Volunteer Programs in New Delhi, India

New Delhi is the capital of India, a hugely populated developing country. Among the city’s people, you will find millions of individuals struggling through the challenges of poverty, many of whom have migrated their families from rural areas in search of economic opportunity. The city’s poorest often live in crowded slums where access to basic infrastructural necessities and social benefits is greatly lacking.

Due to the immense need in these areas, it is quite popular for international volunteers to volunteer in New Delhi in the areas of community development, education, health care, urban planning, and orphanage work. Volunteer opportunities in New Delhi will likely consist of a combination of behind-the-scenes planning and hands on community engagement.

There is a large variety of volunteer projects in New Delhi that are continuously running throughout the year, so research carefully to find the opportunity that suits your interests and schedule best. Volunteer programs in New Delhi also tend to vary in length, accommodating every volunteer’s individual preference and availability, from as little as two weeks all the way up to year long programs for volunteering in New Delhi.

When planning your volunteer abroad experience, keep in mind that Delhi’s temperatures tend soar to over 100 degrees fahrenheit in the summer months, followed by the monsoon season in August and a more temperate climate for the rest of the year. The weather may profoundly influence you while volunteering in New Delhi, so plan accordingly.

Most volunteer placements in India will not expect volunteers to speak Hindi, so don’t let the possibility of a language barrier deter you from volunteering abroad in New Delhi. You will find that the educated class of New Delhi speaks English fluently, as this is typically their language of instruction in school. However, working as a volunteer in New Delhi, many beneficiaries of projects will not be highly educated, so it will be beneficial for volunteers to pick up some Hindi while volunteering in New Delhi. Learning even a few basic phrases will take you further than you think in India.