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Women Empowerment Volunteer Program in India – Delhi
Join Women Empowerment Volunteer Program in India, help underprivileged women to get a better life, make a big difference by sharing love and warmth with them
In Delhi, you work inside locally run women's development centers in the city's urban poor areas, supporting adult literacy classes, computer training, and vocational sessions such as beauty therapy, sewing, embroidery, or knitting. Most volunteers end up teaching English as a second language, since that is where the centers need the most help unless you already have hands-on skills in one of the vocational trades. The program suits anyone with no prior experience who wants direct, day-to-day contact with women and adolescent girls in a community setting, and who can clear a background check.
Placements run for 1–18 weeks, with new groups starting twice a month (sundays), next start 20 Sep 2026. You stay in a hostel in South Delhi, a five-minute walk from the metro, in air-conditioned shared or private rooms, with breakfast and dinner provided at the hostel Monday to Saturday. Prices start at $550, deposit included. What sets this program apart is the focus on adolescent girls: you help run focused group discussions aimed at building their confidence and agency, alongside more standard literacy and vocational teaching.
- A volunteering opportunity for people enthusiastic about women’s causes in the spirit of Global sisterhood
- Work in a local skill-development/networking center. Responsibilities include engaging deeply with adolescent women and conducting Focussed Group Discussions to inculcate confidence and agency in women
- Get to know about women’s issues in India
- Exchanging thoughts and views on each other’s lives
- Opportunity to pick up local language and learn about local culture
- Meeting women/fellow volunteers from all over the world
- Volunteer work goes on for 5 days during the week. Weekends are free for exploring the city and taking weekend excursions to Taj Mahal, Himalayas and more
Your role on this program
- Teach English as a second language to girls aged 17-20, the most common task unless you have a specific vocational skill
- Conduct Focused Group Discussions with adolescent women to help build confidence and agency
- Assist local staff in organizing adult literacy classes for women
- Give computer training to women at the center
- Help with vocational courses such as beautician work, stitching, and handicrafts
- Provide basic guidance on nutrition and diet
- Offer informal counseling and monitoring support to center participants
- Exchange views on daily life, local culture, and language with the women and fellow volunteers
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You support locally run classes and discussion groups under the supervision of NGO and center staff; you do not manage the center, set its programs, or provide professional or clinical counseling. Duties may vary with the placement's needs, and a background check is required because the program involves contact with adolescent girls; there is no guarantee of a specific outcome for the women you work with.
A typical day and week
Volunteers joining the women empowerment program in India are required to follow a basic routine on a daily basis. This covers everything from meals to volunteer work and back. It must be noted that every placement functions at a different pace and on separate timelines making the schedule slightly differ at times. A generic daily schedule for volunteers is as follows;
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Sunday: Arrival in Delhi
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Monday: Orientation + neighborhood familiarization tour. The orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Delhi. Those who chose the Language and Orientation Week will carry on with the same for the entire, rest of the volunteers will begin their volunteer work from Tuesday.
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Tue to Fri: Volunteer work
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Breakfast – 9 am onwards
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Working hours at the placement – 10:00 am (volunteers leave the accommodation by 09:30 am) to 04:00 pm
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Lunch – anywhere between 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (volunteers have to manage lunch on their own expense)
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Dinner – 07:00 pm onwards
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends: Free to explore the city (No meal is provided on Sunday, as volunteers are encouraged to try the local cuisines.)
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17, with a parental consent form required for participants under 18
- No previous experience needed; skills in beauty therapy, sewing, embroidery, or computing are useful but not required
- Open-minded, flexible attitude and willingness to work with basic facilities, sometimes just a blackboard and chalk
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program
- Clean criminal background check report, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The women's centers you work in are run by local NGOs focused on women's and girls' development in Delhi's urban poor areas. Some centers offer counseling alongside informal training in adult literacy, computer skills, and income-generating trades such as sewing, embroidery, or beauty therapy. You work alongside center staff and the women themselves, contributing to whichever activity matches your skills, most often English lessons.
Because the program involves adolescent girls, a criminal background check is required before you start. Local staff supervise all activities and remain responsible for the center's programs; you support their existing classes and discussion groups rather than running the center or providing professional counseling. Your contribution is steady, supplementary teaching and conversation, not a guaranteed change in any woman's circumstances.
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 | $550 | |
| 2 weeks | $664 | |
| 3 weeks | $844 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,019 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,217 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,415 | |
| 7 weeks | $1,613 | |
| 8 weeks | $1,812 | |
| Each additional week | +$199 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pick up from the airport
- Orientation
- Food (2 times a day from Mon – Sat)
- Accommodation
- Travel & Medical Insurance (Available at an extra cost)
Not included
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Local Transportation
- Visa Fees
- 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.
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Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in India
Airport pickup
A member of the local coordinating team meets you at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL). Scheduled pickup runs 8am-8pm on your start date; arrivals outside that window or early arrivals can be picked up from a predetermined meeting point, sometimes at extra cost.
First day
You arrive in Delhi on a Sunday and settle into the hostel in South Delhi before the program begins.
Orientation
On Monday, the local coordinator runs a half-day orientation covering safety, culture, language, food, and things to do in Delhi, followed by a neighborhood familiarization tour.
First project day
Volunteer work at the center starts on Tuesday, running Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, with the same routine continuing from the second week onward.
Ongoing support
The local coordinating team and a 24-hour emergency contact are available throughout your stay, alongside the pre-departure guide sent before you travel.
From volunteers in India
Frequently asked questions
What will I actually do at the center?
Most volunteers teach English as a second language to young women aged 17-20, and also help with adult literacy classes, computer training, and vocational sessions such as sewing, embroidery, or beauty therapy, depending on the center's needs.
Do I need experience or qualifications to join?
No experience is needed. If you already have skills in beauty therapy, sewing, embroidery, or computing you may use them, but most volunteers end up teaching English instead.
What does a typical day look like?
You work Monday to Friday, leaving the hostel by 9:30am for a 10am to 4pm placement day, with breakfast around 9am and dinner from 7pm; weekends are free.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run for 1–18 weeks, with new groups starting twice a month (sundays). The next start date is 20 Sep 2026.
How much does the program cost and what is included?
Prices start at $550, deposit included. The fee covers airport pickup, orientation, accommodation, two meals a day Monday to Saturday, and 24-hour local support; insurance is available at extra cost.
What is not included in the price?
Airfare, return airport transport, local transportation, visa fees, and vaccinations are not included in the program fee.
Where will I live and what meals are provided?
You stay in a hostel in South Delhi, a five-minute walk from a metro station, in air-conditioned shared or private rooms; upgrades are available at extra cost. Breakfast and dinner are provided at the hostel Monday to Saturday.
How does airport pickup work?
The local coordinating team meets you at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) with scheduled pickup between 8am and 8pm on your start date; other timings can be arranged at extra charge.
What support is available once I am there?
You have access to a local coordinating team, a 24-hour emergency contact, and a comprehensive pre-departure guide before you travel.
Do I need a visa, vaccinations, or insurance?
Visa fees and vaccinations are not included in the program fee, and specific guidance on these is sent in your pre-departure information. Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions.
Is a background check required?
Yes. Because the program involves contact with adolescent girls, you need a clean criminal background check report issued within 12 months of your start date.
What if I do not have vocational skills like sewing or computing?
That is fine. Volunteers without a specific vocational skill are most often placed teaching English as a second language instead.
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