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Get Free Quotes From 7 Best Cheap India Volunteer ProvidersAre you interested in experiencing the real India but afraid the cost will make it impossible? Does volunteering work in India sound exciting and worthwhile but you feel confused by the amount of volunteer programs in India to choose from? Are you put off by having to arrange everything yourself?
India is a country known for its great history, colorful festivals and multitude of cultures. It is also a mystical country where people travel from all over the world to explore inner peace and spirituality. In the wider world, India has become one of the most popular destinations for volunteering. After all, India offers bustling cities, fascinating architecture and one of the best cuisines in the world, so it’s not a wonder why many are keen to visit.
Due to this, there are hundreds of volunteer organizations in India that are competing to attract you to their humanitarian work. If you are not familiar with these companies - trying to make a choice, let alone the right one, can feel overwhelming. At TravellersQuest, we want to see you joining a reputable, safe and affordable volunteer program in India where you can make a meaningful difference.
In order to help you make the right choice, our research team has examined hundreds of organizations to find those which offer the most affordable and best programs and we have included them in this article.
| Company Name | Starting price | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Plan My Gap Year (UK) | $624 |
Go Overseas: 404 reviews Go Abroad: 77 reviews |
| RCDP Volunteers | $479 |
Go overseas: 62 reviews |
| Global Crossroad | $549 | Go overseas: 93 reviews |
| IVHQ | $659 |
Go overseas: 2,207 reviews Go Abroad – 1657 reviews |
| Love Volunteers | $608 |
Go overseas: 140 reviews Go Abroad: 271 reviews |
| A Broader View | $860 |
Go overseas: 178 reviews |
| Sadhana Forest | $115 |
Go Overseas: 80 reviews Go Abroad – 67 reviews |
Table updated: March 26, 2024
Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) is a volunteer organization founded in 2011 in the UK. The organization is especially popular among younger students who have just graduated and are looking to plan a meaningful gap year abroad. Their amazing volunteer programs in India provide a humbling experience to all those that take part in it.
With over 10 years’ of experience, PMGY is known to connect volunteers with safe and structured volunteer programs around the world, lasting anytime from 1 to 40 weeks. On its journey, PMGY has received international awards and recognitions like the Shell LiveWire Grand Idea Award, Thailand Green Excellence Award and also one from the United Nations in Sri Lanka.
PMGY’s volunteer programs in India are a worthwhile experience for all. From teaching and caring for impoverished children to helping people deal with disabilities, volunteers gain a lifetime of experience through PMGY’s programs.
Volunteer with underprivileged children in India and help secure them a brighter future. It’s a sad reality that around 5% of children in India are without any form of parent or guardian. As a volunteer, you will work with PMGY to support child centers in the Faridabad community.
The Indian society’s standards and infrastructure are not adequately set up to assist disabled individuals. The disabled children volunteer program is an awesome program for you if you love working with disabled children. When you join, you will work hard to provide support to care centers.
PMGY also works within Faridabad’s largest slum community and has a team providing free education, school supplies and uniforms to the children to encourage them to go to school. You can join their English teaching volunteer program and make a difference in this noble cause.
Get along with local staff in local slum clinics of India. PMGY’s Medical Volunteers program organizes medical camps within slums to help support the community. Medical professionals and students can work and help the needy while also gaining hands-on experience.
PMGY performs very well when it comes to reviews by previous volunteers, and that extends to all of its programs in India as well. You can check out some fantastic volunteer reviews on PMGY website as well. 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.
PMGY is one of the most affordable volunteering work providers in India and their services are highly sought after by many aspiring volunteers. Their programs begin at $375 with an added $244 registration fee. You’ll be placed at excellent, well-facilitated volunteer houses for the entirety of your trip.
Rural Community Development Program (RCDP) is a non-profit organization established in 1998. The organization should definitely be on your radar if you want to volunteer in India. Each year, the company welcomes over 1000 enthusiastic volunteers who wish to assist in sustainable community development initiatives that benefit the rural and extremely poor communities across many countries worldwide. RCDP teams up with local grass root organizations and its programs often create lasting and powerful impact. RCDP has a number of fantastic volunteering opportunities, with each one providing invaluable experience to their volunteers.
Your contributions will be immense and you’ll make a lasting impact on many people’s lives through RCDP’s spectacular programs.
RCDP’s orphanage volunteer program is located in Delhi and Jaipur. As a volunteer, you will contribute to the development and growth of some of the most deprived and neglected children in the world. You will get directly involved with various skill-developing activities, such as games, art, sports, and music, and when teaching English.
Medical volunteering in India provides a wonderful opportunity for medical students and professionals to work with local doctors. This is a rewarding and challenging opportunity that will only serve to broaden your horizons and your understanding of the world.
Volunteer teachers in India will work in community schools for deprived children, consisting of both boys and girls from 5 to 14 years. This program is available in Delhi and Jaipur.
Volunteers start off with a Language Orientation and Cultural Immersion program in Delhi. This will greatly complement any other program you’re doing or could simply be the only one you do, allowing you a 7-day experience of learning Hindi, learning about the Indian culture and seeing the sights of Delhi.
RCDP Volunteers is a top-rated volunteer organization that has brought positive changes in many struggling communities across the world. Their accessible and well-facilitated programs continue to motivate people to do volunteer work in India. 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.
RCDP provides volunteering opportunities in India in a cost-effective manner. They ensure that most of the fees are donated to host families and other charity projects. Their program fees start at $200 in Delhi and Jaipur with an additional $279 registration fee. You may also be required to pay a small amount of weekly fee depending on what kind of services you request from RCDP.
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If you are serious about volunteering in India, Global Crossroad is definitely an organization that should be on your radar. This organization was formed in 2003 and offers various affordable India volunteering programs.
Global Crossroad offers volunteers the chance to make a difference in the world. Volunteers will work closely with a caring host family and receive extensive support from their professional staff members. Since 2003, more than 20,000 volunteers have experienced Global Crossroad's wonderful volunteer opportunities in many different countries.
Global Crossroad focuses on sustainable development, inclusion, equality and empathy. All of these values are reflected on their volunteer programs and packages.
If you have a passion for teaching, you can choose to be a volunteer teacher in India and teach students aged 6 to 16-years-old. Although the text for these classes is set, you may be asked to develop additional projects to help students learn English. If you have other skills, such as computer or art knowledge, you may be asked to teach these other subjects. This project is available in Delhi and Jaipur.
Dabble in the field of medical volunteering - based largely on your relevant education, skills, experience and qualifications. You help with routine jobs such as measuring blood pressure, temperature etc. or shadow local doctors and observe their work.
Are you someone who likes looking after children? There are many children in India who live without parents and the country’s government only does so much to help. Resources are often limited to ensure they get the best they deserve. Orphanage volunteers in India help orphans and homeless children have a brighter day in your presence.
You can also opt for women's rights volunteering program and take on the role of a friend, advisor and teacher to women who are illiterate, come from terrible pasts, are traumatized and lack confidence in themselves. Alongside putting a smile on their face, you might also be involved with teaching them some income generating skills.
Another great volunteering program to be involved with, if you are someone who is passionate about alleviating the problem, is Global Crossroad’s HIV/AIDs project. HIV volunteers in India will be providing care to patients infected with the disease and helping them to engage in daily activities. Another responsibility is to educate the community on preventative measures and to discourage discrimination.
Many volunteers have expressed deep gratitude and approval towards Global Crossroads for providing them such a fantastic volunteer opportunity in India. Of course, their services are not limited to Asian countries and they have multiple operations worldwide. Global Crossroads has 93 reviews on Go Overseas.
You can read all reviews of Global Crossroads on Go Overseas.
Global Crossroads focuses on the real impact they make on impoverished communities rather than focusing on making profit. Therefore, their program fees are some of the most affordable volunteer fees across the globe. You’ll have to pay a registration fee of $299 and their program fees start at the low cost of just $250!
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Established in 2007, IVHQ offers many excellent and affordable volunteering opportunities in India for students and the general public alike. These include working in the areas of teaching, childcare, community development, medical, construction and renovation, turtle conservation and wildlife conservation. IVHQ volunteering is a two-way process which facilitates understanding and provides benefits for both parties. This unique approach allows both - the international volunteer and the community they work with - to gain new skills and experiences, and in turn share what they learnt with others in the future.
IVHQ invites volunteers to experience the beauty of India by helping out for a good cause in two cities: Delhi and Kerala. Low-cost volunteering programs in India begin on the first and third Monday of every month, and in most cases can last for between 1 - 24 weeks.
Are you someone who loves to inspire and create? Their volunteering teaching opportunity in India allows volunteers to share their knowledge with local teachers and develop the English skills of poor students. You will teach alongside local teachers, helping students with conversation practice and material development.
Many orphanages and childcare centers in India are overcrowded and under-resourced, so volunteer assistance is very welcome. Participants on this childcare volunteering program assist with daily chores such as, cooking and cleaning, caring for the children and babies, and teaching English. Additional duties may involve assisting with homework, teaching life skills, and arranging games and activities for the children.
Are you a medical student looking to enhance your skills and get more experience in a developing nation and its healthcare system? Volunteers on the healthcare program work in local hospitals and clinics, generally with routine work since the law won't allow unqualified people to work alone in this field.
For aspiring dentists, the dentistry Kerala program will provide volunteers with an exclusive opportunity to shadow and observe a dentist while gaining hands-on experience in their field.
If you love working with children, you could also volunteer at a local kindergarten in Kerala, or even join the special needs program in Kerala.
IVHQ is internationally renowned for its services and their case is no different for India. Volunteers in India have only good things to say about IVHQ operations. 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.
IVHQ offers some of the most reasonable India volunteer program fees in the industry. Their most affordable program package costs just $659 and that is considering the $329 registration fee! However, low cost does not mean bad services as IVHQ is known for setting high standards regarding care and quality for both volunteers and community.
Here is another New Zealand organization you really should get to know if you are looking for volunteering experiences in India and throughout the world. Love Volunteers was established in 2008 and offers lots of affordable volunteer works abroad. The entirety of their partner organizations have been fully vetted to ensure that there is a genuine need for assistance and that volunteers are placed in safe environments. They also connect every volunteer with one local staff member who will be their main point of contact throughout the duration of the placement. Admin costs are kept low as Love Volunteer works with local organizations wherever and whenever possible.
With Love Volunteers, your volunteer trip to India becomes one that you will remember for the rest of your life. Your trip will be filled with unforgettable moments of connection, empathy and care.
If you’re new to volunteering, start with the teaching program in India. You’ll play a key role in helping disadvantaged children access basic education. Classes are taught using a special method called “Play-Way”, which involves teaching English through creative activities such as painting, playing games, singing and so on.
Love Volunteers’ Street Children Project is a truly amazing program for you if you have a lot of heart and soul to share with children living on the streets. Love Volunteers works closely with a local organization that has started a school to provide free education, educational materials, uniform and play materials to street children.
On the Medical Program, you’ll be tasked with bringing essential medical supplies and services to vulnerable and sick people living in the slums of Delhi. You can save lives as well as improve the living conditions of poor and impoverished people while striving to make a difference.
Love Volunteers generates new, exciting opportunities so that their volunteers can experience more of the world. Volunteering in India is an eye-opening experience for many first timers. 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.
Love Volunteers is well-known in the industry for its inexpensive program fees, which start from just $309 for a one-week program. You also need to pay $299 as a registration fee. Their India program fees covers accommodation, food, orientation, transport, and in-country support staff throughout the duration of your volunteer placement.
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Driven by a fiery passion to make a positive impact on the world, A Broader View is a top-rated non-profit volunteer organization established in 2007. As the name suggests, the company acts to provide people with a broader view of the world. They run operations across the globe and India is no exception. Volunteering in India is quite the task – taking you on a journey of fulfillment, service and human connection. A Broader View’s main mission is to put its volunteers in a place where they can fully embrace the culture and traditions of a struggling community and help such communities foster and grow.
This organization offers various India volunteer opportunities in Jaipur and Udaipur, including opportunities that range from animal welfare, construction and teaching, to working with children or in the healthcare field. Wherever your passions and interests lay, you are sure to find the best and most affordable volunteer trips in India to suit you with A Broader View!
The animal care project is perfect for veterinary students or animal lovers who are interested in providing care and shelter to animals in need. On the Elephant Volunteering Program, volunteers in India will have a very rewarding learning experience and be able to help elephant mahouts with their daily work in the elephant shelters.
If you’ve ever done any work around the house, consider joining their Construction & Renovation program. You will be tasked with building small structures like toilets, desks and tables in schools, or painting walls and murals.
If you’re interested in the medical field, consider the Healthcare Volunteer Program since it presents a good opportunity for a medical or healthcare student seeking to broaden their horizons and perhaps even pick up new skills and a new language!
A Broader View’s volunteer efforts in India have been a great success and many volunteers have learned immensely during their trips. 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.
Money is not a concern for A Broader View as long as they make a significant impact on developing countries around the world. They willingly provide affordable programs to aspiring volunteers that hope to bring a positive change in this world. Their program packages are all-inclusive, starting at just $860 for India. The organization will cover transfer, facilities, accommodation, insurance and internet related to your volunteer work in India.
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If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in India that focus on environmental conservation and ecological revival then look no further than Sadhana Forest. This humanitarian organization was founded by Yorit and Aviram Rozin in 2003 with an aim to convert dry wastelands into vibrant tropical evergreen forests. Volunteers working with Sadhana Forest will take part in a variety of activities including sustainable practices, environmental learning and supporting local communities. Sadhana Forest’s humanitarian projects combine aspiring volunteers with active and enthusiastic locals to bring about a sustainable change regarding environmental conservation.
Sadhana Forest’s volunteer programs include massive efforts at restoring the ecological validity of dried out places in India. Volunteers in India will work with locals and learn more about the topography of the place to then aid in sustainable practices.
If you deeply care about nature conservation, we suggest checking out their Plant4India Program. Sadhana Forest will connect up and coming volunteers to local sectors so that they can participate in grass-root level of environment conservation and restoration.
Their Children’s Land Project started way back in 2009 and this project advocates for children to appreciate nature and discover sustainability. You will be tasked with conducting workshops and helping children with essential life skills so that they can learn to better appreciate natural resources.
The Luniyakhedi Water Conservation will take volunteers to Madhya Pradesh – to the small village of Luniyakhedi. As one of the driest places in India, Luniyakhedi faces a serious water problem. You’ll be working with local organizations to develop bunds, swales, and dams, preserve aquifers as well as a series of other activities aimed at conserving what little water Luniyakhedi has.
Sadhana Forest’s efforts at ecological restoration are commendable and most of their volunteers in India have praised the organization for addressing imminent issues regarding environmental degradation. Their projects have helped volunteers familiarize themselves with important environmental and ecological issues. Sadhana Forest has 80 reviews on Go Overseas and 67 reviews on Go Abroad.
Read all reviews of Sadhana Forest on Go Overseas.
Read all reviews of Sadhana Forest on Go Abroad .
One of the main goals of Sadhana Forest is to allow its volunteers to experience what a rural life truly feels like. If you come aboard on their projects, you will participate in community living and will have to stay for a minimum of two weeks. The cost of basic facilities for 2 weeks is just $115. Program fees may vary depending upon the length of your stay while volunteering in India. Also, you’ll have to arrange for transport and flights by yourself.
Numerous organizations and NGOs in Nepal provide volunteer programs covering a wide array of sectors including education, healthcare, community development, environmental conservation, and more. You can directly contact these organizations to explore volunteering opportunities or seek multiple quotes from our inquiry page. Some of the top-rated volunteer providers in India include RCDP Volunteers, Global Crossroad Volunteers, Plan My Gap Year, International Volunteer HQ, and more.
India is indeed considered as a safe destination for travelers. However, like any other place, it's crucial to take standard precautions to ensure your safety and well-being. Stay vigilant of your surroundings, adhere to local customs and laws, and stay updated on any travel advisories.
The CDC recommended vaccinations for India include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Yes, you need a tourist visa to volunteer and travel in India. The type of visa required depends on various factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your visit, and the duration of your stay. It's essential to check the specific visa requirements and application process for your country of citizenship before planning your trip. You can usually apply for an appropriate visa through the Indian embassy or consulate in your home country. Additionally, some volunteer organizations may provide guidance or assistance with the visa application process as part of their volunteer programs.
The length of volunteer programs in India can vary widely, depending on the organization and project type. Generally, most programs require a minimum commitment of 1-2 weeks and have a maximum duration of 12 weeks.
There are so many types of programs available to fulfil your passion of volunteering in India. You can choose to join programs like teaching English, community development, environment conservation, community development, wildlife conservation, healthcare, disaster relief and much more.
India is a beautiful country that is truly rich with cultural diversity and magnificent sceneries. You will surely have an adventure of a lifetime by volunteering in India with any of the organizations discussed above! They offer you the opportunity to help improve hundreds of lives while also developing your own leadership skills and a new perspective of life, and all at a price that is fair and very affordable. Do you think you might go? What are you waiting for? Apply now and be a change maker!
