Health and Wellbeing Volunteering in India

Overview

Live and volunteer in India to lead physical activities,  arts, music or therapeutic sessions with individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

You will work in a special needs school and you can get involved in leading sessions of games or sports, arts and other basic activities alongside specialist teachers. There will also be opportunities to assist specialist teachers in early intervention units or the vocational unit of the school.



You will work at one or both of our healthcare projects in Kerala, depending on the need of the project at the time. Our first healthcare project is located at a special needs school where volunteers will be involved in leading sessions of games, sports, arts and other basic activities alongside the specialist teachers. There will also be opportunities to assist specialist teachers in early intervention units or the vocational unit of the school. The other project is based at a local relief settlement for individuals with varying mental and physical illnesses. Volunteers will carry out vocational training as well as helping to sustain an eco-garden to offer therapeutic activities to the residents.

No previous training is required. However, if you have prior experience in the health sector or in working with disabled people this would be hugely beneficial to the project. Mention to your coordinator if so, so we can utilise your skills correctly on the ground.

Highlights include

Immersing yourself a different culture and way of life; making a genuine contribution to an underprivileged community; living and working with volunteers from all over the world; discovering India’s ornate temples, support our local henna artist and immerse yourself in the Indian culture; and take in breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities during your time off.

Program Details

Project Life

Monday to Friday

Upon arrival, you will receive an orientation that will provide you with information on cultural awareness and training about the health partners and what you will be doing. Having completed the training, you will begin volunteering on the project!

You spend your days supporting healthcare projects based on the need and urgency at the time. While at the school you will spend your time leading physical exercises and learning activities with children with special needs and disabilties. You can also be involved in conducting one-on-one lessons with some of the children or spending time with students in vocational training units. At the relief centre, in between assisting with the vocational training and therapeutic activities you may also have the chance to assist with construction and improvement works in the local community. Although your days can seem very long they are also extremely rewarding.

Field Conditions

You will live in dormitory-style accommodation in a clean and comfortable house with running water, electricity and flushing toilets. Your meals are also provided for you. Cooking and cleaning duties are shared.

Accommodation Upgrades

If you would prefer to stay in private accommodation while on this project, this location does offer upgrades. Contact us for more information, or mention to your Country Expert who will be able to assist you.

As well as being a lot of fun, exercise can help focus the children’s minds for learning. The sessions you will lead offer them exposure to the English language in a fun learning environment, so you will be helping both the physical and educational development of children.

Project Details

On this project, you will have the opportunity to make a genuine and varied contribution towards the quality of healthcare support in Kerala. In addition to assisting at a special needs school, you may also get involved in creating educational and promotional materials to be used in workshops and assisting with health and hygiene education. The variety of roles you will have means you really can make your mark while your own the project.

How this project makes a difference:

Resources and facilities for people with disabilities are limited in India, so the help you will provide local communities is highly-valued.

Through exercise sessions and learning activities, including art and play therapy, you will be making a significant difference to both the physical and educational development of children with special needs.

*There are many religious and cultural festivals throughout the year in India, as well as school holidays and exam periods. During these periods we may run activities and programmes that are slightly different. Its possible that during these periods you might support the running of 'Summer School' workshops for children in local communities, create lesson plans and resources for future volunteer work, facilitate adult training programmes related to a range of issues or help out with some construction or maintenance work at our local partners. Where possible we would also like you to enjoy the festivities and engage with our partners in the community this way. There may be times when we are able to enjoy the varied entertainment, food and traditions that Kerala has to offer.

India short, mid, and long-term objectives

All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualize their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Exploration

Volunteering with GVI not only allows you to participate on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Many decide to travel after volunteering, solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program.

Our long term field staff are a great source of advice and are here to help you make the most of your time abroad. Remember to ask about discounts on local activities and side trips through your association with GVI. Our Kerala field teams have helped us put together the following information on trips and travel options in India!

Included Side Trips

You will embark on an orientation of Fort Kochi during your arrival weekend, seeing the main tourist sites of the local town, as well as the many hidden treasures. You will also be taken to a traditional Keralan Kathakali dance show, which will open your eyes up to the wonders of India and its culture.

Optional Side Trips

Kerala offers a variety of different adventure trips from trekking to rafting, kayaking and even diving in some of the most beautiful locations that India has to offer. Close to base in Fort Kochi, the 14th century Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church and an amazing array of boutique art galleries, cafes and restaurants make for an amazing cultural experience.

One of Kerala’s finest attractions popular with our volunteers is the backwaters tour, an experience of breathtaking beauty and serenity as you snake through the incredible landscape on a houseboat. You can stay overnight, eat amazing local cuisine, and gaze at the sunset: a perfect weekend getaway.

The Periyar Forest and National Park offers safari outings and a chance to spot elephants, monkeys and tigers if you’re lucky, combined with some spectacular scenery along the way. For the more active, you can get even closer to it all with a number of trekking options.

Kerala can boast some incredible beaches within reasonable distances from your base. Marari is a short 40-minute drive with beautiful sandy beaches lined with coconut trees, while Varkala is a little further with restaurants and cafés perched spectacularly on cliffs offering incredible views of the ocean.

And if tea is your poison then this is the location for you…tea plantations stretching as far as the eye can see and jaw dropping views of mountain ranges and valleys await. There are sightseeing and trekking options available (depending on seasons) for the adventurous, or you can just sit and relax, breathe the fresh mountain air, and soak it all in.

Further Traveling Opportunities

For those with a little more time on their hands, you may want to consider some of the following. The Taj Mahal will be top of most India bucket lists but beyond this famous landmark; the quaint hill stations in Darjeeling; the Ganges at Varanasi; the desert and fort palaces of Jaisalmer and Udaipur; safari at Kanha National Park (home of Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’); the lively nightlife of Mumbai; or the laid back atmosphere of Goa will leave you with an everlasting experience of India.