It was not easy, but super rewarding. I got to connect with the women in an amazing way and learned so much. If you’re unsure, just go for it; you’ll have an incredible experience and grow as person. You can do it!
Special Needs Care Volunteer Program in India - Kerala
Purpose
Provide care & play for those with disabilities
Start dates
Programs start every Monday
Duration
Choose from 1-8 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 5 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Accommodation
Volunteer house
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Volunteers with a caring and compassionate nature who are patient, hardworking and willing to offer support with a range of duties associated with caring for disabled young people. You’ll be supported by local staff so no experience is necessary, but an understanding of special needs education and physical therapy would be beneficial.
Project details
Inspired to be a Special Needs Care volunteer in India - Kerala? International Volunteer HQ’s Special Needs Care project empowers volunteers to assist in schools and care facilities for people with a wide range of disabilities. In India, families of children with physical or mental disabilities are often stigmatized and find it difficult to give children the care they need. Volunteers can help provide individual support, attention and mentoring that can make a significant difference to their education and lives.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Having a child with a physical or mental disability can come with a negative social stigma for families in India, and low-income families can find it especially difficult to support disabled children with the care they need. For people living with special needs, extra attention and mentoring can make a significant difference to their education.
When you volunteer in Special Needs Care you’ll play an important role in providing individual educational assistance that students would not otherwise have. Volunteers will be placed in schools and care facilities that cater to the needs of people with disabilities aged between 2 and 22 years old. In addition to their disabilities, students only have a very basic understanding of English, so you’ll be supported by expert local carers at all times.
Special Needs Care volunteer duties can vary but generally involve:
- Basic sensory activities
- Teaching life skills
- Educational support
- Teaching English
- Help with physical movement
There is a significant amount of preparation expected from volunteers to plan for their lessons. The local team will help you with lesson planning, suggest topics for the lessons and provide ideas for creative ways to teach; however, lesson planning and teaching are ultimately the responsibility of the volunteers. As such, it is highly recommended that volunteers come with ideas of teaching and activities they may like to incorporate into their lessons.
Although no experience is required to join this project, volunteers who have experience in physical therapy or special needs education may also have the ability to assist the local therapists and special needs teachers during rehabilitation and therapy exercises.
Why do Special Needs Care volunteering in Kerala with IVHQ?
As a Special Needs volunteer in Kerala you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving care and education for disabled people
- Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining experience caring for people with disabilities
- Immersing yourself in Indian culture
- Exploring the charming area of Fort Kochi
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program.
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
India photo gallery
IVHQ Women's Education project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Teaching English project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Medical project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Teaching English project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Women's Education project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Teaching English project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Medical project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Women's Education project in Kerala, India
IVHQ Women's Education project in Kerala, India
Exploring Kerala during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Kerala during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Kerala during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Kerala during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring the culture in Kerala during an IVHQ weekend
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
GG
Gloriana Gill
20 Dec 2024
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LA
Leesa Albert
12 Sep 2024
Go ahead and enjoy the experience. India is safe in Kerala and I always felt supported.
...
AJ
Anushka Jannoo
10 Sep 2024
Take the step and do it! As my first solo trip Kerala, India was the best possible location for me and the program I wanted to commit to. I always felt safe, the other volunteers were so welcoming and the local team really guide you throughout. Working with the ladies on the programme was the ultimate reward, their light, love and compassion was just overwhelming. It will stay with me forever.
I’ve done some volunteering previously on more of a local level but the integration of travel and the immersion of culture really has made this experience off the scale. It was hard leaving India, but I’d love to return again.
IVHQ were great from start to finish and I will definitely consider another project in the future!
...
LB
Laura Buffrey
26 Jun 2024
It was the best thing I have ever done, apart from being a mum, the whole experience will stay with me forever. Do it - you will love the culture, people and mainly the beautiful children.
I feel I got a lot out of this experience. I planned the lesson for the next day and I feel I have done some really good stuff - the children seemed to enjoy the lessons. I tried to make them fun by making play doh and doing a lot of prep and bringing a lot of equipment to help explain the topic. I did fund raising and I was so happy to receive over £1000 from donations from people back home to buy two water filters, plants for a garden project, lots of food, clothes and a study table.
...
AC
Apolline Charpentier
04 Aug 2023
My IVHQ Program Manager has been amazing, she answered all my questions and helped me prepare this trip in confidence. The website was also very well thought through, with the VISA application directly integrated, the possibility to buy add-ons such as airport drop-off and short courses to help prepare. Overall really great!
I want to thank the local support team again, including Ridhi, who went out of their way to make me discover as many things as possible and really contributed to making this trip unforgettable. Tasty meals, a mix of local and occidental food for all tastes, so good as a whole. Thanks again to the cooks!
The volunteering is organised in a way to help us have an impact. I had an unforgettable experience, both in terms of culture discovered and impact in volunteering. IVHQ is a wonderful way to volunteer abroad, get out of your comfort zone and meet incredible people (the locals with whom I volunteered, the local team and the other volunteers)!
...
RW
Rob Williams
04 Aug 2022
My entire week with the special needs classroom was special and it reminded me what’s important in life. Go for it! Be a traveler, not a tourist.
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To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
The city of Kochi (or Cochin) on the south-west coast of India in the state of Kerala is home to IVHQ’s India - Kerala program.
Volunteers live and work in the Fort Kochi area, a popular tourist spot that is famous for small boutiques, colonial buildings, excellent regional cuisine and its unique Chinese fishing nets. Kochi is a safe and welcoming city and volunteers can enjoy an abundance of activities in the surrounding areas, including visiting the hillside tea region of Munnar, cruising the backwaters, or staying in surf and yoga retreats on the coast.
This program is perfect for volunteers who want to experience the rich culture of India, but at a slower pace than you would expect in the capital city of Delhi.
Arrival and orientation
The program begins every Monday and the program orientation begins on the Sunday prior to each start date. Volunteers need to arrive in Kochi on the Saturday prior to their start date.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Cochin International Airport (COK) in Kochi. Your airport pick-up on the Saturday is included in your Program Fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Fort Kochi, where the program is located. If you are arriving in the day time, a staff member will be there to greet you at your accommodation. Your accommodation is covered in your program fee and includes the Saturday night before your program orientation.
If you are travelling in India prior to your volunteer program, you will need to make your own way to the volunteer accommodation where you will be greeted by our local team.
Orientation in Kerala starts on the Sunday prior to your selected start date. Orientation will cover everything you need to know for your volunteer program including an Introduction to India and Indian customs, local language training, rules and expectations, safety and risk management, travel opportunities in India and a detailed introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and explore the beautiful local area.
Volunteer schedule example
First day
On your first day of volunteering, you’ll be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you’ll be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that you are volunteering at, but a fairly typical volunteer day would be as follows:
| 8:30 - 9:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house. |
| 9:45 - 12:00 PM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. |
| 12:30 - 2:00 PM | Lunch break either at the placement or volunteer house. Volunteers can also take this time to lesson plan their sessions for the following day. |
| 2:00 - 5:30 PM | Work at the placement. Afterwards, volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer house, go sightseeing or relax in one of the artsy cafes in town once their project is over. |
| 6:00 - 7:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer house. |
Weekends
Kerala is a gorgeous part of India and your weekends are free for you to explore the incredible beaches, stunning backwaters, serene tea plantations and amazing culture.
Some of the absolute must-dos are the backwaters of Alleppey, where you can stay for a night on a houseboat and meander through the waterways surrounded by coconut trees. The Munnar Tea Plantations are simply breathtaking in terms of views and often compared to the Scottish Highlands. If you are wanting some beach time, head to Marari or Varkala in the South of Kerala. It’s easiest to take a train which is also an experience in itself. There are also great surf spots near Varkala.
If you wish to stay in Fort Kochi during your weekends, then there is plenty to experience. Within walking distance of the volunteer house, you may like to take part in the following: local sightseeing, rent a bicycle, go for a swim in a swimming pool, join yoga classes, walk along the beach, see a local Kathakali show, participate in a local tea experience, check out Jewtown, take pictures with the Chinese Fishing Nets, get some henna, look at the museums, eat at the local cafes, join a local cooking class, visit the many markets, go souvenir shopping, and much more.
If you need more suggestions on how to get around or to book anything, you can always talk to the local team.
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers in Kerala are accommodated in a volunteer house run by local coordinators, and the rooms are shared with bunk beds. All bedding is provided and you can expect to be sharing a room with up to 3 other volunteers of the same gender.
Living is basic, but comfortable, and you will have access to electricity, WiFi and western style toilets. Your showers are cold but being a warm climate almost all year, it has never a problem. There are ceiling fans in each room; however, it is important to be aware that there is no air-conditioning at the volunteer accommodation.
Typically mattresses in Asia are a lot firmer than what you may be used to, so please be prepared for that and if you feel that you need more comfort, then you can choose to bring a mattress topper with you (or buy one in-country). Although the majority of the windows are fitted with insect screens (to stop insects), if you also wish to use a mosquito net, you will need to bring a pop up net with you that fits in a bunk bed. You will be required to bring your own toiletries and towels.
Private room upgrades, as well as private air-conditioned upgrades, may be available (subject to availability and at an additional cost) and you can add these to your file once you have registered onto the program.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at the volunteer accommodation each day, excluding dinner on Sunday evening. Please note that only breakfast and dinner are available to volunteers on the Medical, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy projects and lunch needs to be purchased at the hospital or clinic you are placed at, for a very affordable price.
Breakfast is different each day and can include:
- Idli and chutney - a savoury steamed rice cake served with coconut sambal or chutney
- Kerala pancakes - thin pancakes filled with jaggery, coconut or bananas
- Idyappam and curry - string hoppers (rice noodles) served with a chickpea curry
- Puttu and curry - steamed rice flour with coconut served with a potato curry
- Eggs, bread, fruit, tea and coffee.
Lunch and dinner feature local curry dishes made with a base of coconut, rice, roti or chapati. Meals are typically vegetarian and include potatoes, okra, brinjal, gourd, carrots, beetroot and various pulses and lentils.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance of your program so our local team can make arrangements for you. We will do our best to see that your dietary requirements are catered for, but please keep in mind that as a volunteer, there is a need to be flexible and you should not expect to eat the same food as you do at home. If you want western style meals you can easily get these at the local cafes and restaurants in the area.
Typical volunteer meal in Kerala
Typical volunteer meal in Kerala
Volunteer kitchen in Kerala
Volunteer dining area in Kerala
Volunteer courtyard in Kerala
Volunteer balcony in Kerala
Typical shared room in Kerala
Typical shared room in Kerala
Typical private room upgrade with air-conditioning
Typical private room upgrade with air-conditioning
Typical bathroom in Kerala
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately AU$505), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately AU$505) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $455 Equivalent to $65/day |
| 2 weeks | $600 Equivalent to $43/day |
| 3 weeks | $745 Equivalent to $35/day |
| 4 weeks | $890 Equivalent to $32/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,035 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,180 Equivalent to $28/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,470 Equivalent to $26/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately AU$505) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Kerala generally find US$100 - US$150 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Sunday dinners
- Transport to and from your placement and accommodated each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in Kerala
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Kerala program.
Backwaters Boat Trip (1 day)
Ready for Deeper Exploration of Fort Kochi and Kerala? Consider This Day Trip.
AU$130
Goa Tour (4 days, 3 nights)
Once your volunteer duration has completed, you can visit Goa - a much loved, picturesque destination located on the banks of the Arabian Sea.
AU$1444
Munnar Tea Plantation Visit (overnight tour)
Unearth the scenic treasures and rich culture of Kerala with this unforgettable Munnar Tea Plantation Expedition.
AU$354
Check what's required to visit India
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Population | 1.366 billion |
| Languages | Hindi, English, Malayalam |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 |
Weather and climate:
Kochi has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 86°F (30°C) throughout the year. There is a rainy season from May through until September and the temperatures typically drop a little at this time, however you can still expect it to be humid. The hot and dry season is from November until May, with April and May being the hottest months with 90% humidity.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
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