Street Children Volunteering in India

I’ve taught in Southeast Asia many times in the past, but this was my first experience teaching in India. I was traveling on my own and arrived in Jaipur not knowing quite what to expect, but the entire experience was thoughtfully curated from beginning to end by the volunteer coordinator, Rohit, and the rest of the team. Rohit in particular — along with our driver — was incredibly attentive, kind, and welcoming, and truly made the experience feel one of a kind. The organization itself was also very well run, while still giving me the freedom to bring creativity into the way I taught English and math. The children and classrooms were an absolute joy to teach in — the students were curious, energetic, and full of personality, which made every day genuinely fun and memorable. By the end of the program, it was honestly difficult to leave and say goodbye to them. The homestay was another highlight: it was run by a wonderful mother and daughter-in-law who made me feel completely at home and even helped me with errands around Jaipur. Overall, it was an incredibly meaningful experience, and I would highly recommend it.

This was a truly wonderful and meaningful experience. I was fortunate enough to meet some truly inspiring people in India who wanted to make my time there so special. I include all the staff from Volunteer with India who went above and beyond to help me and to introduce me to their culture. I very much look forward to returning.

Rajesh made us feel like family. The guides were excellent .. and helped us in the classroom. We enjoyed working with thd children and teachers and were given lots of responsibility Our stay was more than volunteering. We learned much about Nepal, we made Momos, did yoga, went into town .. all made us feel like we were helping and we were learning. Thankyou Nepal.

We spent two weeks in December 2025 volunteering with VWI as part of the Family Volunteer Program. It was a life changing experience for my family, which consisted of my husband and I and 3 children aged 7, 9 and 11 years. We were volunteering at a boys shelter and teaching English and Mathematics to children aged 6-17. The program was well organised and we couldn't have survived without Pradeep (Program Director) and Shekar (our driver). Pradeep and Shekar were so accommodating and made us feel so welcome. Over the two weeks we developed beautiful relationships with the boys and felt that we were doing something that made a difference in the world. The purpose of our trip was to provide our children with greater insight into the lives of others and to make a meaningful contribution. It was the most authentic rewarding experience of our lives where we lived in Jaipur for two weeks and we are able to explore the city, while also participating in the volunteer program. I would highly recommend the program to other travellers who are looking for a different experience while travelling.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

I'm extremely satisfied to have been part of this great program helping children, their future and the future of the country. Accommodation - I was very happy and comfortable in a clean and pleasant environment. Food was always delicious, transport was always good, and cleaning was perfect. Staff were very kind and friendly with very good support; I was always able to reach them. I enjoyed every experience. Thank you so much for everything.

I enjoyed being part of the teaching program very much. Teaching English to year 3&4 was challenging at times but also a lot of fun. Receiving an email 2 weeks before arriving regarding school, classes would have been good. Emphasising the need for a laptop for lesson planning would have helped. I was very satisfied with accommodation; beds and pillows were comfortable, though upgrading to aircon was needed. Having 2 people in hot climate was better than three. Food was excellent and fresh with a great selection of meals all prepared by lovely, helpful staff. Having the occasional chicken meal was welcomed. Enjoyed experiencing Kerala food. We didn't need transport and the room was cleaned once a week & bathroom a few times each week. No complaints. All the staff were incredibly helpful, answering many questions. Working with Reshma was great both in and out of the classroom. She was extermely supportive when doing lesson planning & her help in the classroom with translation & classroom management was fantastic. Staff knew where various yoga places were always willing to suggest places to visit. Great suggestion by Shamla for cooking lesson and Kathkali.

From the preparation till my farewell at the share house the experience was amazing. Organisation was good, facilities excellent, camaraderie fantastic but the opportunity to do something worthwhile while one experienced another culture was the best part.

I spent 3 wonderful weeks with Ramesh and the boys at Bal Basera.The work being done here day to day is life changing for these vulnerable children. I travelled extensively in my free time and embraced the wonderful Indian culture with the host family.My time in India was everything I wanted it to be and more.I will continue to fundraise going forward in order to keep supporting the inspirational work being done at the Bal Basera project.

I‘ve been volunteering with children in a boys school in Jaipur for 2 weeks. It was simply a wonderful experience. The boys appreciated the volunteers very much and they were very friendly. I’ve been teaching Math and English. Usually there were kids from age 7 to 17 but the amount changed daily. Lessons start at 9 and finish around 1 p.m. Sometimes two or more volunteers are there at the same time. Its not like I knew school from home. But that’s why you travel and volunteer - to make new experiences and broaden your horizons. Don’t expect every detail to be organised perfectly. But everyone involved in the program is very kind and helpful. I was even invited to their homes and could join family festivities, which was very unique and authentical. I can recommend staying in a homestay while you volunteer. Another possibility to get an insight into authentic Indian lifestyle and culture. The city Jaipur offers a lot to do on the weekends and in your freetime. I loved the program! By volunteering you support that those boys are able to stay there, get food and lessons. And you will get back so much from this place ♥️

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Pickup was amazing and safe driving. Felt quite secure. food was very yummy. For someone who can’t handle much spice, the cook did a great job to cater to our needs. Maybe a salad but that’s just me. Outside of vol, I would relax at the house, explore around the streets to get supplies, laundry and atm. To the gym after 6pm. In free time, have a chill and look around the area a bit more as well. Such inviting environments, with the loveliest people/ children. To be able to try and brighten their day feels quite rewarding.

Involvement Volunteers International responded to this reviewOctober 24, 2025

Thanks so much for the review, would love to have to have you again! :D

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

I stayed in Jaipur doing the educating children program for three weeks. It was an amazing experience. Well organised. The staff always keept me informed before arrival. While in India, I enjoyed every minute of it. We taught English and Maths to a maximum group of around 48 boys although numbers might vary depending on the days. I enjoyed singing while learning English and exercising while learning Maths. The staff over there are very friendly and always happy to help. Great experience and amazing memories. I will definitely come back.

My name is Harry and I am a digital marketing executive and copywriter from Birmingham, UK. My girlfriend works in the charity sector and as such, wanted to incorporate a week’s volunteering into our three month travels around Asia. This has suited me from the perspective of my skill set, as Jeevan needed help in marketing and promoting his NGO across various platforms and putting ROSE in front of other organizations overseas. I feel proud to say that the work my girlfriend and I have done will help this charity, even if our work has just a minor impact. Kanda is a stunning little village. This trip constitutes not only my first trip to the bewildering subcontinent of India, but also my first time embarking on a season-long trip around the world. I didn’t know India could look so green or so beautiful before I saw Kanda; the views are simply matchless. We both love our room. However, we both felt a little detached from the family, only really interacting with them over meals – and even then, the language barrier (and perhaps a difference in custom) prohibited any real social engagement. I would like to have been invited to get more involved with the family on a day-to-day basis. I feel that nonetheless, it has been wonderful seeing and experiencing India with an authentic, rural, hard-working family. If I may make one suggestion to Jeevan, it would be to prepare, and stick to, a pre-planned itinerary with a day to day layout of activities for the volunteers to get involved with. I believe this is strongly needed as we felt a bit lost, or useless, in some hours of the day. A side note on the host Jeevan Verma – you could not ask for a friendlier and welcoming host. He is a dedicated guy who has committed himself to his community. Jeevan – it has been a pleasure to contribute to your cause. I wish you all the success with your goat breeding expansion plan. Sincerely, Harry.

My name is Alice Metcalf and I have visited R.O.S.E for one week as part of a 3 month tour around Asia with my boyfriend, Harry. Last year I graduated with an MA in Global Urban Justice and I have been doing research for a charity in London since then. I found R.O.S.E on the internet and was keen to put some of my skills into practice on the field whilst learning about Hindi culture in rural India. On arrival we were both blown away by the scenery and the fresh air! Kanda is an absolutely stunning place – I could never get bored of these views. My boyfriend is a digital marketing executive so our primary function here has been developing marketing tools and networking with various universities and volunteering coordination organizations. I think that we have made good progress in just one week, but it’s important that someone follows up the leads that we have started. We have also spent some time identifying potential donors who are interested in funding agricultural programs in rural India. Again, it is important that our work is followed up on to ensure that the time we have spent on this has been worthwhile for R.O.S.E. I genuinely believe that Jeevan’s dream of expanding his goat breeding program will be realized – and he deserves every success! The accommodation is fantastic – we have both been very happy in our room. My only suggestion on how to improve guests’ stay here is to perhaps give them more of an opportunity to get involved in day-to-day life here with the family. We have asked the family if they would like help with any job a number of times, but our offer has rarely been taken up, leaving us feeling pretty guilty when so much hard work is going on around us. That said, today we were taken down to the fields and shown how the land is prepared for a new season of rice growing which was fascinating and excellent fun. Jeevan has been a fantastic host, really made us feel part of his family and he seems so grateful for the little help that we have given him. We have set up some more crowdfunding pages and will certainly continue to try and fundraise for this fantastic project when we are back in the UK. Thanks so much for having us, we have both learnt so much and good luck with everything.

It was great to see the progress of the bathroom while we were there. However,we were under thee assumption that we were going to be able to hep with the project, Welcome: we were very warmly welcomed by the family and Jeevan coming down to meet us at our jeeps. I felt comfortable very quickly and everything we needed and all information needed was shared. Homestay: the rooms were very comfortable and the food was amazing. I felt very welcomed into the home. Family: so caring and helpful, made me feel very welcome Food: so yummy! There was always enough – but as North Americans wer are accustomed to eating dinner earlier, so I often got hungry around 6pm when we were not ea5ting until 9. Nature: the village is lovely and all the farm land and flowers around ROSE were beautifully well kept. Project: it was great to see the progress of the bathroom while we were there. However, we were under the assumption that we were going to be able to help with the project, so felt at loose ends when there was no work for us to do. I am glad we were able to carry some supplies though so we felt like we were adding more to the project than just money. Culture: the wedding preparation was definitely a highlight for me because that is when I felt most integrated into the culture. I also really liked when I was able to help cook because I felt like I was participating in the culture rather than just observing. Community: the community is beautiful and everyone was so kind Service: see what I wrote above for ‘project’

Volunteering with this program has been one of the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences of my life. Working with the children was not only heartwarming but also deeply inspiring : their energy, resilience, and joy reminded me of the simple beauty of human connection. The program was well-organized, with an incredible team who truly care about the impact they’re making. From day one, I felt welcomed, supported, and part of something bigger. The activities were both fun and educational, allowing us to contribute in creative ways — whether through games, learning sessions, or just being present with the kids. Each child left a mark on my heart, and I’ve come away with memories that I’ll cherish forever. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to give their time with love and receive so much more in return. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this beautiful journey. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I would really like to volunteer. I am passionate about charity and showing kindness to the world. Please, give me a chance. Kindly provide Certificate of sponsorship too since I'm not able to provide for myself at the moment. Kindly put my request into consideration.

Everything was amazing! Cultural week was very interesting and I really enjoy it, it was a nice introduction to a different culture. Volunteering was amazing: volunteering with the elderly was so rewarding. In the afternoon I volunteered with the slum kids, which was another great experience. Local team was wonderful. Harseerat and Kallyan are so nice and helpful. They supported me during volunteering (they volunteered with me, and you can see how the kids and the elderly love them), and they helped me to experience all aspects of the local culture (food experiences included!). I was the only volunteer but I never felt alone. Food was delicious, always fresh and varied. Accomodation is amazing, not only the house/room, but the location as well. I have really loved this program, keep on!

Involvement Volunteers International responded to this reviewAugust 28, 2025

It’s wonderful to hear that Harseerat and Kallyan made you feel so welcomed and supported throughout your stay. We’re also happy you loved the food and accommodation! Your kind words mean a lot, and we’d love to welcome you back anytime.