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.
Medical Volunteer Program in India - Delhi
Purpose
Improve access to quality healthcare
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+
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:
Pre-medical, nursing and medical students, qualified medical professionals and others working in closely related medical fields who are passionate about healthcare. The amount of hands-on volunteer work you are able to do will depend on your level of training and experience, as well as the length of your stay.
Project details
Inspired to be a Medical volunteer in India - Delhi? International Volunteer HQ’s Medical project enables volunteers to assist in under-resourced hospitals or slum clinics in Faridabad. Volunteers will gain medical experience and learn about the Indian healthcare system by shadowing qualified professionals and helping them when appropriate. This improves access to healthcare for the local community and facilitates a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and learnings that benefits both volunteers and local staff.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Healthcare in Delhi is free, but public hospitals tend to be underfunded, understaffed and overcrowded. They are also not easily accessible for the millions of people who live outside of the main city centres. Clinics in India’s slums help to address this issue by bringing medical care to people where they need it the most.
Volunteers can help at both hospitals and slum clinics, but local regulations generally prevent international volunteers from treating patients independently.
Volunteers who are still in training will have the opportunity to observe local professionals and learn about the treatment of prevalent diseases in India. Duties may include:
- Assisting with routine medical tasks
- Measuring and weighing patients
- Taking blood pressure
- Routine check-ups
- Provide advice about nutrition, general health and sanitation
Qualified and experienced professionals will be able to provide more hands-on care at slum clinics or can request to volunteer in their area of expertise (although this cannot be guaranteed). Duties may include:
- Treating minor injuries
- Cleaning and bandaging wounds
- Blood sugar tests
- Taking patients’ blood pressure and temperature
- Completing paperwork
- Dispensing medicine
Long-term volunteers (three months or longer) will have more scope to assist with hands-on tasks and fully qualified doctors can occasionally assist with surgical procedures, subject to their qualifications and experience.
Qualified dentists and dental students are also eligible to join the Health project in Delhi; however, it is worth noting that the number of patients requiring dental work does vary each day and there may be no patients requiring dental work. Although that is the case, all patients coming into the slum clinics and hospitals can be guided on how to clean their teeth and volunteers can provide suggestions on other treatments that may be required.
When you volunteer in healthcare in Delhi you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Supporting local medical staff
- Improving access to care for the local community
- Observing clinical practice in a new setting
- Learning Hindi
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining medical experience
- Immersing yourself in Indian culture
- Discovering the diverse nature of Delhi
Medical specialties on the India- Delhi volunteer project
Suitably qualified professionals may be able to volunteer in the following areas:
- Dentistry
- Dietetics/nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Physiotherapy
- Radiology/x-ray
- Ultrasound
Volunteer requirements
-
To join the Medical project in Delhi you need to be a pre-medical or pre-nursing student, nursing or medical student; or a qualified medical professional. Paramedics, EMTs, CNAs, lab techs, pharmacists and dentists (including dental students) may be eligible to take part, although volunteer work in these fields cannot be guaranteed and is likely to be more general.
-
Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more.
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All volunteers are required to speak fluent English, have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
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
AC
Apolline Charpentier
25 Jul 2024
...
BB
Beatrice Burke
15 Jul 2024
I cannot put my experience into words. But it was the best experience I have had in my life. I loved it, I gained a lot of hands-on skills that have been transferable to the UK. I felt safe, welcomed and valued. I would suggest going with an open mind, ready to learn.
...
EV
Emma Valcourt Landry
12 Jun 2024
Volunteering in India was one of the best experiences of my life. The local team was incredibly welcoming and ready to help at all times. The clinic where I helped out was surrounded by a loving community that made for an unforgettable trip, thank you IVHQ!
...
JG
Jennifer Gould
14 Feb 2024
I had an incredibly special experience volunteering in India. It is something that I will always hold close to my heart. The people I’ve met have inspired me to continue making positive contributions to communities.
...
CF
Cristina Forrester
24 Jan 2024
I got to see a side of healthcare in another country and it made me appreciate what I have even more. If someone was hesitant, I would just tell them to try it because you never know.
...
LG
Lara Giraldi
07 Nov 2023
Thank you IVHQ, I'm so grateful for the opportunity you gave me to combine two of the things I love the most; getting the chance to travel and visit some beautiful places, while at the same time investing in my future as a doctor made this experience really meaningful to me. But most of all, it was really special to volunteer in a country where so many are in need of help and I feel like working in the slums made the experience even more fulfilling.
It also brought me to see the most beautiful aspect of it: all those people showed a strong sense of belonging towards their slum and the community they had built together. I was also deeply touched by how each medical volunteer, however inexperienced, is immediately made to feel appreciated and welcomed into being part of the slum community.
It was also really special to share this experience with other volunteers from all over the world. I learned that although every volunteer comes from a different past, is at a different moment of their life and has chosen to volunteer for different reasons, during their time as a volunteer everyone is facing the same daily struggles, in a foreign country and away from home. And it's having this kind of experience, this small but so meaningful fragment of our lives, in common, that I feel created this strong sense of mutual understanding between us and brought us even closer together. Every single other vounteer was an important part of this experience for me; I'm so thankful for the unforgettable memories we created together.
...
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
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 travelling 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 £211 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 £102. 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 £78) 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 £4 per week for 2 litres 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 £251), pay your Program Fee later.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately £251) 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 £251) 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
- 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.
- 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.
£29
Taj Mahal Visit (1 day)
If seeing the iconic Taj Mahal is on your bucket list, this visit is your dream come true.
£102
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 £18
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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