Brighten up the lives of children while enjoying picture-perfect views of the Himalayan mountains! Volunteer in India Himalayan and work with the street children of Palampur and Dharamsala, economically-backward regions of India. Due to the increasing poverty and a lack of education, many unfortunate children are left homeless and in dangerous situations. Many of these children lack basic necessities, much less a chance to receive proper education. New Hope partners up with local schools, after-school programs and NGOs that support these at-risk children and provide them with the basic necessities, companionship and educational facilities and a safe and healthy environment. Be part of this project and give the children the proper childhood that they deserve. At the same time, this is the opportunity for you to be steeped in the unique Indian and Tibetan culture, surrounded by majestic mountainous views.

As a volunteer in the orphanage program, you will help the children with their day-to-day activities. Depending on your individual interests and skills, and on the needs of the local staff, your daily activities involve, but are not limited to:

• Teaching children Basic English
• Escorting children to and from school
• Teaching children about health and personal hygiene
• Planning and leading activities such as playing games, theatre, panting, singing, playing music, etc.
• Teaching other subjects such as math and science
• Working with after-school programs and organizations
• Teaching computer classes
• Helping children with their homework and school assignments
• Being a friend to the children
• Providing care and companionship
• Cooking and serving meals
• Planning creative activities such as drawing, dancing, painting, art classes, etc.
• Playing sports with children
• Identifying children with dental or other health-related problems
• Supervising the children
• Teaching children about different cultures and the world
• Making the children confident in their rights

By volunteering in India Himalayan in the Street Children project, you’ll be working with children who live in extreme poverty. More than 60 per cent of India’s population is still below the poverty line, with the majority of the people working their bones off just to survive. Some of these families are still unable to look after their children. As a result, these children are sent to local childcare centers that take over responsibility and care for them. However the number of children continues to rise and the centers lack volunteers. Your role as a volunteer is to aid the centers so that more children can be reached. Your presence will also be a beacon of light for the children, as the chances of the children falling prey to exploitation in the streets are decreased. Give impoverished children the opportunity to live a proper childhood and be the source of motivation and inspiration for the children.

There are no specific qualifications needed to volunteer in the Street Children program in India the Himalayan region of India. However, volunteers are expected to be flexible and patient, as well as have much passion and love for children. Volunteers are also expected to have a basic knowledge of English, although an understanding of the Indian culture and Hindi language can be strengthened by enrolling in the week-long Language & Cultural Immersion program. Volunteers must also have empathy and compassion for the disadvantaged youth and children and be a mentor to them.

Our India volunteer projects in the Himalayan region take place in and around Palampur and Dharamsala, which are surrounded by water and beautiful snow-capped mountains. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are endless outdoor excursions and trails available for volunteers to take part in. The region boasts extreme sports as well, such as paragliding and hang-gliding. In addition, volunteers can enjoy art galleries, tea estates, temples, lush parks, etc.

Volunteers will travel through the historical capital city of India, Delhi, which contains major Indian tourist attractions the like Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Qutab Minar, Lodhi Gardens, etc. Delhi contains a diverse assortment of local markets, restaurants, internet cafés, nightclubs, shopping centers and cultural heritage sites to experience. There are numerous chances for volunteers to explore Delhi with their free time and options abound. Taxis/auto rickshaws are affordable transportation options and tours can be arranged to Agra and Jaipur as well as other rural locations.