Orphanage Volunteering – Varanasi, India

COME TO INDIA AS A VOLUNTEER AND BRING YOUR COLOR TO THEIR LIVES

It was established to provide a safe refuge for street girls from the Dashashwamedh Ghat area, many of whom come from extremely vulnerable backgrounds. Most of these girls have lost their mothers and are left with fathers who cannot care for them. Over time, the shelter has become a refuge for children in crisis. The shelter also works closely with the local police, who often refer girls in need of urgent care.

The shelter relies mainly on private donations to keep running, though it undergoes regular government inspections to ensure compliance with child protection standards. The shelter is committed to providing a warm, supportive environment that lets these girls grow, heal, and become confident, empowered people. Volunteers play an essential role in enriching these girls’ lives, offering them love, care, and new learning experiences.

Activities

• Emotional support: spending quality time with the girls, offering emotional support and building relationships of trust. Many of them have experienced trauma and loss, so volunteers can act as positive role models, giving them guidance, companionship, and stability.
• Educational support: After school, volunteers can help the girls with their homework, reading, and educational projects. By offering personalized support, they help close the academic gaps many girls face due to interrupted schooling. They can also organize informal learning sessions to teach English, math, or other subjects, helping them gain essential skills for their future.
• Health and well-being support: Volunteers can accompany the girls to their medical visits and promote hygiene and self-care practices by running workshops on topics such as nutrition, personal hygiene…
• Cultural exchange and excursions: The shelter’s girls are always eager to learn about the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Volunteers can share stories, traditions, and perspectives from their home countries, broadening their horizons. Organizing trips to local cultural sites, parks, or educational centers can also give them enriching experiences outside the shelter.

A volunteer’s day to day

The volunteers you’ll live with come from all over the world and are very different people. But sharing such a profound experience gives the volunteer house a warm atmosphere of companionship and friendship that you feel the moment you land. It’s something close, something special.

So, among friends, your day starts with breakfast in the dining room before heading to your project, where you’ll be welcomed with open arms, since volunteers are highly valued and respected in India. You’ll work roughly from 9:00 to 12:30 or 1:00. Lunch, some free time, and back to work — which is nothing but enormously rewarding time, where your help will give you more than it gives them.

In the afternoons, back at the volunteer house, you’ll have free time to explore the city or take part in the program’s cultural immersion activities.
And on weekends… free to rest, or to travel!

Accommodation and meals

The Varanasi Volunteer Hostel is located in the old town center, very close to the Ghats, surrounded by little streets with shops, restaurants, etc.

It has several floors with all the amenities. It’s a basic hostel, but with everything you need: rooms for 1 to 4 people with a cooler or AC, private bathrooms, a shared lounge and dining room, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, a washing machine with drying rack, etc.

As for meals, 3 meals a day are included 7 days a week, so you won’t have to worry about anything other than your volunteer work and having a good time. The staff are very attentive and welcoming, and they always have a smile for you.

YOGA BY THE GANGES

If there is one place in the world to practice Yoga, it’s India. And if there is one place in India where the human and spiritual experience is complete, it’s the sacred city of Varanasi.

The accommodation’s yoga guru is a special person. You notice it the moment you talk to him — a kind of inner calm that spreads through the whole residence. No wonder he’s a great Yoga master… So, for beginners and advanced practitioners alike, we recommend the sunrise Yoga sessions. Sometimes on the rooftop itself, other times on the banks of the Ganges. And even on a boat.

It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

EXCURSIONS

Visita Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal), Benarés , Sarnath, y los complejos de templos de PRAYAGRAJ y KHAJURAHO con los paquetes de excursiones que hemos preparado para ti. 

• The program starts and ends in the city of Varanasi.
• Project duration: from 2 weeks to 1 year.
• Arrival date: your choice.
• Working days: Monday to Friday. Typical working hours: 2:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

The program includes.

• Personalized pickup at Varanasi airport (or Delhi if you book the excursion) and transfer to your accommodation.
• Orientation and training about India, local customs, and the project you’ll be working on.
• Accommodation in the Volunteer Hostel.
• Three meals a day / seven days a week.
• Daily transportation to the project.
• Cultural immersion activities: traditional Henna painting, Indian dress workshop, Hindi classes, yoga sessions, Indian cooking demonstration…
• In-country support in India, available 24/7, every day.
• Administrative costs.
• Transfer to Varanasi airport at the end of your volunteer program.
• Certified €200 contribution to the CiENViDAS project
• International Volunteering Certificate from the CiENViDAS Foundation

The program does not include.

• Flights, which each volunteer must arrange.
• India visa, easily obtained online before the trip.
• Mandatory travel and health insurance, essential to guarantee medical care if needed.

You can deduct 100% of the program cost on your next tax return (in Spain).

Spots are limited, so don’t miss this chance to take a trip with real impact.

Don’t wait — spots are limited.

• Prior training: No prior experience required — just enthusiasm and commitment!
• Minimum age: Be 18 years old at the start of the program. If you are a minor, you’ll need to present consent signed by your parents or guardians.
• Language skills: A basic level of English is required to make communication easier during the program.
• Required documents:
  • Résumé (CV).
  • Completed pre-registration form.
  • Criminal background check up to date.
• Attitude: An adventurous, caring spirit and a real desire to learn, help, and make the most of this unique experience.

This program is designed for people who want to transform lives while immersing themselves in an enriching culture.

Or fill out the pre-registration now