Volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of marginalized children through education. Because volunteers will be leading large classes independently, having some relevant training or experience is recommended.

Project details

Interested in being a volunteer Slum Teacher in India - Delhi? International Volunteer HQ’s Slum Teaching project empowers volunteers to provide education to vulnerable children who would usually be working on the streets of Delhi. Volunteers gain teaching experience while helping these disadvantaged children gain basic education, expand their horizons and develop life and social skills that can have a meaningful, positive impact on their lives and futures.

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

For many children in India, school is not an option. It is estimated that there are more than 11 million marginalized and vulnerable street children in India. Many of these children work on the streets with their parents selling goods, foraging and performing to make a living.

Slum Teaching volunteers play an important role in providing these children with access to basic education along with new opportunities they would otherwise have missed out on. This project is greatly valued by the local community, due to the new perspectives and lessons that international volunteers bring.

As a Slum Teacher, you’ll be leading classes of around 30 students generally aged between 5 and 11 years old. You will teach independently with limited supervision from local staff. Slum Teaching duties will include:

Taking English or other lessons
Facilitating games and entertainment
Introducing the children to new activities
Planning lessons

While on the Slum Teaching project, volunteers need to ensure they are flexible as there generally is not much structure within these placements - this is because the number of students is constantly changing.

Volunteers are provided with books and resources, and they will get the chance to interact with the students to see where they are at with their learning. Volunteers will then need to use this information to make a lesson plan.

Why do Slum Teaching volunteering in Delhi with IVHQ?

When you volunteer to teach in slums in India, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

Improving access to education for marginalized children
Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
Learning Hindi
Developing your communication skills
Gaining teaching experience
Immersing yourself in Indian culture
Discovering the neighbourhoods of Delhi

Volunteer requirements

Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional document to the local team.

Volunteers aged 16 or 17 on their start date, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead, and will be required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documents to the local team.

Volunteers aged over 18 on their start date are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.

All volunteers must speak English and have adequate volunteer travel insurance.

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

Who is going?

Group video calls

Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.

India photo gallery

A senior IVHQ volunteer engaging with students during educational activities at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

IVHQ staff member engaging with students during a classroom activity at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

A senior IVHQ volunteer supporting English language learning during a classroom lesson at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

IVHQ volunteer engaging with a student through active listening and classroom interaction at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

IVHQ volunteer writing on a whiteboard during the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

IVHQ volunteer sharing a positive moment with a student during an educational activity at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

IVHQ volunteer leading a geography lesson using a world globe to help students learn about continents at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

Three IVHQ volunteers supporting students through a math lesson and classroom learning activities at the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

A senior IVHQ volunteer engaging with children through a recreational activity during the Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

A typical classroom environment where students participate in learning activities at the IVHQ Slum Teaching volunteer project in Delhi, India.

IVHQ Slum Teaching project

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit

Recommended online TEFL course

We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.

Get TEFL certified online

Location

Volunteer Abroad in New Delhi, India with IVHQ

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.

5-day Culture 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 $251 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 $122. If you want to join the Culture 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:

7:00 AM	Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation.
8:00 AM	Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements.
12:00 - 2:00 PM	Lunch break either at the placement or the volunteer accommodation.
2:00 - 4:00 PM	Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to the volunteer accommodation, go sightseeing, or do some shopping.
7:00 - 9:00 PM	Dinner at the volunteer accommodation.

Please note that the schedule may occasionally change due to weather, public or school holidays, or other unforeseen events that could affect your placement. We recommend checking in advance whether your intended travel dates coincide with any public or school holidays.

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.

Looking for more ideas of things to do in India? Check out our India Tours & Experiences!

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll stay in a volunteer house outside of central Delhi, in Faridabad, 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, shared 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 within Faridabad and volunteers are provided with transport to and from their placement and accommodation each day.

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 $93 (approximately $93) per week for a private room which can be booked and paid for via your Pre-departure Checklist once you have registered. Families will typically 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.

Volunteer bedroom in Delhi, India with IVHQ

Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi

Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi

Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi

Typical volunteer bedroom in Delhi

International Volunteer HQ lunch in Delhi, India

Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi

Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi

Typical volunteer lunch in Delhi

IVHQ volunteers eat a meal in Delhi India

IVHQ volunteers share a meal in Delhi

IVHQ volunteer finishes a meal in Delhi India

IVHQ volunteer eats a meal in Delhi

Typical volunteer dinner in Delhi

Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi

IVHQ volunteer breakfast in Delhi, India

Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi

International Volunteer HQ breakfast in Delhi, India

Typical volunteer breakfast in Delhi

IVHQ volunteers share a meal in Delhi

IVHQ volunteers serve a meal in Delhi

IVHQ volunteers travel to their project in India with IVHQ

IVHQ volunteer traveling to their project in Delhi

IVHQ volunteer orientation with local team in India

IVHQ volunteer orientation in Delhi