India

30 Years Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.  We accept volunteers from all over the world and place them in meaningful overseas missions.  

Affordable Volunteer Travel

India is an eclectic and intoxicating cultural experience like no other! Home of the famous Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, the sacred Ganges river, and over 1 billion people of varying languages, cultures and beleifs, India is sure to push you to the boundaries of your comfort zone.

IVI is focused on establishing sustainable employment and education through volunteering efforts in India. Children in some of the regions we service have not had basic nutritional background. Over 950,000 newborns per year in India die from infections. Education about health for families provides a strong foundation for self-care in the communities we service in India.

India’s climte ranges from tropical down south to alpine up in the northern mountain regions. 

From April until the start of October is summer, and in most places in India, is very hot. In June the monsoon rains start in Kerala down south, and move inland. Further north and in the rural areas of Rajasthan, it can get pretty cold from December to January- sometimes as low at minus 5 degrees!

Be prepared for some hot temperatures but if in the Sikkim region, bring along some warmer clothing as it can get cold in the mountains. 

India is a country FULL of culture! From the beautiful colours, different religions, ancient traditions and the smells of spices- India is a country like no other.  It’s the the second most populous nation after China, with over 1.2 billion people. 

The most prominant religions are Hinduism and Buddhism and around 13% of the popualrtion are Muslim. Because there are so many religions, India celebrates a large number of festivals throughout the year. Some of these include Diwali, Holi, Eid and Good Friday. 

In India, the cow is considered to be a Holy animal and you will see cars either driving around, or simply waiting if a cow is in the road holding up traffic! In some parts of India it is forbidden to eat meat or drink alcohol. 

You will see many temples in India, as well as colourful clothing, particually the sari’s that the local women wear, and many cultural dance shows and activities. 

 If you haven’t been to India yet…. Go! It’s truly an amazing experience no matter what part of the country you visit. The following is an overview of the key regions we service for volunteering, however note the road trips involve heaps of other destinations including Agra (Taj Mahal), Mysore (Yoga Capital of India), Munnar (Southern Tea Plantations) and much more!

Bodhgaya, Bihar
If you want a real India experience with truly unique culture and inspiring grass roots volunteer project that is transforming communities, say yes to Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is certainly the most fascinating and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world and the place where Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the Enlightened One in approx 525 BC. Bodhgaya, is famous for Mahabodhi temple which stands above the Bodhi Tree. Its architectural effect is mesmerizing. This is a very poor region with many needs from social and civil infrastructure, education, healthcare where volunteers can really make a substantial difference. At the heart of this placement is truly inspired people making positive changes in the world. Volunteers are encouraged to learn as much Hindi as possible in advance of this placement.

Sikkim, Bihar
Sikkim is a small state in northwest India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. Spectacular scenery coupled with buddhist monasteries are the highlight of this fascinating region. Here you’ll be interacting with monks on a regular basis, learning about their way of life and exchanging ideas and intercultural learnings. Volunteers in Sikkim looking for off the beaten track should choose this option.

Goa, Kerala
The beach goers destination with the right mix of infrastructure and order coupled with that crazy un-ordered Indian charm. Here you will join a well established project that has been helping the poorer communities in education and community support for over 10 years. Goa is a really fun destination, with plenty of party goers and a relaxed funky vibe great for the free spirited types who want a more ‘westernized’ taste of India!

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Visited on the India Road Trip, Shimla, ‘The Land of snowy mountains’ is situated 2,205 metres (7,234 ft.) above sea level.  Famous for the many cheeky monkeys which love to steal your juicy mangos (or anything they can get their hands on) it was declared the summer capital of the British Rule in India in 1864. It’s an incredibly picturesque and uniquely cultured destination that is a must see any time of the year! Local markets and street vendors are present everywhere. Due to its pleasant climate, it attracts a favourable blend of Indian and International tourists throughout the year.

Udaipur, Rajasthan
Visited on the India Road Trip, Udaipur is commonly called the Venice of the East and nicknamed ‘the city of lakes’ is located in the state of Rajasthan. Primarily known for its art and architecture, it has temples dating as far back as 950 AD and palaces dating back to the Rajput era. The Lake Palace (Jag Niwas) located in the middle of Pichola Lake is an architectural and cultural marvel. The grand City Palace on the banks of the lake along with the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above enhances the beauty of this magnificent city. Udaipur is also the centre for performing arts, crafts and its famed miniature paintings and perfect for those who want to experience the history and culture while volunteering in India.

In Bodhgaya, the volunteer center is safe, clean and comfortable.  We have eight rooms with living hall and separate kitchen. Each room has double beds and attached western toilets.  It is very close to world heritage Mahabodhi Temple.

Volunteers can choose from basic single, double or dorm style rooms depending on availability.  All standard amenities are included such as beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, towels, water purifier, fans & coolers, mosquito netting, western toilet, cleaning supplies, chairs and  tables.

The Goa Volunteer center is a large western style house with a lovely garden and large outdoor area. The house features and hot water (solar powered), WiFi, dining room, mini library and travel desk, lounge areas, television with satellite connection, safety lockers and lockable rooms, fridge and western style toilets and purified water. Bed linen is provided, however you should bring your own towel.  You’ll be sharing a room with max of 4-6 volunteers at any one time in single gender rooms. You can wash your clothes by hand otherwise there is laundry services available for an additional fee.

The center is located located about 1 hour from the airport and about a 15 min walk to the nearest supermarket with ATM and personal SIM card for additional Wifi if desired as the quality of internet is not the greatest! The closest city is Mapusa.

The Udaipur volunteer center is located five kilometers from the heart of Udaipur, where you’ll find all the standard things like ATM’s, gyms, shops etc. There is a mini library where you can read, a beautiful garden to relax in and dining and lounge areas where you can hang out with fellow volunteers. The house is equipped with all standard western style amenities (eg. Fridge, running water, Wifi toilets etc).  Please note the quality of Wi-Fi will be slower than you’re used to!

Basic Amenities include 4-6 persons p/room, Wifi in public areas, laundry facilities (at a small fee), safety deposit box, lockable rooms, hot showers, private bathroom, bed linen provided, bring your own towel.

In Sikkim, You will stay either at the monastery or close by. 

We provide three vegetarian meals a day (2 on weekends).  We provide fruits, bread and butter with tea or coffee for breakfast.  For lunch, we offer non spicy or spicy Vegetarian meals (Rice pulses and green vegetables, Soup and Salad) for dinner, we again provide non spicy or spicy authentic Indian vegetarian food

An arrival airport pickup is included in the cost of your placement. Accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees. Arrivals are on Saturdays and Sundays (please check the individual project for the pickup window times, as they can differ). 

If arriving outside the pickup times we can arrange a private transfer and extra night’s accommodation, depending on availability, or you can make your own way to the project.  

Weekends are always free for relaxing or sightseeing of your choice. Our ground operators will help you organise additional trips with special (non tourist) rates which can be paid directly in local currency. As a volunteer you will gain access to local knowledge, opportunities and value you simply would not find if staying as a standard tourist.

Would you like to raise money in order to afford your trip abroad to volunteer? Or perhaps you would like to set up a funraiser to gain enough money to give as a donation to the local project? Crowd funding is a great way to do this. Read this article on Crowdfunding tips to find out how you can raise funds for your trip.