Medical Outreach Campaign in India - Delhi
Part of a group that wants to volunteer on a Medical Campaign in India - Delhi? International Volunteer HQ’s Medical Campaign is a tailored experience that enables groups of eight or more medical students at any level of training, or professionals, to do outreach work in communities in and around Delhi. Volunteers will visit a number of different neighbourhoods throughout the week-long campaign, providing basic health services to those who need better access to them.
Highlights:
- Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
- Affordable set fee of $370 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Take health services into local communities in need
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Visit different parts of Delhi you might not otherwise see
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Customizable for your experience or medical specialty
Who is this program suited to?
Key information
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
Healthcare in India is often inaccessible to those who live in disadvantaged communities outside of the city centers. Volunteers can help local people get the care, treatment and education they need by taking it to them in their own neighbourhoods.
As a Medical Campaign volunteer you and your group will visit up to five communities throughout the week and provide basic health services. If your group has a particular medical specialty, then your campaign can be tailored to provide these.
Why do Medical Campaign volunteering in Delhi with IVHQ?
When you volunteer on a Medical Campaign in Delhi you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Helping disadvantaged communities access healthcare
- Gaining medical experience
- Volunteering with friends, classmates or colleagues
- Growing as a team
- Developing your communication skills
- Immersing yourself in Indian culture
- Exploring the neighbourhoods of Delhi
Volunteer requirements
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To take part in a Medical Campaign you’ll all need to be pre-medical, pre-nursing, medical or nursing students or qualified professionals.
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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.
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Medical specialties
Medical campaigns can be customized for the following specialties:
- Dentistry
- Physical therapy
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
- General Medicine
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 traveling 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 $220 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 $100. 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:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the homestay |
| 9:00 AM | Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements. |
| 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Lunch break either at the placement or homestay. |
| 2:00 - 4:00 PM | Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the homestay, go sightseeing, or do some shopping. |
| 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Dinner at the homestay. |
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 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, 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 and volunteers are provided with transport to and from their placement.
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 $91 per week for a private room which can be booked with and paid for with your Program Manager before you depart. Families will 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 $5 per week for 2 liters 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.
Pricing
The Medical Campaign program fee is US$370 per person for the week, and includes 24/7 support, accommodation, meals, airport transfers, Medical Campaign, private transportation to placement daily, language translators, program orientation and discounts on language lessons. All programs attract a Registration Fee (from US$299) on top of the Program Fee. A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Recommended activity & tour add-ons
Here are just a few of the India add-ons we offer:
Is visiting India’s capital and seeing the iconic Taj Mahal on your bucket list? You can arrange this epic tour directly with your IVHQ Program Manager before you depart. This is a perfect way to spend a long weekend while volunteering on the IVHQ India - Kerala program or after your program has finished.
Delhi is a must-visit destination if you are in India and during the tour you will get to experience both the ancient feel of old Delhi and modern marvels of New Delhi.
The trip includes a detailed tour of the city where you will visit some of the oldest markets, mosques and the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. In addition, you will get to walk along the white marble floors of the 7th wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, and experience the mystical allure of the Agra Fort.
The 3 day tour costs $748 and includes:
- 2 nights at a 3 star hotel - up to 2 volunteers per room (a private room can be arranged for an additional cost, please contact your IVHQ Program Manager to book this)
- Sightseeing as per itinerary below
- English speaking guide
- All transfers in a private vehicle with chauffeur and AC
- Daily breakfast at hotel
- Mineral water X 1 bottle per day
- All government and local taxes
- Airport transfers
You will be responsible for:
- Entrance fees to monuments/sightseeing places
- Airfare
- Personal expenses
- Lunch and dinner expenses
Day 1: Arrive to Delhi Airport and receive a transfer to your hotel. You can spend the remainder of the day relaxing or exploring nearby.
Day 2: After breakfast, you will be transported to the city Agra, which tips the scales with 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and was the capital of the Mughal Emperors from 1526 to 1628. First up is the Agra Fort in which its attractions include the Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal), Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-Aam), Nagina Mosque (Gem Mosque), Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque) and the 16th Century Jahangir Palace built by Emperor Akbar.
In the afternoon you will be transported to the Taj Mahal, no words needed………enjoy!
Transport back to the hotel will be provided at the end of the day.
Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by sightseeing in Old Delhi starting with Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
Next on the itinerary is Chandni Chowk - Delhi’s oldest and biggest market. After, enjoy a Rickshaw ride to the impressive red sandstone monument of Red Fort. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its 18m high walls which took almost 10 years to construct.
In the afternoon, you will be transported to New Delhi and visit Humayun’s Tomb, rumoured to be the inspiration behind the Taj Mahal and was the first garden-styled tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Then make your way to the ‘Soaring Tower of Victory’ - Qutub Minar, a marble and red-sandstone structure which is nearly 73 meters tall and contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. Built in the 11th Century, the design of the monument is inspired by the Minaret of Jam, in Western Afghanistan.
In the evening, visit the Dilli Haat, an open-air bazaar and food plaza which sells handicrafts from all over India. All this shopping calls for food, and at the far end of the market you won’t be disappointed on this front as you can sample cuisine from every corner of the country.
Your magical tour comes to an end and you will be provided a transfer back to the airport to board your flight to your next destination.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
When you apply for an IVHQ volunteer program, make a note of which tours and add-ons you’re interested in on your application form so we can check availability and prices for you.
Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your Program Manager will be able to book your place on the tour(s) you have chosen and help you organize your trip.
Check what's required to visit India
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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.
Protecting against COVID-19:
Volunteers tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel
Health & safety information provided during orientation
Strict disinfecting standards for programs & accomodation
Greater physical distance between volunteers
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.
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