Free & 7 [Best Cheap] India Volunteer Providers 2024

Plan My Gap Year

Plan My Gap Year is an organization founded by experienced volunteers in 2011 aiming to create rewarding and impactful travel abroad volunteer programs. Originally based in the UK, PGMY now also have an office in the US. They place an emphasis on the social aspect of volunteering, putting you in contact with the people you’re going to live and work with well in advance of the project so that you can get to know each other. Plan My Gap Year has a number of affordable volunteer opportunities in India.

PMGY Programs in India

India Childcare Volunteers

This is an affordable but not entirely free India volunteering program for the person who is truly passionate about helping children. Although filled with many riches, India is still a country where there are many underprivileged children from poor backgrounds or with no parents.

As a childcare volunteer, you will brighten the days of young ones, making an important contribution to their lives. Here is your chance to act as role models to underprivileged kids. Your daily activities will be to establish fun activities and back tasks such as homework and make a positive impact on local Indian communities.

India Medical Volunteers

As a medical volunteer in India, you will have a fantastic opportunity to gain first-hand experience and insight into Indian health care. Medical volunteers in India work with highly trained local staff. This gives you exposure and tuition that you are unlikely to obtain in your own country. If you are thinking of studying, or even pursuing a career in healthcare, joining PMGY’s India medical programs will offer you essential first-hand experience that will assist in your career development.

India Teaching English Volunteers

This is a low-priced and not entirely free volunteer program in India for the person who is truly passionate about teaching English to the underprivileged children. Although filled with many good points, India is still a country where there are many who require access to social mobility and a stable employment future, of which learning English would enable them.

As a volunteer teaching English in India, you will encourage students to develop skills, helping to achieve their future goals and career aspirations. Conversing with fluent, native English speakers greatly improves student’s language skills, essential for future employment.

Reviews

When looking for the best opportunities in India, it’s important to take into account online reviews from fellow volunteers. PMGY has excellent 404 reviews on Go Overseas and 77 reviews on Go Abroad.

Read all reviews of PMGY on Go Overseas.

Read all reviews of PMGY on Go Abroad.

The Fee

Plan My Gap Year is one of the best India volunteer providers and is the cheapest provider on this list. Plan My Gap Year is very affordable, and most of their travel and volunteer programs are attainable for people on a low budget, with sample prices for a 2-week period being US $624.

RCDP Volunteers

"Would you like to change the world without it costing the earth?" This is the question volunteering program provider RCDP International Volunteers asks us. RDCP is one of the world’s best India volunteer providers that was founded in 1998. Since its inception, RCDP has placed over 18,000 happy volunteers in a variety of services, programs, internship opportunities and summer abroad programs.

RCDP Volunteer Opportunities in India

Orphanage Program

India contains one-sixth of the world's population, with unfortunately, millions of Indian children being born and raised on the streets. To help these large masses of homeless children, RCDP invites you to work in an orphanage in India to share your compassion, patience, skills and reassurance with India's children who are in desperate need. This is not an entirely free India volunteer program, however very affordable.

As a volunteer, you will contribute in the development and growth of some of the most deprived and neglected children in the world. You will help the local staffs as they work with children and directly involve them in various skill-developing activities and teaching English.

Teaching English in India

In spite of its rapidly growing economy, India still faces huge problems of unemployment and destitution. Millions of Indians are jobless and English still remains one of the main necessities of finding a job. Children from deprived families are set back by the schools they attend because they lack funds and the teachers are not well trained enough to teach English.

As a teaching English in India volunteer, you can give your time and skills to schools for deprived and street children through participating in this Teaching English in India project. As a volunteer, you will teach conversational English in a school where your skills are in great demand.

Review

When looking for the best volunteer opportunities in India, it’s important to take into account online reviews from fellow volunteers. You can read how RCDP has changed the lives of thousands of people through volunteer reviews on their website. They have 62 excellent reviews on Go Overseas.

Read all reviews of RCDP Volunteers on Go Overseas.

The Fee

RCDP is one of the best India volunteer providers. RCDP is very affordable, and most of their travel and volunteer programs are attainable for people on a low budget, with sample prices for a 2-week period being US $529.

Global Crossroad

Global Crossroad is one of the best and cheap volunteer abroad organizations in the world that was founded in 2003, with programs that have been trusted by thousands of volunteers for over a decade.

The volunteering company prides itself in running the most highly rated and affordable volunteering and internship programs, summer programs, mini-adventures, hands on medical volunteer programs, family volunteering projects and more. The volunteering opportunities are available in 18 countries across Asia, Latin American and Africa. GoEco has a number of free to affordable volunteering opportunities in India.

Global Crossroad Volunteering Opportunities in India

Teaching Program

India is still a developing country and is greatly affected by poverty and lack of equal opportunities. Unfortunately, the difference between rich and poor vast and incredibly pronounced. Poor children cannot attend private schools and are deprived from English learning opportunities. Many public schools in Delhi lack a proper English education due to underfunding and understaffing. The government and NGOs in India work to provide education to the needy poor children, and require enormous assistance from teaching English volunteers.

By participating in a Volunteering teaching program in India, you will help the deprived children of India develop English language skills. Your passion to teach children English will provide better life opportunities for them.

Medical Program

This is a low-priced but not entirely free program for volunteering in India for the person who is truly passionate about becoming or advancing as a healthcare professional or is currently practicing medicine. Although filled with many good points, India is still a country where there are many who have little access to quality healthcare. Becoming a medical volunteer would be a huge help to the country.

When you volunteer in medical program in India, you will work alongside the local doctors and nurses in local clinics and hospitals. It is an amazing opportunity for you to make a difference and learn about the current healthcare system in India. You will know and recognize local diseases and understand how local medical professionals diagnose and treat diseases.

Orphanage Program

India is a developing country and has the associated social circumstances. Unfortunately, due to extreme poverty and social discrimination, hundreds of children leave their homes and escape to the cities in pursuit of work, food and money. Most of them end up working in restaurants, houses, or companies, where they are subjugated and exploited. These children are robbed of basic needs like education, home-like environment, and opportunities.

By joining this Orphanage program, you will help numerous orphanages to deliver to children more secure, safer and positive lives. Your love and passion through educational support and extra-curricular activities will offer children a chance to rebuild their lives for a better future.

Reviews

Global Crossroads has 93 excellent reviews on Go Overseas.

Global Crossroad is one of the best India volunteer providers .You can read all reviews of Global Crossroads on Go Overseas.

The Fee

Global Crossroad is one of the cheapest provider on this list. Global Crossroad is very affordable, and most of their travel and volunteer programs are attainable for people on a low budget, with sample prices for a 2-week period being US $599.

IVHQ

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is a volunteering provider in New Zealand that is one of the best and cheapest volunteer abroad companies of the world that has over 12 years of experience and expert services that have helped over 112,000 volunteers make a genuine difference in the world. The volunteering provider is openly committed to crafting some of the world’s best volunteer abroad opportunities that contribute long-term impact to communities around the world that need the support. IVHQ has a number of free to affordable volunteer opportunities in India.

IVHQ Volunteering Opportunities in India

Teaching English Program

Children growing up in disadvantaged areas around India often face major challenges, and it can be hard for them to go beyond the lives they, and their parents were born into. However, by acquiring new knowledge and skills, their chances of living industrious lives increases. That is why volunteers are needed to teach English, an essential skill that opens up new opportunities for the future.

As a volunteer on the India Teaching English volunteer program, you will place efforts on improving the students’ conversational English, while also acquiring new skills by working in a new cultural environment. Volunteers on this project can expect to aid in developing creative lesson plans and teaching classes individually with the help of local teachers. Students range in age from 5-11 years-old.

Childcare Program

This project is perfect for caring and enthusiastic volunteers, who have an interest in working with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Issues such as poverty can present major challenges to children growing up in India. However, dedicated assistance with both traditional and creative education can make a real and valuable difference to their lives.

Volunteers are placed at a number of different childcare placements. Children at these placements are typically aged between 4 and 8 years-old. All placements are in need of volunteers to help the children with their education by leading English lessons, assisting with homework and teaching essential life skills, such as personal hygiene, while also arranging games and activities for the children.

Reviews

This well-respected volunteer organization has 2,207 reviews on Go Overseas and 1,657 reviews on Go Abroad. If you have some time to spare, do consider reading through some volunteer testimonials as well.

Read all reviews of IVHQ on Go Overseas.

Read all reviews of IVHQ on Go Abroad.

The Fee

IVHQ is one of the best India volunteer providers. IVHQ is very affordable. Their most affordable program package costs just $659 and that is considering the $329 registration fee!

Love Volunteers

Love Volunteers was initially a brother and sister team from New Zealand that started in 2009, offering some of the best and cheap volunteer abroad programs in the world. Shocked by the huge fees charged for volunteering abroad, they knew there must be a better way. The company’s utmost focus is making sure that their international volunteer programmes are all fully transparent when it comes to the fees paid and where they go. Love Volunteers has a number of free to affordable volunteer opportunities in India.

Love Volunteers programs in India

Teaching Program

India is an emerging country but is still deeply affected by poverty and a lack of equal opportunities. As a busy tourism city, skills in English are seen as vital for future employment prospects in Jaipur. A solid education can make way for a path out of poverty for many, with volunteers needed greatly to assist in the journey. Love Volunteer’s aim for this important program is that it is a mutual exchange of skills and experiences that enriches both parties. The city of Jaipur requires enormous help from teaching English volunteers.

This India English teaching volunteer program was established to progress the education of children in the beautiful city of Jaipur. Volunteers will teach and assist local teachers across a range of subject matter, with a particular focus on the English language.

Street Children in Jaipur

It is estimated that over 100 million homeless children in India do not have access to even the most basic of education and spend most of their time roaming the streets in search for food or anything valuable to sell. In the city of Delhi alone, it is estimated that there are almost 200,000 street children, some runaways who have fled their poverty-stricken families, many of whom simply could not afford to feed them, forced to fend for themselves.

The help and assistance received from international volunteers is invaluable, not only in the provision of basic education, guidance and support, but in the simple act of giving love and attention – something that every child desires and deserves.

Volunteers in street children program can help to bring smile to the faces of these severely disadvantaged children by helping to create an environment conducive to their development, which in turn enables them become a part of mainstream society and onward toward living a long and happy life.

Reviews

Love Volunteers has 140 reviews on Go Overseas and 271 reviews on Go Abroad. You can also read volunteer reviews on their own website.

Read all reviews of Love Volunteers on Go Overseas.

Read all reviews of Love Volunteers on Go Abroad.

The Fee

Love Volunteers is one of the best India volunteer providers but is one of the more expensive providers on this list. Love Volunteers is well-known in the industry for its inexpensive program fees, which start from just $549 for a two-week program. You also need to pay $299 as a registration fee.

A Broader View

A Broader View Volunteers (ABV) is a US company based in Pennsylvania that was founded in 2007 by a passionate group of strong-willed people motivated to help others in the world who were less fortunate. As one of the best and cheapest volunteer abroad providers, the company was founded upon the belief that one person alone can make a world of difference in the lives of others through meaningful volunteer work.

A Broader View ‘s India volunteer opportunities

Animal Care In Jaipur

Many animals lack proper care in India and are furthermore subject to harsh living conditions and realities, many seriously injured with no prospects of proper medical attention. This India volunteering work project is perfect for veterinary students, or animal lovers interested in providing care and shelter to animals in need.

Based in the city of Jaipur, the shelter cares for animals and birds. Some of the animals cared for at the shelter include peacocks, dogs, cats, cows, monkeys, rabbits, eagles, parrots, pigeons, and crows.

Elephant Conservation in Jaipur

Elephants are widely revered in India and are an important facet of India’s tourism industry. The elephants in Jaipur have a long history of being part of religious and Indian cultural ceremonies for centuries. Ensuring that they are properly cared for and looked after is essential.

Volunteers in Elephant program will involve themselves with activities that mahouts do every day. This means making food bundles, feeding elephants, cleaning their shelters, washing them, massaging their head, trimming their nails, decorating them before going for a ride and simply to enjoy their presence.

Reviews

When looking for the best and free volunteer opportunities in India, it’s important to take into account online reviews from fellow volunteers. This organization has 178 reviews on Go Overseas. You can also find what past volunteers have to say about the company on their website.

Read all reviews of A Broader View on Go Overseas.

The Fee

ABV is one of the best volunteer opportunities in India but is one of the more expensive providers on this list. ABV is affordable, and most of their travel and volunteer programs are attainable for people on a low budget, with sample prices for a 2-week period being US $860.

Sadhana Forest

If you want to volunteer in India to help save the environment and make nature healthier, Sadhana Forest is a great choice. Started by Yorit and Aviram Rozin in 2003, Sadhana Forest turns dry lands into lush green forests. Volunteers at Sadhana Forest do lots of different things like learning about the environment, using eco-friendly methods, and helping nearby communities. It's a team effort between volunteers and locals to make a positive impact on the environment.

Volunteer Programs in India

Sadhana Forest's volunteer programs focus on restoring dried-out areas in India to make them ecologically healthy again. Volunteers work alongside locals, learning about the land and using sustainable methods to help restore it.

Plant for India Program

If you're really passionate about conserving nature, you should look into Sadhana Forest's Plant4India Program. They'll link you with local groups, so you can get involved in grassroots efforts to protect and restore the environment.

Children’s Land Project

The Children’s Land Project at Sadhana Forest began in 2009. It aims to teach kids to love nature and understand how to live sustainably. As a volunteer, you'll lead workshops and teach children important skills for appreciating and caring for the environment.

Sadhana Forest Reviews

Sadhana Forest's work in restoring the environment is impressive. Many volunteers in India have praised the organization for tackling urgent issues like environmental damage. Through their projects, volunteers have learned a lot about environmental issues.

Read all reviews of Sadhana Forest on Go Overseas.

Read all reviews of Sadhana Forest on Go Abroad .

Sadhana Forest Fees

One of Sadhana Forest's main goals is to give volunteers a taste of rural life. If you join their projects, you'll live in a community setting for at least two weeks. The basic facilities for this period cost just $115. The program fees might change depending on how long you stay. You'll need to organize your own transportation and flights.

FREE Volunteering In India

Now, without further ado, let’s talk about the ‘Free’ Volunteering Organizations in India. An important point to mention is:

Be Realistic about “Volunteering for Free”

Is there really such thing as "free" volunteering when it comes to travelling abroad?

Ideally, volunteering work should be available to anyone for free. It should be a free exchange of participation, opportunity and services. But, whether you go to India or elsewhere, the reality is different, and the term ‘free volunteering’ does not necessarily mean that it is “absolutely free”. There are still some costs to consider, such as flights and food.

Anybody who has travelled to India as an international volunteer and knows the ins and outs of volunteering in the country would suggest you to have a realistic expectation when it comes to a free volunteering opportunity in India. They would point to the fact that most of the leading volunteering organizations in India are able to operate mainly because they receive generous support from local and international volunteers.

A few of the international volunteer organizations that are well-funded provide you food and shelter for free and do not expect you to contribute to cover operational costs. A large number of the organizations, however, rely on your participation and generous contributions. They want you to bear the responsibility of supporting yourself with your personal expenses and, usually, spare a little extra for the operational costs. Thus far, you should consider your volunteering involvement with them as free.

As a note of caution, while looking for volunteer opportunities in India, do not overemphasize the 'free' factor. Yes, avoid the programs with chokingly high fees, but be equally careful not to be trapped by the programs that seem dirt-cheap in the beginning but come to bite you from the back with hidden fees. Do thorough research into the social profile of the potential organizations before venturing out with.

More info about Free Volunteer programs in India

How Can I Find Free Volunteer Abroad Programs in India?

Here’s some tips for finding free international volunteer program through independent research:

Contact local organizations in India directly

Visitn on-profit directory websites like idealist.org. These websites list non-profit volunteer opportunities in India and worldwide and allow you to contact local organizations directly.

Talk to your friends who have volunteered in India

Ask your friends about local opportunities and get organization contacts from people they’ve worked with. They will also be able to give you a much better idea of what its like to volunteer in that country, area, or with that project.

Utilize social media or travel forums

Take advantage of your social media account – Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Ask people if they know of any India free volunteering opportunities. Even if your immediate first-degree contacts do not, they could connect you with some of their friends who do. You can also post on Quora or Facebook groups in search of opportunities.

Network where you are if you’ve already started travelling

If you have already hit the ground running and you are currently traveling abroad, use your local contacts to your advantage. This is a good way to get connected with a community and see how you can make a difference on a local level. If you are staying at a hostel or hotel, ask the front desk if they have access to any local organizations that are looking for volunteers.

Narrow your search by searching for either country-specific or project-specific free volunteer opportunities in India

If you narrow your search in this way, you will discover lesser-known programs that you may not have been able to find otherwise. It seems obvious, but even doing a simple Google search for your specific country or area of interest can make a world of difference in your abroad program search!

Look into websites that put you in touch with volunteer hosts in India

There are some really great volunteer networking websites available, such as WorkAway, HelpStay, and WWOLF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). For a small sign-up fee, these websites put you in touch with hosts in a variety of countries who are keen and willing to take on volunteers. In exchange for your skills and help, you get free accommodation and meals for a long or short term stay.

How Can I Check The Legitimacy Of An Abroad Volunteer Organization?

Here’s a list of things you immediately want to look out for when researching and selecting your volunteering organization.

Ask yourself how the organization is able to offer India free volunteer opportunities

You may start your research by finding out why that organization is offering free volunteer abroad programs when other volunteer organizations need program fees to run operations and to host volunteers. You may ask the following questions: Where does this organization get their funding from? How do they pay room/food for volunteers? What are the benefits of offering free volunteering abroad programs?

Double check what’s financially expected from you as a volunteer

Be direct with your organization and ask specific questions. If they hesitate to give you information of have hidden fees, you likely don’t want to volunteer through them anyway. Ask what parts of your India volunteer experience are free, whether there are program or registration fees, and who pays for your housing and food. Ensure that there won’t be any unanticipated costs upon arrival or departure including expectations for donations or gifts.

You may also ask yourself: what will be the full cost of my experience once I’ve completed my program? When you look at your overall budget for a “free” volunteering abroad experience, it may be the same if not more than a fee-based program that includes housing, transportation, food, and more peace of mind.

Analyze the program’s mission and commitment to local causes

Any good volunteer agency should have a professional website with a clear mission statement and outlined values. They should tell you specifics about how their local projects, programs, and causes contribute to the community. If they don’t offer that information or can’t provide adequate details, chances are that there won’t be real impact in what you’re doing.

Research the organization’s history and legal standing

Most organizations that offer free volunteer overseas India programs are small agencies, therefore it’s really important to know how long they’ve been established, whether they are registered with local government officials, and if they’ve hosted other volunteers successfully. They should have a website with a clear “About” section that includes a mission, vision, or organizational values. Look for affiliations with volunteer bodies, past awards, recommendations from trustworthy sources, and listings in volunteer directories.

Read reviews and travel blogs of the past volunteers

Reviews don't all have to be positive, but the majority should be. Think about the legitimacy of the online review – do the comments sound genuine, as if real people wrote them? Search for program and organization reviews on volunteer forums and feedback sites, as the volunteer placement provider cannot control the content of these.

Check their website for up-to-date and clear information

Before joining a free volunteer opportunity in India please make sure their blog, social media, and web presence are updated regularly and professional looking. A good and active organization keeps their website, blog, and other social media presence updated. This tells a lot about an organization.

Evaluate the agency’s communication skills

A decent organization will make every effort to communicate with you as promptly as they are able, and do so fast and efficiently. Be aware that if your messages, questions or concerns are ignored or evaded before you travel, you have little chance of better service once you have left to begin your free volunteer work in India.

Make sure that your organization has worked with other volunteers who have had good experiences

Search the organization’s website for pictures or testimonies from other volunteers. If they don’t have a website or their content is outdated, request previous volunteer information. They should give you this information without hesitation. If they can’t offer previous volunteer information, that’s a huge sign that they don’t have experience or can’t offer the program type they are suggesting.

Analyze the program’s organization and past experience

Volunteer agencies offering free volunteer programs may not have the experience or staff to provide an organized experience, which comes at a cost to you. Make sure you ask plenty of questions before committing to a program and decide for yourself if the agency seems like an experienced agency.

Some free Volunteer programs in India Providers to consider are:

• Helpstay
• We are Crazy
• Sadhna Village, Pune
• SevaMandir, Udaipur

In Conclusion

So, there you have it, the top 10 best and cheap India volunteer providers and their programs, as well as 10 free India volunteering providers to add to your research for finding the best India volunteering opportunity for you. Armed with all this information, you can now choose the best and cheapest, or free, India volunteer programs ensuring that everything from the cost and destination to project type, impact, cultural experiences and social life is all that you want it to be.