The local team was amazing! They were so kind and welcoming!!
Slum Teaching Volunteer Program in India - Delhi
Purpose
Improve access to quality education
Start dates
Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
Duration
Choose from 1-24 weeks
Volunteer hours
Up to 5 hours a day
Age
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Accommodation
Volunteer house or homestay
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 who want to make a difference in the lives of marginalized children through education. Because volunteers will be leading large classes independently, having some relevant training or experience is recommended.
Project details
Interested in being a volunteer Slum Teacher in India - Delhi? International Volunteer HQ’s Slum Teaching project empowers volunteers to provide education to vulnerable children who would usually be working on the streets of Delhi. Volunteers gain teaching experience while helping these disadvantaged children gain basic education, expand their horizons and develop life and social skills that can have a meaningful, positive impact on their lives and futures.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
For many children in India, school is not an option. It is estimated that there are more than 11 million marginalized and vulnerable street children in India. Many of these children work on the streets with their parents selling goods, foraging and performing to make a living.
Slum Teaching volunteers play an important role in providing these children with access to basic education along with new opportunities they would otherwise have missed out on. This project is greatly valued by the local community, due to the new perspectives and lessons that international volunteers bring.
As a Slum Teacher, you’ll be leading classes of around 30 students generally aged between 5 and 11 years old. You will teach independently with limited supervision from local staff. Slum Teaching duties will include:
- Taking English or other lessons
- Facilitating games and entertainment
- Introducing the children to new activities
- Planning lessons
While on the Slum Teaching project, volunteers need to ensure they are flexible as there generally is not much structure within these placements - this is because the number of students is constantly changing.
Volunteers are provided with books and resources, and they will get the chance to interact with the students to see where they are at with their learning. Volunteers will then need to use this information to make a lesson plan.
Why do Slum Teaching volunteering in Delhi with IVHQ?
When you volunteer to teach in slums in India, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Improving access to education for marginalized children
- Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
- Learning Hindi
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining teaching experience
- Immersing yourself in Indian culture
- Discovering the neighbourhoods of Delhi
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 Teaching English project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Health project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Teaching English project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Health project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Teaching English project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Health project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Health project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Childcare project in Delhi, India
IVHQ Health project in Delhi, India
IVHQ volunteer traveling to their project in Delhi
IVHQ volunteer orientation in Delhi
IVHQ volunteer orientation in Delhi
IVHQ volunteer orientation in Delhi
Exploring Humayun's Tomb during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Delhi during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Delhi during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Delhi during an IVHQ weekend
IVHQ volunteers in Delhi
Exploring Delhi during an IVHQ weekend
Exploring Delhi during an IVHQ weekend
IVHQ volunteers in Delhi
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
KH
Kira Huber
27 Jun 2024
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LG
Lukas Greyson
01 Apr 2024
I have been extremely happy with the ease of scheduling, booking and correspondence with IVHQ and the local team. They were beyond accommodating, friendly and helpful. The intro week also gave me a sense of comfort and understanding of India. The means were the absolute best Indian food I’ve ever had! All 3 meals were delicious and traditional - I will miss those meals greatly! I miss everything about my program and miss India immensely!
...
CR
Caroline Rubenstein
24 Jan 2024
Being flexible and respectful of the local customs can help ease the culture shock immensely. Love those you encounter, and they will love you, and your life will be changed forever.
...
TW
Trevor Walker
16 Nov 2023
I got to see kids from difficult circumstances show up with a wide-eyed passion to learn every day and it reminded me that your efforts don't have to be world-changing to mean a lot to someone. I wish I could have done more, but the experience did as much for me as I had hoped to do for them. Literally unforgettable.
...
IF
Isabel Fee
23 Jan 2023
I greatly appreciated the structure of the program and the requirement to complete relevant trainings and checklists. The local team were amazing hosts, the volunteer accommodation was so comfortable and an enjoyable place to stay. They made sure we felt safe and were very attentive to all students. The food was delicious, and beds very comfortable. Enjoyed the meals and the variety of dishes. As well as the desserts!
I really enjoyed the chance to meet and get to know the students at the school. They were great kids that were eager to learn. By sharing my time and energy, I was able to help facilitate them and encourage them on their English studies. Bringing crafts from the US created a lot of excitement as well, and that was another way I felt I was able to make an impact, through the donations of supplies.
At the end of every day the students would have recess, and play in the school yard. I greatly enjoyed the chance to talk to students and other teachers during this time. Students would play tag or cricket, perform bollywood dances, and interact with the cows, sheep, and goats grazing nearby. This informal time was an important part of the school day, and serves as some of my favorite memories!
During my time volunteering in India, I got to explore teaching, which is different from my college major and job. This was an excellent opportunity to try it out, as it is something I have been curious about. Volunteering with IVHQ gave me the confidence to continue to pursue this, whether it be on the side, as a volunteer, or through a teaching certificate program.
If you have the time and freedom to volunteer abroad, do it! You will gain much more than what you give, and come out of the experience with new ideas and inspiration. It will give you so much perspective and momentum, which lasts long after the trip is over.
...
RR
Ruthanna Ray
28 Oct 2022
This was my 4th trip with IVHQ, I have had the most fun and learned so much by volunteering with IVHQ.
This year was different for me as I traveled to India instead of Africa, so the culture was completely strange to me. The living conditions for our students was the worst I have ever encountered. But when the children came to school, they all had beautiful smiles and were truly happy to see us.
Expand your horizon, take the plunge and contact IVHQ, you will be in good hands. You will not regret your decision to join IVHQ programs.
...
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 creditRecommended online TEFL course
Recommended online TEFL course
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified onlineLocation
Location
Delhi is home to India’s capital city, New Delhi. The city and surrounding National Capital Region are home to 46 million people in a number of cities and towns. One of these is Faridabad, where many of IVHQ’s India - Delhi projects are based. With more than 1.4 million people, Faridabad is the biggest city in the state of Haryana and part of one of the fastest growing places in the world. This means lower-income communities and slums are becoming more overcrowded and resources more stretched. Volunteers can help local initiatives that aim to address some of these issues, making life better for the people who live there.
If you’re planning to volunteer in India over the summer between April and July, it is important to consider the climate in Delhi. You’ll be in your element if you like it hot, but some past volunteers have found the heat and humidity were more extreme than they were expecting and often there is no air conditioning at placements. If you are looking for a more temperate destination, the IVHQ India - Kerala volunteer program is a great option. Located in southern India, volunteers can expect a more tropical climate throughout the year.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Delhi on the Sunday before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the New Delhi International Airport (DEL). Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Faridabad, on the southern outskirts of Delhi. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in India prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Delhi on the day before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation in India:
Half-day Orientation:
This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer project and stay in India. You will have an introduction to the IVHQ India - Delhi program, your project and the local staff, Indian customs, rules, expectations, and safety.
1-week Language and Introduction Week:
A week-long orientation which not only teaches you everything you need to know for your volunteer project, but also gives you detailed information about life in India, basic Hindi language lessons, tours, entertainment and sightseeing including the chance to visit the Taj Mahal. This week is popular with volunteers and is a great way to settle the culture shock you can face when arriving in India.
The fee for this longer orientation is CA$380 and takes place in the first week of your program. Accommodation and three meals per day are covered during this time. The Taj Mahal Tour costs an extra CA$185. If you want to join the 1-week Language and Introduction Week, please indicate this on your application form.
Volunteer schedule example
First day
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays
Work and hours are dependent on the project and placement that the volunteer is working at, but a typical volunteer day would be:
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation |
| 8:00 AM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. |
| 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Lunch break either at the placement or the volunteer accommodation. |
| 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer accommodation, go sightseeing, or do some shopping. |
| 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. |
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have spare time to relax or take the opportunity to explore Delhi’s numerous street markets, malls and museums, or discover ancient temples, important religious sites and beautifully curated gardens. You can also travel further afield to destinations such as Agra, where you can see the Taj Mahal; or admire the rose-hued buildings in the Pink City of Jaipur. Volunteers can make travel arrangements after arriving in Delhi, however if you are planning a long weekend trip during your time in India, it is a good idea to look into train tickets in advance and visit a travel agent to discuss travel options.
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll stay in a volunteer house outside of central Delhi, in Faridabad, where you can expect to share a room with one to three other volunteers of the same gender. While bedding is provided, it is recommended that volunteers bring their own sleeping bag for the winter months of November through February.
Living is comfortable and all accommodation has electricity, WiFi, fans, shared western toilets and running water. The volunteer house has heated water for showers, a dining area and kitchen facilities. It is located in a gated apartment block within Faridabad and volunteers are provided with transport to and from their placement and accommodation each day.
Volunteers may request homestay accommodation or a private room within the volunteer house and both options are dependent on availability at the time. There is an additional fee of US$93 (approximately CA$141) per week for a private room which can be booked and paid for via your Pre-departure Checklist once you have registered. Families will typically be accommodated in homestays, and on some placements on the Medical project volunteers may also be in a homestay.
Meals
Volunteers on the India - Delhi program are provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner, which are all served at the volunteer accommodation.
Toast, eggs, spreads, fruit and tea are served for breakfast. Typical Indian food served for lunch and dinner include chapati, a flat wheat bread; dahl, a lentil soup; curry; paneer; vegetables and salads. Meat is rarely eaten in India, except on festive occasions so you can expect all meals to be vegetarian.
India is home to a great variety of teas and you are sure to be served an authentic home brew of chai tea during your stay. Bottled water is readily available in India and volunteers should budget approximately CA$7 per week for 2 liters per day.
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so as we can discuss this with you further. As you will be living and volunteering abroad, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home; however, the local team will do their best to ensure you are well taken care of. It’s important that you come to India with an open mind and understand that there is a need to be flexible when it comes to meals. If you wish to supplement some of your meals with home comforts, there are basic kitchen facilities available to use.
Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi
Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi
Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi
Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi
Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi
Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi
Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi
IVHQ volunteers share a meal in Delhi
IVHQ volunteer eats a meal in Delhi
Typical volunteer dinner in Delhi
Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi
Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi
Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi
IVHQ volunteers share a meal in Delhi
IVHQ volunteers serve a meal in Delhi
Pricing
Secure your place for just US$299 (approximately CA$453), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately CA$453) 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 | $340 Equivalent to $49/day |
| 2 weeks | $425 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 3 weeks | $560 Equivalent to $27/day |
| 4 weeks | $695 Equivalent to $25/day |
| 5 weeks | $830 Equivalent to $24/day |
| 6 weeks | $965 Equivalent to $23/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,255 Equivalent to $22/day |
| 10 weeks | $1,525 Equivalent to $22/day |
| 12 weeks | $1,795 Equivalent to $21/day |
| 16 weeks | $2,335 Equivalent to $21/day |
| 20 weeks | $2,875 Equivalent to $21/day |
| 24 weeks | $3,415 Equivalent to $20/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately CA$453) 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 Delhi generally find US$100 per week sufficient for additional transport and miscellaneous expenses.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Transportation to and from placement and accommodation each day
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized 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.
- 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 Delhi
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 Delhi program.
Airport Drop-off
Experience a hassle-free journey from your volunteer placement in Delhi to New Delhi International Airport (DEL) with the convenience of our local team’s coordination.
CA$53
Taj Mahal Visit (1 day)
If seeing the iconic Taj Mahal is on your bucket list, this visit is your dream come true.
CA$185
Extra Night of Accommodation
Planning to arrive ahead of schedule or extend your stay after your program ends? Book your additional nights of lodging.
From CA$33
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 |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 |
Weather and climate
India is subject to six different climates and can be loosely characterized by four seasons; winter, summer, monsoon, and a post-monsoon period. Delhi experiences intense heat during the summer months (April to June) and temperatures can reach 45°C (114°F) during heat waves from the south. Dust storms are common during summer months. Following the dry summer, there is a period of monsoon weather from late June until September bringing heavy rain and average temperatures of 29°C (85°F). As winds from the Himalayas descend from November, winter in Delhi begins and average temperatures will sit around 12°C to 13°C (54°F to 55°F) until February. Heavy fog is typical during the winter.
Apply to check if you're eligible!
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