Volunteer in the Himalayan region of India and begin an unforgettable experience at the feet of the Himalaya Mountains. You can immerse yourself into Indian culture, enrich the lives of others and surround yourself with the majestically breathtaking Himalayan Mountains.
Global Crossroad Volunteer's Himalaya volunteer programs in India allow you to live in a small Himalayan town and work in a project that fit your skills and interests. You'll have the opportunity to explore all India has to offer as well as the Himalaya Mountains. Whether you teach English or work with at-risk children, you will undoubtedly have a life-changing experience as you help others and enjoy the indescribable beauty.
Email us now and we'll be more than happy to send you more details about our India—Himalaya projects. Begin this adventurous and meaningful journey today!
All volunteer programs start on the first and third Monday of each month.
If you are tired of expensive volunteer programs but want to make a positive contribution in the world, look no further! Global Crossroad is dedicated to offering high quality, well-organized and meaningful programs at the most affordable price in the United States. We work hard to keep costs as low as possible, focusing on the effectiveness of our projects, the safety of our volunteers and the quality of participant experiences. We currently offer the most competitive price possible in today's market including an application fee (of $299) AND a small weekly fee as follows:
| Duration | Himalaya | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | $300 | |
| 2 Week | $420 | |
| 3 Week | $540 | |
| 4 Week | $660 | |
| 5 Week | $780 | |
| 6 Week | $900 | |
| 7 Week | $1,020 | |
| 8 Week | $1,140 | |
| 9 Week | $1,260 | |
| 10 Week | $1,380 | |
| 11 Week | $1,500 | |
| 12 Week | $1,620 |
Airport Pickup & Transfer (Dharamshala- 9 hours) $100
Mandatory Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day
Volunteer teaching English in the Himalaya region of India! English is one of the official languages of India. Despite this, many people struggle to read, write and speak proper English. This is especially true in rural and poorer areas where schools lack adequately trained teachers and efficient resources. Without strong English skills, locals have a hard time procuring high-paying employment. With increased international trade and tourism, it’s become even more important to learn English at an early age in India. Volunteer in India-Himalaya region teaching English and help these students in the mountains broaden their future opportunities. Your time, dedication and effort will pay off greatly as you enrich the lives of others and immerse yourself into an enchanting and beautiful culture.
As a volunteer in the orphanage in India, responsibilities will vary depending on individual skills and interests and the needs of the orphanage, but may include:
There are no skills or qualifications required to volunteer in the orphanage project in India. However, you should have a passion to help the children and be flexible, responsible, open minded, caring and patient.
Volunteer in the India Himalayan Region in the Street Children/At-Risk Youth Program and help to provide love, friendship, shelter, education and stability in children’s lives. Many children in the Himalayan region of India are orphaned due to abuse, neglect, poverty, disease and other unfortunate reasons. Global Crossroad Volunteer partners with local organizations that work hard to provide support, care and treatment for these children. As a volunteer working with street and at-risk children in the India Himalayan region, you can directly make a difference by helping to provide them with the basic necessities every child deserves. Volunteer in this project for the unique opportunity to help these children have brighter, more successful and safer futures. Volunteering in this project will not only allow you the chance to live amongst a unique culture and beautiful mountainous views, but will drastically improve personal and professional opportunities for your students.
There are a wide variety of activities that volunteers can participate in to improve the lives of these children. Daily activities may vary widely depending on the individual interests of the volunteer as well as the momentary needs of the partner organizations. Sample activities include:
There are no specific skills or qualifications needed to volunteer in the street children/at-risk youth project in India. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patience. You should also have passion and love for children/orphans. You should also be open-minded and flexible during the project as working condition and people’s mentality will be very different from what you’re used to back home.
Global Crossroad Volunteer arranges volunteer meals, accommodations and strong field supervision for the duration of projects and optional travel packages. In India, most volunteers stay in our home base, a permanent home established for our international volunteers. Our home base in India is located in a pretty community, in a very safe and clean neighborhood. There are internet cafés, restaurants, local bus stations, a police station and supermarkets near our home base. The home base provides is a comfortable place to relax after a long day. There are several bedrooms (which may be shared with a same-gender volunteer) and community areas. There is a shared kitchen, television and shared bathrooms, which have running water and "western-style" toilets. Orphanage volunteers may stay at their project as many orphanages have special rooms set aside for international and these accommodations are normally shared with a same-gender volunteer.
Depending on the project locations (some part of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Palampur), accommodations could be with a host family. Host family accommodations are simple and clean homes in safe neighborhoods. Volunteers usually have a private bedroom, but occasionally rooms will be shared with a same-gender volunteer. Our host families are well screened and are respected members of their communities who live in affluent neighborhoods. Most of our host families have experience with hosting international volunteers. Host family stays are a great chance for cultural immersion and exchange.
Volunteers receive three local meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). We can provide vegetarian meal options, but needs must be detailed in a volunteer's application. Snacks and beverages outside of mealtimes are not provided; however, there are local restaurants and grocery stores near the residences in which we place volunteers.
Global Crossroad offers unparalleled field support to volunteers to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. There are many layers of support for you. The most important support comes from our country coordinator/field staff. The secondary support comes from the host project staff and members of host families and/or a home base staff. Volunteers will have access to our country coordinator's mobile number and they are available 24/7. Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. Our field staff will visit regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to make sure things are going well and as planned. However, if placement is far from our local offices, staff members will stay in touch via email/ phone. Volunteers are also welcome to stop in the offices at any time.
Specific details regarding accommodations, food and contact details for our local coordinator will be provided in personalized volunteer placement documentation prior to arrival.
Global Crossroad Volunteer projects are available in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Delhi is the capital city of India and known as the "Royal City," home to Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Qutab Minar, Lodhi Gardens. Jaipur is renowned as the "Pink City" of India and home to the Nahargarh Fort and City Palace Museum. Both the cities have great shopping, exquisite cuisine, banks & internet cafes nearby. India is the seventh largest country by geographical area and the second most populous country in the world. Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism arrived in the first millennium and shaped the region's diverse culture. As a pluralistic, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic society, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. It has managed to preserve established traditions while absorbing new customs, traditions and ideas from the Western world and immigrants.
Please read Global Crossroad Volunteer's 5-step application
Arrival Point: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
Airport Pick-up Upon the receipt of your flight information, our in-country coordinator or other project staff will greet the volunteers in the airport and take you to your project site. The address and telephone number of the local contact hotel will be given before departure just in case volunteers miss our representative in the airport. Please make sure to e-mail your flight information to both the USA office and the local in-country coordinator's office.
Departure Point: Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
Airport Drop: Rarely, a few do request an escort back to the airport; this is an extra expense of about $75. Most are very familiar and comfortable with their stay and have great ease taking their own taxi or bus back to the airport.
Transportation: Global Crossroad Volunteer manages one-way transportation to project. Volunteers will be responsible for their own personal and return travel. We do not cover daily transportation from host family/hotel to the project. Our program is designed to save you the volunteer as much as possible.
Start Dates: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
Start Date: Global Crossroad Volunteers/Travelers coming to India Himalaya are advised to arrive one day before their program start date. If you arrive more than one day early or stay after the program, you will be responsible for your room and food expenses.
Working Hours: 30- 40 hours per week
Global Crossroad strongly suggest that all volunteers apply for a tourist visa in a timely manner before departing for India Himalaya. Please call our office or contact the local India Himalaya embassy to learn more about visas, visa fees, and visa extensions. Getting your tourist visa is your responsibility.
Volunteers should be aware of all health and safety information before traveling to India Himalaya. We suggest you visit some of the websites listed below.
General Health Tips for volunteer in India Himalaya
Bring drugs you require with you. Although you can find most modern medicines in the drugstores of India Himalaya, they can be named differently and come with different level of dosage. Carry a health kit and include medications for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc.
We suggest vaccinations against public health threats and other communicable diseases.
Please refer to CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/India Himalayanrg.htm#vaccines
Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications
The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to South Asia . Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.
Required Vaccinations
What is the exchange rate? Where should I change my dollar? Can I use debit card and/or credit card? Should I bring traveler's check?
Exchange Rate of India Himalayan Rupee (INR) info available at: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
India Himalayan Rupee is the local currency of India Himalaya.
You can change your money into local currency upon arrival inside the Delhi International Airport at the counters of one of many banks. If you change about $200, it should be able to sustain you for the first couple of weeks, unless you go out often and shop. To exchange Rupees for US Dollars (during departure), you need to show receipts from authorized banks which document said exchanges.
You can get money through ATM vendor through your Debit card. The vendor is close to our office in India Himalaya. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are also accepted in some of the large stores and hotels in larger cities but may not be widely accepted in smaller cities. How much money you bring depends on you. Global Crossroad Volunteer covers most costs associated with your program, but bring spending money to help you to explore India Himalaya in your free time and for your personal use.
How does Global Crossroad Volunteer help me when I am in the field? How can I maintain communication? Does Global Crossroad Volunteer visit volunteers?
Our local staff (and country coordinator) will keep in touch with your once the program starts. We will also visit you every 2 weeks to make sure you are happy and satisfied with the project. If the project is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by email and phone.
You'll also be provided with the mobile phone number our country coordinator. In case of any emergency, you can contact him directly.
How do I communicate with my family? Global Crossroad Volunteer staffs? Is there internet?
Bring your mobile phones with you. You can insert the local sim in the phone while you're in India Himalaya and you'll then be ready to receive phone calls from abroad. This is the best way to stay in touch with your family. If you're working in Delhi, you'll find internet cafes around pretty much everywhere. In Jaipur, you'll have to travel for about 2 kms for internet cafe. You'll find all the details regarding this in your placement sheet.
There are 3 major seasons in India Himalaya: winter, summer and the monsoon season. From November to March, you'll encounter colder weather in India Himalaya. Summer starts from April to June, after which the monsoon season lasts until August. You'll experience mild weather in September and October.
Most of daily use items are available in India Himalaya at a cheaper price. However, we suggest volunteers pack the following things:
It is a common courtesy to bring a small gift for the family that will be hosting you. You are not required to do so, but if you choose to bring something it can be pretty simple. We suggest a box of chocolates, a t-shirt with a hometown logo or pictures of your family and some local post cards.
If you want to bring gifts for your project (and if you are working for an orphanage or a school please bring pencils, pens and paper, art supplies like markers and construction paper pads, and games. Remember that every child will need these items so you may wish to bring a bunch of one thing.
