1 week, with starts twice a month (sundays), next departure 4 Oct 2026. You stay in shared, same-gender dorm rooms at an air-conditioned hostel in South Delhi, a five-minute walk from a Metro station, with Indian vegetarian meals provided at the hostel. The program costs $636, deposit ($249) included. A day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal is built into the fixed one-week itinerary.
- Opportunity to volunteer for the Street Children in India and make a positive difference to the lives of the underprivileged children
- Engage meaningfully with the children and help with activities such as teaching them, playing with them, decorating the daycare center and fundraising/sourcing essentials for the children
- Explore the capital city of Delhi, try some local cuisines and live like a local
- Travel to Agra and witness the beauty of Taj Mahal, marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Your role on this program
- Teach basic lessons to children at the shelter home
- Design and lead fun, learning-focused games and activities for the children
- Play with and spend time engaging with the children
- Assist the local placement staff with administrative tasks
- Help redecorate the center through art and craft sessions with the children
- Support fundraising or sourcing of essentials needed by the children
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers do not provide medical, legal, or clinical care to the children, and do not take on full childcare responsibility outside the shelter home; all activities are directed by the local placement staff, with the Volunteering Solutions coordinating team providing day-to-day support. Because this is a one-week placement, you are supporting the shelter's ongoing work rather than completing a project on your own.
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.)
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17 (a parental consent form is required for participants under 18)
- No previous experience or qualifications required
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program
- Clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of your start date
- Open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new environment
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one Volunteering Solutions arranges
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is a shelter home in Delhi caring for street and underprivileged children, run by a local partner organization. Volunteering Solutions' local coordinating team liaises with the placement's own staff, who direct the day's activities and introduce volunteers to the children on arrival.
Because the placement works with children, a clean criminal background check is required before you start, and all activities, from teaching to center redecoration, are carried out under the supervision of placement staff. Over one week, your contribution is to support the shelter's existing routine, helping with teaching, play, administrative tasks, and upkeep of the center, rather than to run or complete a project independently.
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
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $636 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're 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)
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
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 8am and 8pm 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.
Accommodations
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.
Upgrades to private single or double rooms are available at extra charges.
Orientation
A comprehensive half-day orientation session will be conducted by our staff on the day following your arrival. The orientation covers essential topics such as culture, greetings, locations, transportation, and other details outlined in your trip itinerary.
Meals
Renowned worldwide for its diverse flavors, Indian cuisine takes center stage during your volunteering experience. Indian vegetarian meals will be provided at the hostel itself.
Free Time Activities
During their free time, volunteers are encouraged to explore local markets, heritage monuments and dine at different restaurants in Delhi to savor the rich variety of Indian cuisines. Delhi has a lot to offer and there are plenty of things to do and see in the bustling capital city.
.jpg)
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in India
Airport pickup
You are met at Indira Gandhi International Airport by a member of the local coordinating team, with scheduled pickup between 8am and 8pm on your start date. Volunteers already in the country, or arriving outside these hours, can arrange pickup from a set meeting point (extra charges may apply outside scheduled hours).
First evening
After settling in at the hostel accommodation in South Delhi, you have the rest of the day free to rest or explore the local area.
Orientation
A half-day orientation session is held the day after arrival, covering local culture, greetings, key locations, transportation, and the week's itinerary.
First project day
You head to the placement, meet the local staff and children, and are briefed on the week's activities, which include teaching, games, administrative support, and redecorating the center.
Ongoing support
You continue volunteering at the shelter home over the following days, with 24-hour in-country support available, before the Agra day trip on day 7.
From volunteers in India
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually do as a volunteer?
You work at a shelter home for street children in Delhi, teaching basic lessons, playing organized games, helping redecorate the center, and assisting placement staff with administrative tasks.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No previous experience or qualifications are required, but you should be fit, healthy, and comfortable working in a new environment.
What does a typical day look like?
After breakfast at the hostel, you head to the placement, work with the children on teaching and play activities, and return to the hostel in the evening; the source material does not specify fixed project hours.
How long is the program and when can I start?
The program runs for 1 week, with new starts twice a month (sundays); the next start date is 4 Oct 2026.
What does the cost include and what is the deposit?
The program costs $636, with the $249 deposit included in that total; it covers airport pickup, hostel accommodation, meals, orientation, project placement, 24/7 in-country support, and the Agra day tour.
What is not included in the fee?
International and domestic flights, visa costs, vaccinations, monument entry fees, tips, personal expenses, and any meals or transport not listed in the itinerary are not included.
Where will I stay and what will I eat?
You stay in shared, same-gender dorm-style rooms at an air-conditioned hostel in South Delhi, close to a Metro station, and are provided Indian vegetarian meals at the hostel.
Will I be picked up at the airport?
Yes, pickup is included at Indira Gandhi International Airport for scheduled arrivals between 8am and 8pm on your start date; other arrival times can be arranged, sometimes at extra cost.
What support is available if something goes wrong?
The local coordinating team provides orientation on your first day and 24-hour in-country assistance throughout the program.
Do I need a visa or vaccinations?
Visa and vaccination requirements are not included in the program fee; specific guidance is sent in the pre-departure guide before you travel.
Is a background check required?
Yes, because the placement involves children, you need a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date.
Will I visit the Taj Mahal?
Yes, day 7 of the fixed itinerary is a day trip to Agra, including a guided tour of the Taj Mahal and lunch, before returning to Delhi the same evening.
Related pages
Schedule a meeting with a program advisor
We're here to help — a 20-minute one-on-one with detailed info, expert advice and application guidance.
Book a free meetingMore projects in India
Construction and Renovation Project in Jaipur
With this project we aim to select vulnerable schools, centers, clinics in Jaipur which don’t have enough money…
Slum Education Project in Jaipur
Volunteers in the Slum Education Project work in a grassroots level non-profit project that is dedicated to enhancing…
Women Empowerment & Girl Education Program in Jaipur
Volunteer in the Women empowerment and girls education program in Jaipur - India. The program is open all…