Volunteer Programs in India | Community Outreach

Volunteer Activities

	Care for poverty-stricken children at local day care centers
	Help conduct a survey of pregnant women and newborn babies in the area
	Help provide regular healthcare checkups and vaccinations
	Teach computer skills to girls, orphans and older women
	Work in a home for HIV-infected individuals, providing care for patients and assisting nurses
	Trek through the Indian backcountry, volunteering in small towns and villages along the way

Volunteer Program at a Glance

Start Dates:
Feb 8th, March 8th, April 5th, May 3rd and 31st, June 28th, July 26th, August 23rd, Sep 20th, Oct 18th, Nov 15th, and Dec 13th

Program Length:
Minimum: 4 weeks Maximum: 8 weeks

Program Cost:
4 Weeks:
US $2,095
additional weeks:
US $295
8 weeks:
US $3, 275

Cost includes:

Airport pickup and drop-off

On-site orientation and program training

All daily transportation to and from the program

Accommodations

Three meals per day

In-country support and program coordination

24-hour local emergency support

3-day yoga course

3-day adventure program, including meals and lodging

Volunteer donation

Schedule:
Volunteers will typically work 6 to 8 hours per day, 5 days a week. The exact details of your day will be decided during your volunteer orientation. Schedules vary depending on program needs, and volunteers should remain flexible.

Requirements:
Volunteers should be physically fit in order to carry out the duties associated with this program.

What Volunteers Can Do:

As a volunteer with the Goa Community Outreach Program, you will be able to choose from a variety of service opportunities. Many volunteers will teach English and mathematics in elementary schools. These volunteers will help create a playful and educational environment through painting, games, singing, and other activities. They also work with local teachers to create low-cost education materials.

Other volunteers will care for local children, a critical need in rural areas. These volunteers provide personal attention to the children as well as record statistics on health, vaccinations, growth, and nutrition. Volunteers who stay for eight weeks or more can also work in a transitional shelter for AIDS patients, giving much-needed service to some of Goa's most neglected citizens.

Volunteers with the Goa Community Outreach Program will experience the best of India's scenery and culture while helping the region's needy people. The difference you make in this beautiful setting will change many lives, including yours.

Why Volunteer in India?

Our Goa Community Outreach Volunteer Program is based in Colva Beach, a world-renowned beach destination marked by palm trees and silvery sand. The region has been dubbed the "Pearl of the Orient". It boasts a diverse lifestyle and a rich mix of cultural influences, serving as the meeting point of races, religions, and cultures of the East and West over the centuries.

The second-most populated nation on earth, India is a vast and varied country. It boasts a colorful and complex culture with traditions that have been carried on for centuries. Geographically, the country comprises tropical jungle, windswept desert, icy mountains, isolated rural villages, and bustling urban cities. The nation's diversity of people is just as impressive: there are hundreds of recognized dialects in India and a wide range of religious customs that dominate everyday life.

Goa represents a cross-section of India's population, as it is home to both a booming economy and deeply impoverished slums. Known for its international culture and stunning beaches, the state on the western coast of India has become a celebrated vacation spot. Not everyone has benefited from the prosperity, however. Homeless children walk Goa's streets, and many families live in poverty on the outskirts of the booming cities and resorts.

India Community Outreach Program Goals:

The Goa Community Outreach Program is structured to ensure a variety of volunteer opportunities with the added benefit of travel and recreation. The first week of your stay will include a three-day yoga and neuropathy course, as well as a three-day trek that includes visits to rural Indian villages, rock-climbing lessons, and other adventure activities. Throughout your stay, you will also have Goa's endless beaches to explore. From start to finish, the Goa Community Outreach Program gives volunteers an opportunity for immersion in Indian culture while providing essential services to those left behind in the region's push for modernization.

Airport Pickup and Orientation:

After arriving in Mumbai, you will be picked up by a volunteer coordinator and taken to a hotel. The following day, you will depart for Lonavala, the starting point for your adventure expedition. On day 6, you will be transferred to a nearby ashram, a school for yoga and meditation. On day 8, you will return to Goa for an orientation on your volunteer program.

Transportation:

BridgeVolunteers will arrange transportation for the following:

Airport pickup and drop-off in Mumbai

All transfers required by the program

All train journeys and other local transportation at program locations

Accommodations:

Volunteers will reside in dorm-style rooms (2 to 4 people per room) located on Colva Beach. The accommodations include shared en-suite bathrooms, kitchen and dining areas, and three meals per day.

In-Country Support:

You can expect help from program coordinators, field guides, fellow volunteers, and the staff of both BridgeVolunteers and our partner organization. We also provide a 24-hour cell phone number for emergencies.

India Excursions:

All volunteers will enjoy a 3-day trekking excursion beginning the first week of the program. The excursion includes rock-climbing lessons and other adventure activities, as well as two overnights in rural villages.

After the trek, volunteers will be transferred to a nearby ashram, where they will have a three-day yoga and neuropathy treatment workshop.

Insurance for Volunteers:

	BridgeVolunteers provides emergency travel insurance for participants. For more information, please read our Insurance page.

Community Outreach Volunteer Program

Goa, India