Volunteer in Healthcare in India

I recently completed a medical program experience in Faridabad (Delhi) with IVHQ. I would absolutely use them again for any future volunteering I may do and certainly recommend them to anyone else thinking about trying volunteering. The experience with IVHQ was excellent from the very beginning. Easy to use website. Clear information. Fair pricing. The preparation checklist left no room for errors and created a sense of confidence in the program and process before leaving home. There was clear support before leaving, while away and follow up when arriving home. It makes you feel that IVHQ genuinely care about your experience which is a great thing. We were well looked after in our home stay and had the best group during our stay. I’m 52, the eldest volunteer at the time was 77, the youngest 24, but we all had a common goal which is a great starting point. If you are considering volunteering I’d say go for it! With a one week option in lots of programs you can’t go wrong. I absolutely loved my whole time away and have already started looking into my next trip.

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I had a very enriching and meaningful experience participating in the Delhi program with IVQH. Although my stay was only one week, the impact it had on me was significant, and I truly wish I could have stayed longer. The clinic and the community it serves are located in an area with a great deal of need, which made the experience even more impactful. I felt very fortunate to connect with other volunteers who were incredibly kind, supportive, and passionate about the work. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Delhi. The environment was welcoming and supportive, and the accommodations felt comfortable and home-like. The program overall was well organized, which made it easy to adapt and focus on learning and contributing. I especially valued the time spent in the clinic working with patients. Despite the language barrier, there was strong support for communication, which allowed for meaningful interactions and even the opportunity to learn a few words in Hindi. Overall, this has been one of the most meaningful experiences I have had, and I hope to have the opportunity to return in the future.

The medical volunteering project in New Delhi was truly an amazing experience. The local team and the IVHQ coordinator were very supportive. The volunteering experience was very tiring, but fulfilling, considering the amount of patients that visit the slum clinic each morning. Even as a medical student I did lots of things there (basically everything). Just consider that the work you'll do there isn't like anything you're used to in your own country. For example, the physical examination is basically non-existent and the medications are prescribed based just on what the patient complains. If you're thinking about doing this wonderful experience just consider when to do it, from my personal experience August is probably one of the worst month. The temperature is around 40° and the humidity level is usually 90% (which is even worst than it sounds). In addition, there are at least 3 monsoons per week, which means all the street will be flooded with sewage water :)

I had an absolutely amazing time in India volunteering at a slum clinic, as a paediatric nurse, the local team were brilliant with lots of helpful and useful advice. The food at the home stay was delicious and nutritious and IVHQ were great support with answering all my questions and queries before I left, a great pre placement training module, insurance and arranging pick up from the airport. I knew I had support 24/7 and felt completely at ease the whole time I was away without any worries. I would absolutely 100% do another volunteering programme with IVHQ again and definitely go back to India again as I loved it!

This is the second time I have travelled with IVHQ, New Delhi India in 2024 and Kochi India in 2023. Each time, my IVHQ Program Manager was very helpful and supportive so thank you! I felt that volunteering in the slum clinic was very impactful. I discovered New Delhi and the Indian culture, learnt so much on a medical aspect and met so many lovely people (both the locals and the other volunteers). I would highly recommend IVHQ to have a fabulous and impacting experience in complete safety.

I could not be more grateful to the local team in Delhi, India. They were very easy to contact at any time, communication or relations were the most heart-warming and pleasant, perfect care was provided 24/7. Personally, volunteering in the slum clinic (in Faridabad, India) undoubtedly changed my perspective of life, values, family and friends. I have probably never seen such heart-warming people with the biggest smiles in my life as in the slum clinic. Treatments and providing help in the slum clinic was definitely primitive, arriving from the western end of the world, ever so small yet mind blowing to the locals. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity given to me and so are people in Faridabad, India. Moreover, I met so many incredible people from all over the world and made so many lifelong friends.

The prep from IVHQ was very thorough and provided very useful information. The step by step guide was easy to use. Scotia answered all questions as they arose. The local team was friendly, extremely supportive and they made us feel very comfortable. From this volunteering trip, I felt I could make a difference even with limited resources and outside my specialty.

I was well informed on the steps to take before my trip. Every question I had was answered on a timely manner. The local team were all professional. They were kind, patient, tried to answer all my questions. I liked that my private room was comfortable and clean. The bathroom and shower were also very clean. I loved how we were helping people with treatment and providing medicine at no cost. Try it!!! You will be amazed how safe, comfortable you will be during the program.

Both families hosting volunteers were extremely nice and approachable. The first day working in the slum clinics was my favorite, as well as realising how fortunate I am and the importance of helping others. Just try it! I didn't at all expect to enjoy it as much as I did, and it was as a fantastic experience which I will definitely do again.

The IVHQ preparatory materials and step-by-step program guide was super helpful in getting myself prepared and completing all the required items and paperwork. I do a volunteer trip to another country every year for about 5 years now. This was definitely the best value for the money. My volunteer location was in a small and remote village almost an hour from Dharamshala. The program is very grassroots. Life is very slow and I really had to make sure I approached all volunteer activities in a mindset that there wasn't going to be a monumental change. Just being there and doing the little we did was immense. Also, the NGO I was supporting had very great people there. Since I've been back, I've already spent a little time doing additional educational outreach and have plans to create more educational materials.

My experience with IVHQ was absolutely amazing - never before had I gone on a trip like this and I can definitely say that I am looking forward to doing many more. It's a fantastic way to make a contribution while still travelling the world. The IVHQ staff were so friendly and more than helpful whenever help was needed. I was lucky enough to be accommodated in a homestay for the first week of my trip, which was a great way to learn about the Indian culture and has really opened my eyes to the very different way of life that exists there. I also found that despite being far away from the centre of New Delhi, the suburban setting really forced me to see and experience what India is really like with such remarkable authenticity. There is no doubt that I learnt more about India than I could have if I had chosen to stay in a hostel or hotel - and the experience was that much more rewarding. Through IVHQ, all the meals were provided and they were all so delicious - I tried dishes that I never would've tried back home. The project itself was amazing and some of my most fond memories India are from the health clinic and from the schools that I went to. For me, this trip really solidified my passion to pursue a career in medicine and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to assist in the way that I could. Even though I know I wasn't able to make a massive difference, there was still something special about knowing that I had made even made the slightest contribution to the health crisis in India - and this is something I will remember for a long time. In addition to the program, India was a beautiful country to visit and combining travel with volunteer work was such a great mix. All in all, I 100% recommend IVHQ as anyones volunteer program. The friendships I made and the experiences we shared are indescribable.

I really feel like this program is a great way to show love through service and also participate in essential tasks in each country. I was in Faridabad in India and in the mornings on placement we learned so much. Then in the afternoons and on weekends we were free to explore. This program offered all of the safety of a home base and all of the freedom of solo travel. While in Delhi we visited the Devi temple, lotus temple, Geeta mandir, jampath market, Gurgaon, the Taj Mahal, old Faridabad market, sector 15, we went to a cinema, and all kinds of other fun things along the way. All this was done in only 1 week! The girls who stayed longer even went to Rishikesh and Jaipur! Delhi captures my heart. I told Soumita, our volunteer coordinator, I would graduate from medical school, learn Hindi and then come back and I mean it!

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My experience with IVHQ and their healthcare program in New Delhi was excellent! I chose India not only because of its rich history and diverse culture, but also because it is a very progressive country and that made me curious as to what their healthcare system would be like. Prior to departure, IVHQ was thorough and timely in providing support, answering questions and addressing any concerns I may have had. While in the program, I felt supported, safe and well taken care of. I had a wonderful time during orientation week! In a country like India, orientation week provided a way for me to integrate easier into an overwhelming, intense country. The week also gave me a chance to meet the other volunteers, all of whom were an immense pleasure to be with. Without a doubt, the highlight of orientation week was visiting the Taj Mahal. It was absolutely beautiful and words still cannot fully describe my experience! The health program itself was great. I had the chance to work in a Slum Clinic and being a health professional, was able to participate in many hands-on activities. This clinic is invaluable to the community and to have been able to contribute my time was a privilege. The only downside was that we were only in our placements for 4 hours per day. I had hoped to maximize my short stay and provide more working hours. Overall, the program is better than I could have expected and hoped for. I suggest it for those wanting to explore India and step out of their comfort zone but do so in a guided and safe manner that allows them to give back to the local community at the same time. I am thankful for my experience and very happy that I chose to do it with IVHQ.