🇮🇳 International volunteering

Volunteering in India:
change lives, change your own

Teaching, medicine, childcare, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and community development in Jaipur, Kolkata, Varanasi, Kerala, and New Delhi. More than 10 years supporting volunteers in India.

21 Active programs
5 Cities
10 Years of experience
300 Volunteers sent
✅ Spanish NGO with 10 years in India
✅ Local coordinators 24/7
✅ Tax-deductible in Spain
✅ No prior experience needed

An experience that transforms you forever

India is one of the most rewarding volunteer destinations in the world. Its cultural diversity, the warmth of its people, and the real need for support in vulnerable communities mean that every day of volunteering has a direct, visible impact.

At CiENViDAS we have spent more than 10 years sending volunteers to India through our own, verified projects: our CiENViDAS School in Jaipur, health projects in Varanasi and Jaipur, social rescue programs in New Delhi, and the Mother Teresa experience in Kolkata.

🏫 Our own free school in a Jaipur slum
🏥 Community clinics in Varanasi and Jaipur
👧 Supervised orphanages and foster homes
🤝 Spanish coordinators + local team 24/7
CiENViDAS volunteer with children in India

Where can you volunteer in India?

Five destinations with active projects year-round, each with its own personality and type of work.

🏰

Jaipur

Teaching · Slums

The Pink City is home to our Impact CiENViDAS School, where you teach girls from very low castes for free. There are also 11-day travel-and-volunteer groups.

4 programs available →
🕌

Varanasi

Medicine · Teaching · Orphanage

India’s holiest city, on the banks of the Ganges. Health projects in slums, teaching in community schools, and orphanage volunteering.

4 programs available →
🚂

New Delhi

Street children

Independent volunteering with the “children of the trains” in New Delhi. A unique social rescue project that changes perspectives and opens your eyes to another reality.

1 program available →
🌴

Kerala

Medicine · Teaching · Disability

India’s greenest state. Community medicine projects, teaching in local schools, and care for children with disabilities in Cochin/Kochi.

3 programs available →
🕊️

Kolkata

Mother Teresa · Care

A deeply human experience alongside the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, supporting vulnerable people in one of India’s most iconic projects.

1 program available →

Types of volunteering in India

Choose the project that best fits your profile, your skills, and your desire to help.

📚

Educational volunteering

Teach English, math, and creative subjects to slum children. No degree required, just commitment and enthusiasm. CiENViDAS provides all materials and daily lesson planning.

Jaipur Varanasi Kerala
🏥

Medicine and health

Support community clinics in low-income areas. Ideal for medicine, nursing, or physiotherapy students. Also for people without medical training who want to help with basic health tasks.

Varanasi Jaipur
🏠

Orphanage and foster care

Care for and support children in foster homes and orphanages. Recreational activities, educational support, and emotional companionship. One of the most intense and moving experiences.

Jaipur
♿

Disability

Work with children and adults with physical and mental disabilities in Kolkata. Adapted activities, daily companionship, and support in a project of immense human value.

Kolkata
🚂

At-risk children

Independent volunteering with the children of the trains in New Delhi. Support for the rescue and social reintegration of minors who live or work in highly marginalized areas.

New Delhi
🗺️

Travel + volunteering

Combine volunteering with responsible tourism. 7- or 11-day programs that include project work + cultural visits to the Taj Mahal, Pushkar, Jaipur, and more. Perfect for a vacation with purpose.

Jaipur Essential India

Volunteer programs in India available now

21 programs available year-round. Filter by city or type of volunteering.

City
Type

Showing 21 programs

Jaipur Solidarity trip

Essential India – Volunteering and Travel in 7 days

See program
Varanasi Medicine and Health

Medicine and Health in Slums – Varanasi

See program
Varanasi Teaching

Teaching in Slums – Varanasi

See program
Jaipur Teaching

Educational Volunteering – CiENViDAS School Jaipur

See program
Varanasi Orphanage

Orphanage Volunteering Varanasi

See program
Varanasi Medicine and Health

Medicine and Health Varanasi

See program
Jaipur Solidarity trip

Group Trips: Studies and Volunteering Jaipur

See program
New Delhi Special projects

The Children of the Trains – New Delhi

See program
Kerala Special projects

Children with Disabilities – Kerala

See program
Kerala Teaching

Teaching Kerala

See program
Jaipur Solidarity trip

India Experience 11 Days – Travel and Volunteering Jaipur

See program
Kolkata Special projects

Missionaries of Charity Volunteering – Kolkata

See program
Jaipur Special projects

Renovation and Decoration – Jaipur

See program
Jaipur Special projects

Elephant Care and Teaching – Jaipur

See program
Jaipur Special projects

Sports and Physical Education – Jaipur

See program
Jaipur Special projects

Women and Girls Empowerment – Jaipur

See program
Jaipur Medicine and Health

Dentist India – Jaipur

See program
Jaipur Solidarity trip

Family Solidarity Trip to India

See program
Jaipur Teaching

Teaching Jaipur India

See program
Jaipur Medicine and Health

Medicine and Health Jaipur India

See program
Jaipur Orphanage

CiENViDAS AASHRAY Orphanage – Jaipur

See program

There are no programs with that combination of filters.

What does volunteering in India include?

The program price covers all the essentials so you can focus on what matters: helping.

✅ What’s included

  • ✓Airport pickup and transfer to accommodation
  • ✓Accommodation in the Volunteer House or a host family
  • ✓3 meals a day (Indian cuisine, vegetarian/mixed)
  • ✓Daily transportation to the project
  • ✓Local coordinator available 24/7
  • ✓Teaching materials and activity planning
  • ✓Cultural activities: henna, yoga, Indian cooking… (depending on the program)
  • ✓International certificate issued by the CiENViDAS Foundation
  • ✓Direct solidarity contribution to the project (€200)

❌ Not included

  • ✕Flight (to Delhi/Jaipur/Cochin)
  • ✕India visa (easily processed online, approx. €80)
  • ✕Travel and health insurance (mandatory, from €40/month)
  • ✕Personal and leisure expenses
  • ✕Optional excursions (Taj Mahal, Pushkar, safari…)

💡 Good to know

100% of the program cost is tax-deductible (in Spain) as a donation to an NGO. CiENViDAS provides you with the tax certificate.

CiENViDAS volunteer in India
★★★★★
“India changed my life. Working at the school in Jaipur, seeing the girls’ smiles every morning… it’s something words can’t explain. I’ll definitely go back.”

Sandra M. — Volunteer in Jaipur, 2023

The peace of mind of a genuinely told experience

These aren’t empty promises or decorative icons: it’s the voice of a real volunteer and the reasons why CiENViDAS supports this journey so closely.

Sandra, CiENViDAS volunteer in Jaipur
Sandra M. Volunteer in Jaipur · 2023
★★★★★ Real testimonial

“In my case, I was coming off a really tough year personally, and this experience helped me far more than the little I feel I was able to give. It’s a journey that transforms you.”

Sandra took part in the orphanage program in Jaipur and sums up well what we hear most often when someone travels with CiENViDAS: you arrive nervous, but the support and the reality of the project quickly put you at ease.

Real program in Jaipur Local support Transformative experience
★★★★★
“On a personal level, I needed to do something for others and for myself. It wasn’t just another trip — it was a personal need to connect, to help, and also to find myself.”

Sandra · Orphanage Jaipur

★★★★★
“So many nerves… but everything changed when I arrived at the orphanage. Their energy, their smiles, and the way they welcome you change everything.”

Sandra · Real testimonial

How much does volunteering in India cost?

The price varies by program, destination, duration, and type of accommodation. Check each program for the exact price, or write to us and we’ll give you the details.

Programs in Jaipur

School, orphanage, medicine, sports…

Inquire

Price depends on duration and accommodation

  • Accommodation in the volunteer house
  • 3 meals a day
  • Local coordinator
  • Cultural activities
  • CiENViDAS certificate
Request information

Travel + volunteering

India Experience · 11 days

Inquire

Tourism + project combined

  • Volunteering + cultural visits
  • Jaipur, Agra, Pushkar
  • Everything organized
  • Small groups
  • Spanish-speaking guide included
See program →

100% tax-deductible in Spain as a donation to an NGO — CiENViDAS provides all the tax documentation you need.

Requirements to volunteer in India

The requirements are minimal. We value attitude above all.

🎂

Minimum age 18

Minors with signed consent from parents or guardians.

🌍

Basic English

A basic level to communicate with the local team and the project’s beneficiaries.

📄

Documents

Résumé, pre-registration form, and criminal background check (some projects).

💪

Positive attitude

No prior experience required. Just a desire to learn, help, and adapt to another culture.

When to go volunteering in India?

Programs are open year-round, although the climate varies quite a bit by season.

October – March

Ideal season

Pleasant, dry weather across northern India. Temperatures between 15 and 28 ºC (59-82 ºF). The golden season for Jaipur and Varanasi. Highly recommended for long-term volunteering.

April – June

Intense heat

Very high temperatures in the north (up to 45 ºC / 113 ºF in Jaipur). Kerala, in the south, is cooler and more humid. Still doable with good hydration and adjustment.

July – September

Monsoon

Heavy rains across the country, especially in Kerala and the north. Projects stay active. A very special atmosphere, green landscapes, and few tourists.

Everything you wonder before going to India

Yes, with the right preparation. CiENViDAS works in well-known, stable areas, with local coordinators present at all times. India is a country of contrasts, but volunteers travel to tourist areas and project areas with extensive experience hosting visitors. We always recommend travel health insurance and the necessary vaccines.

The minimum is 2 weeks for most programs, though we recommend at least 3-4 weeks to make a real impact and fully enjoy the experience. There are also 7- and 11-day programs that combine volunteering with tourism.

Basic English is enough to communicate with the local team and work in the educational projects. You don’t need to know Hindi: in Jaipur, Varanasi, and Delhi, English is the usual working language on the projects. CiENViDAS also has Spanish-speaking coordinators.

The main recommended vaccines are: Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio, and Meningitis. In some areas, antimalarial prophylaxis is also recommended. Always check with your doctor or a travel clinic about 6-8 weeks before your trip.

Yes, in Spain. Since it’s a contribution to the CiENViDAS Foundation, the full program amount is tax-deductible as an NGO donation on your Spanish income tax return. CiENViDAS provides the tax certificate for the year of your volunteer work.

Most volunteers travel alone, and it’s perfectly doable and safe. The Volunteer Houses are always home to several volunteers from different countries, which creates an incredible sense of camaraderie. There are also organized group options if you prefer to travel with others.

Why choose CiENViDAS for your volunteer trip to India?

🏫

Our own projects

We have our own school in Jaipur and partner clinics in Varanasi and Kerala. We’re not intermediaries: we control the quality of the impact.

🤝

Permanent local team

Coordinators in each city, available 24 hours a day. Local staff with years of experience supporting international volunteers.

📋

Everything organized

From the airport to the last day: accommodation, meals, transportation, cultural activities, and visa guidance. All you have to do is arrive.

🎓

Registered Spanish NGO

The CiENViDAS Foundation is a legally registered NGO in Spain. Your contribution is safe, transparent, and tax-deductible in Spain.

Ready to take the leap?

Start your volunteer journey in India today

Fill out the pre-registration form and a coordinator will contact you within 24 hours to answer all your questions and book your spot.

CiENViDAS Foundation volunteers and girls on a cooperation project
Registered foundation · MA-1466

Committed to transparency

We are a legally supervised foundation. Transparency is central to our work: we want you to know what we do, and we are always ready to provide supporting documents.

Málaga Register of Foundations
CIF: G93614550
Annual external audit