Volunteers provide vital help to the efforts of the local organisation and are able to support children in improving their creative, maths and English skills through fun and creative sessions.

During your first few days you will be given a full induction, cultural introduction and briefing for your volunteer placement. The local team are on hand to assist you throughout your placement, and their experience is invaluable in helping volunteers plan their sessions.

In the mornings volunteers run games and activities at day care centres within the local community, this is a fun and interactive way to develop children’s speaking and listening skills. Volunteers teach new vocabulary and encourage the children to practice English through songs, games and activities. Children experience a ‘classroom environment’ and develop skills that will set the groundwork for when they start primary school. There are usually 7-15 children who attend child care each day, between the ages of 1 and 6 years.

During the sessions volunteers also run arts and crafts activities, the children really enjoy the opportunity to be creative with the volunteers. At the end of the session, volunteers assist the day care staff with meal time and help the staff promote the importance of washing their hands before eating.

In the afternoons volunteers work together to play games and lead arts and crafts activities at community outreach projects and a disabled school. You can use your skills and experience to plan games, sports, dance, arts and crafts sessions or additional English and maths lessons. These volunteer-led activities for children who are mainly 5 - 14 years old.

Working days and hours

Volunteers normally work for 5 days a week and get weekends off to experience the free time activities and the exciting trips which are included in their placement fee. Generally volunteers work 6 hours per day.

Other volunteers

There are normally 1-4 volunteers taking part in the child care project and volunteers work alongside the local team.

Volunteers at the Child Care, Community Education, and Animal Rescue roles share the accommodation, so there can be up to 18 volunteers at one time.

Some volunteers choose to combine the different volunteer roles while in India.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Child protection

Pod is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults - please see our Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy.

All volunteers are required to have a criminal records check, which we will arrange with you.

Volunteer reviews

Read about volunteer experiences and challenges in our India Child Care reviews.

Why are volunteers needed?

Volunteers provide essential assistance to support underfunded and understaffed day care centres and schools in an effort to improve the educational levels of children in the city of Udaipur. Volunteers are able to draw on their own experiences to organise, and run fun new games and creative activities for the children.

Volunteers support the children in developing the maths and English skills required if they are to proceed into higher education. Schools can have as few as 3 teachers for every 6 classes, so the extra level of attention volunteers can provide plays a vital role in their success. The school pupils are often the first generation to receive schooling in their community, volunteers are very much part of the efforts of the local organisation to promote education and break the cycle of poverty within the communities. By running activity sessions at the community outreach project, volunteers are encouraging an interest in education among the rag picking community.

“Without our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to achieve our goals and help those underprivileged communities, as our work completely depends on our volunteers’ involvement…together we can provide support to the less privileged people of India to develop the knowledge and skills which will assist them in leading positive and independent lives.”
Ravi, Founder

Closure dates

This project is closed between 12 May - 22 Jun 2019.

India

India is a popular tourist destination and it’s clear to see why as it offers a unique immersive experience. It is a diverse destination from golden beaches in Goa to vibrant cities that will leave you wanting to see more!

Popular activities in India include:

• Visiting the Taj Mahal – a visit to India is not complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• The Golden Triangle – is a popular route for travellers connecting the national capital Delhi, Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur in Rajasthan
• Trying Indian Cuisine – travel around and try them all!
• Experiencing one of India’s many festivals – Diwali and Holi festivals are a bright and colourful spectacle not to be missed

To find out more, see the Lonely Planet India

Local area and free time

The project is based on the outskirts of Udaipur, a vibrant city that attracts visitors with its colourful temples and palaces. A day can easily be spent exploring the colourful street markets with beautiful Rajasthan jewellery and clothing. Known to locals as the “City of Lakes”, it is now considered one of the most romantic destinations in India, thanks to its lake and mountainous scenery!

Lake Pichola is a relaxing spot to try local cuisines and admire the stunning views of the Lake Palace, Monsoon Palace and the surrounding mountains. The Jagdish Temple and City Palace are interesting places to visit to learn more about the local culture and history.

Volunteers can arrange weekend trips to some of India’s famous sights and cities including the Taj Mahal or Jodhpur desert safari. Your first weekend has trips included (see trips below).

You can enjoy yoga, cook local dishes, learn Rajasthan dances or practise henna at the volunteer accommodation - a great way to learn about Indian culture. Volunteers have free time in the evenings where they can relax, read a book, watch films and TV in the communal areas.

Trips

On your first weekend the local team arrange trips to the following local sights:

• Monsoon Palace - offers stunning views of Udaipur!
• Waterfront cultural theatre dance and puppet show
• Medieval hilltop fortress of Kumbhagargh (the second longest wall in the world!)
• Ranakpur Jain Temple – a beautiful temple of intricate marble carvings

Accommodation

Volunteers live in a family guesthouse alongside the local team. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. You share a room with up to 3 other volunteers on a single-sex basis. The accommodation is simple but clean and has a TV room, dining room, kitchen, resources and lesson planning area and has WIFI.

Sara

“I had a great experience volunteering with the Child Care project in Udaipur. Within a few days I already felt at home and knew that I would want to come back next year. Ravi and Gaurav are so kind and dedicated to the kids and their community. It was a privilege to get to stay with them and to also work with the kids.

It was very rewarding to notice improvement in the children’s learning and also to see the smiles on their faces. I think that it was really important for me to travel and to experience a different culture from my own and if anyone has the chance I would suggest that they do the same.”

Sarah

“Everything about the Child Care project in India exceeded my expectations. From the second we arrived we felt welcomed by Ravi and Gaurav and the other volunteers. The children I was volunteering with were amazing, so eager to learn at such young ages.

I found working with the boys from the orphanage the most rewarding. Although I loved the child care children, the boys were older and so seemed to understand more. We just played games with them but they loved it and my favourite part was the fact we could have a laugh and a joke with them and make fun of each other even though we didn’t speak the same language.”

Amelia

“The project and the work of Ravi, Gurav and Neha was amazing and they truly made the experience so amazing for me and for this I will be always be grateful. Plus I know I will go back to India again after the fantastic experience I had first time around! I don’t think I will ever be able to fully sum up my time in Udaipur working as it was an enlightening and life affirming trip for me.

Each volunteering experience was incredibly rewarding, each day was different as the kids would make us laugh in different ways, or there would be that moment where one of the children said their numbers in the right order meaning our teaching methods were working, or the team you are playing rounders with wins! Crucially what ran throughout was how rewarding this work was and how much the project staff in India truly care for the people and children they work with.”

Anna

“Volunteering within this project was an amazing experience that I felt lucky to be a part of. Throughout the organising process I felt fully supported. The volunteering itself exceeded every expectation and honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done! I feel I both gave and gained a lot from the project; the children were beautiful, happy people with an eagerness to learn as well as a hilarious competitiveness between them.

Most rewarding was seeing the children progress, especially when a clear improvement had been made from a previous lesson. You also gain so much from experiencing India’s fantastic and vibrant culture first hand and I feel very privileged to be a part of the whole process, I just wish I could have stayed longer!”

Read more reviews

Before you go:

• Carefully selected and vetted volunteer project
• Support from our friendly and highly experienced Pod UK team
• Single point of contact - Lucy is your dedicated Pod Volunteer Specialist
• In-depth volunteering and planning your trip guides
• Travel information - visa, health and safety advice
• Help arranging criminal record checks
• Discounted online teaching course
• Access to specialist travel insurance at exclusive rates
• Recommended travel agency for flights and tours
• Access to special deals and resources
• Fundraising guide and support
• Financial protection for monies paid to Pod

On your placement:

• Child care volunteering placement
• Airport pick up from Udaipur airport and return transfer
• Accommodation - shared room
• Induction to the placement and culture
• Hindi language lessons
• Food - all main meals
• 2 day tours of the city and local sights
• Onsite support from local team
• Support from Pod UK office by phone and email
• 24/7 emergency back up
• Incident Management and Emergency Response Plans

On your return:

• Contact from your Pod Volunteer Specialist
• Feedback scheme
• Volunteering certificate (on request)
• References (on request)
• Member of the Pod community

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, visa, criminal records check. Budgeting guidance is provided in our Volunteering Guide which we will email you when you apply.

Pod Volunteer is run as a non-profit organisation. Fee levels are set to match costs and any surplus monies are distributed to the projects we work with via the Pod Charity.