Delhi is a city that makes you feel like time traveling is possible. As the capital city of India, Delhi offers everything from traditional areas and most stunning temples to modern buildings such as skyscrapers and glamorous malls. It is referred to as a city that is continuously reborn and in constant change without losing its traditional characteristics. Are you interested in experiencing the city yourself and become a part of this amazing place while at the same time doing something for the greater good? Keep on reading and you will see that volunteer opportunities in Delhi are suitable for anyone!
There are a number of myths and interesting facts about the city that you will learn about in the following:
Even though India has made rapid economic advances in the last years, around 28% of the whole population still lives below the poverty line. One of the major reasons for poverty is the country’s high population growth rate. Therefore, volunteer work in Delhi is needed in different fields. The following will introduce you to all volunteer opportunities in Delhi.
Even though India places a major emphasis on education, the country’s education system is continuously in progress. Especially in the slum areas, children are rather sent out on the streets to earn money than being able to go to school. In order to make it possible for these children to visit a school and get the knowledge they deserve, organizations provide free education, school supplies, food, and uniforms. Of course, they depend on a lot of helping hands by volunteers in order to achieve their goals. If you are thinking about becoming a volunteer in Delhi in the field of teaching, your volunteer tasks could be the following:
In order to become an English Teacher you do not need to be a native speaker of English, but an intermediate level is preferable. Helping others also has a major influence on yourself. Not only will you get an insight on the amazing work of non-profit organizations, but as a volunteer in Delhi, you will also be able to gain a greater knowledge on the country’s issues of education, human rights, abuse, and poverty.
Even though India’s healthcare system has improved over the last decades, the majority of the population still experiences health issues. This results on the one hand from the lack of awareness and on the other hand, and primarily from the fact that most Indians are not able to afford medical treatment. Thus, free medical camps and free treatment in hospitals are of great importance and helping hands are always needed. Depending on your interest and knowledge, your daily tasks as a volunteer in Delhi can include the following:
Please keep in mind that you do not necessarily need to be a medical or nursing student. If you are generally interested in health and medicine related topics you are more than welcome to join and gain important experiences. If you think that volunteering in Delhi in this field is the right thing for you, don’t worry about language barriers. The language spoken in the hospitals and medical camps is English, which you should speak on an intermediate level. During your time volunteering in Delhi, you will gain knowledge in different fields such as nursing, physiotherapy or general rehabilitation and treatment processes, just to name a few. The local team will support you constantly during your stay and, based on your knowledge and medical experience, your tasks as a volunteer in Delhi will be chosen.
India is a fundamentally male-dominated society where women have limited rights and opportunities in the fields of education and employment. Thus, most women have subordinated lives and need support to gain knowledge in different fields and to become more independent. As a volunteer in Delhi in the field of women empowerment, you will work and help in different tasks and will be part of an amazing team that teaches women different skills and encourages them to become more independent and confident. Of course, your daily to-do’s vary and depend on the volunteer project you will be working for, but the following list gives you an overview of the different tasks that you might be doing as a volunteer in Delhi:
If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer in Delhi in the field of women empowerment you do not need to be a native speaker of English. Most often, women attending these projects are not able to speak English themselves and can understand little or none. Thus, as a volunteer in Delhi, it is sufficient if your English skills are basic.
In India 17% of all children are orphans. Resulting from poverty and missing resources many families are not able to take care of their children. Thus, it is of high importance that these children have safe places, where they receive the support they need. There are different orphanages for you to volunteer at and every institution is more than thankful for your help. The children are usually between 7 and 15 years old, depending on the orphanage you will be working at. As an orphange volunteer in Delhi, you will have different tasks during your stay such as:
Before you decide to volunteer in Delhi at an orphanage, make sure you are prepared for your task and understand what to expect. While working with orphans might sound noble at first, it is important to realize that more than 80% of children living in orphanages are not orphans. They are separated from their families because they are poor, disabled, from an ethnic minority or because they are suffering from other exclusion factors.
Many of these children have experienced violence or abuse and are traumatized. For this reason, it is essential that volunteers MUST have appropriate skills. If not, you could be putting yourself and the children at risk. Therefore, if you wish to work and volunteer at an orphanage, you should meet at least one of the following requirements:
Even though volunteering in Delhi takes a lot of your time, you will have some time for yourself and be able to explore Delhi. The city has a lot to offer - from traditional temples to modern buildings and shopping malls that you can visit during your free time. Use your weekends to stroll around the markets and explore the food that the Indian cuisine has to offer.
You have probably already heard of the Taj Mahal, which is widely considered to be the most beautiful building in the world. Even though it is one of the most touristic attractions it is worth a visit and you should not miss it during your time as a volunteer in Delhi. There is so much to see, but among the many options these are some of places that you should consider visiting as well:
Before you start to pack your bags for the most exciting time of your life, there are a few things you should inform yourself about. To make sure that you have nothing to worry about during your time volunteering in Delhi, keep on reading and you will find some important information and tips about this city.
Delhi has an extreme climate as it gets very hot in the summer and cold during the winter season. The best time to visit and volunteer in Delhi is between October and March with a temperature between 25 and 35 degrees.
It is always advised to be cautious, no matter what destination you travel to. Even though Delhi is a great place to visit, you should be aware of certain situations and take a few precautions while doing volunteer work in Delhi:
Delhi is culturally diverse. Even though almost 85% of the inhabitants are Hindu, religions such as the Islam, Christianity or the Aryan culture are accepted as well. When you plan to visit religious buildings, such as temples, make sure to behave appropriately as taking off shoes and covering the head and body might be mandatory.
Before you start volunteering in Delhi, make sure you have the right vaccinations. These should be checked ideally 4-6 weeks before your trips. The US-based health protection agency CDC recommends getting the following vaccines before starting volunteer work in Delhi: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Also make sure to think of the following points:
As you will have noticed by now, there is a great number of different volunteer opportunities that expect different skills and abilities from their volunteers. While you can find out the specific requirements for each project on their program page, here are some general requirements that apply to most projects:
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