As a childcare volunteer in India, you will have the incredible opportunity to brighten the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Your daily routine will begin with engaging the children through singing and dancing, setting an energetic and joyful tone for their day. In addition to being a positive role model, you'll support these young minds with their educational journey by organizing activities, playing games, and leading basic teaching lessons. Through your contribution, you'll help create a nurturing environment, making a meaningful difference and shaping a brighter future for these kids.
BACKGROUND TO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM
In India, like many developing countries, many children face a lack of opportunities and struggle to access quality early education. Poverty, limited resources, and financial constraints often prevent parents from providing their children with the early development they deserve. This is particularly true for children with disabilities, who face even greater challenges both within and outside the education system.
PMGY volunteers in India work in child care centers within the Faridabad community, focusing on children from nearby slum areas. These centers, established by PMGY, not only provide essential care but also support educational activities. Volunteers bring positive energy and support local staff by leading and organizing fun and productive activities for the children. Volunteers are encouraged to be enthusiastic, creative, and full of energy to ensure the success of their time at the center. Childcare volunteering in India is a rewarding experience, open to individuals from all backgrounds.
Each day will be different, so volunteers should come prepared with plenty of ideas for activities. Creativity is key as you’ll be given the chance to plan and lead your own sessions. The work you do can have a profound impact on the local community, and the more you invest in the program, the more rewarding your experience will be.
CHILDCARE VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES
Sector 10 Program – This program was established by the local PMGY team to provide support to children from the Sector 10 community. Many of these children come from local slums, and the program aims to provide free education and activities to ensure they have a brighter future.
Approximately 50 children attend the program each day, divided into two groups: younger and older children. As a childcare volunteer, you’ll primarily work with younger children, focusing on non-educational activities like arts and crafts, playground games, and hygiene education. For those volunteers interested in teaching, there are also opportunities to assist older children with basic English, Maths, and other subjects.
Often, the older children at the center are responsible for their younger siblings, as childcare services are unavailable at home. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting these siblings, creating a safe and structured environment for everyone.
The daily schedule includes a national anthem, nursery rhymes, and some exercise, followed by a couple of hours of structured activities for both age groups. The group then reconvenes for some Bollywood dancing and snack time. Volunteers will receive guidance and support from a local teacher and coordinator throughout the program.
KRC School – Founded by a physiotherapist, the KRC School focuses on providing care and rehabilitation to children with disabilities. Many disabled children in India lack the necessary resources and support for development, which is why this program is vital in helping them gain skills and improve their independence.
Volunteers assist with a wide range of activities, including storytelling, basic life skills lessons, physical exercises, singing, and games. Volunteers with relevant experience may also assist with physiotherapy and speech therapy sessions, under the supervision of local staff. This center is an excellent opportunity for volunteers to make a lasting impact on children’s development, particularly in the area of social skills.
The project is highly hands-on, with volunteers taking an active role in teaching English, assisting with mealtimes, and supporting motor skill activities. Volunteers often bring toys and educational aids to help support the children’s progress. Despite the challenges, many volunteers describe this as one of the most rewarding experiences they’ve had, with unique and lasting bonds being formed with the children.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN INDIA
Resources – Due to the limited resources available at the childcare centers, volunteers are encouraged to bring materials with them to make the most out of their daily activities. This preparation is essential to ensuring a productive experience for both you and the children.
Placement Settings – PMGY does not offer volunteer opportunities in orphanages. Research has shown that orphanages can sometimes separate children from their families, creating risks of neglect and abuse. Instead, PMGY partners with community-based childcare projects where children attend each day and return home in the evening. These placements are safe, responsible, and carefully vetted to ensure that volunteers can make a meaningful impact without contributing to harmful practices.
Return Airport Transfer - Your return airport transfer is not included in your Programme Fee. Our local team can help arrange onward transfers to the airport or an alternative destination from the volunteer accommodation. Making specific arrangements once in India provides more flexibility as plans can often change, and participants may be on similar flight plans. Alternatively, a more common and cheaper method is to use a ridesharing app. Participants can often be travelling across their final few days and therefore are not necessarily heading back to the airport directly from our accommodation. The costs depend on your method of transport and your final destination. This can often be split across multiple participants if you are travelling with someone else on the programme.
Project Flexibility - There may be an opportunity as a volunteer in India to get involved with other India volunteer programmes. However, there may be instances where this would lead to overcrowding on these volunteering experiences, and thus limited project work opportunity. Therefore, such flexibility on a volunteer trip to India is not always possible. Priority will always be given to those signed up to that specific programme in India.
Weekends - Your project work in India runs from Monday to Friday, and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation, but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our India Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend.
