New Hope Volunteers

Since 1998, More than 18000 happy volunteers


Teaching English Project (Palampur, Dharamsala)

volunteer in teaching english project in india himalaya
  • Teach English to disadvantaged children in the Himalayan region of India
  • Work with local schools to help improve the education of the students
  • Live amongst and work with the local people and immerse yourself in the Indian way of life
  • Learn the Hindi language in the picturesque landscape of the Himalayan region of India

Do you love teaching? How does teaching against a backdrop of glorious snow-capped mountains sound like? Teach English in the India Himalayan region and enrich the lives of your students in one of the most picturesque places on earth. Children of Tibetan refugee families and local impoverished families attend schools which lack trained and experienced English teachers. The local English teachers carry out their lessons in the local Hindi language, and students often merely memorized the words without understanding them. English however is an important subject. Without sound English speaking and writing skills, the students will not be able to get into colleges and universities. New Hope works with local governments and NGOs in India which are striving to make adequate education accessible to the needy children. By volunteering in the project, you will be able to help them learn English better, and give them that hope for the future. Help the Himalayan students have better life opportunities, while waking up to gorgeous landscapes everyday!

Volunteers' Responsibilities

Volunteers taking part in this project will work in local schools in the Himalayan region of India. 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 English
  • Assisting with creative and extracurricular activities (i.e. games, drawing, singing, dancing, etc.)
  • Organizing educational tours and field trips
  • Helping the students with homework and supporting their academic progress
  • Assisting in other school-related activities or programs
  • Holding debates and discussions to improve on conversational skills
  • Fundraising for educational programs
  • Assisting with local curriculum development
  • Maintaining the schools
How You Can Make a Difference

Many public schools in the Himalayan region lack quality English education because of understaffing and lack of funds. As a volunteer teaching English in the India Himalayan region, you will be helping to fill these gaps and provide crucial support for developing English skills. Beyond educational support, you will also be the source of motivation for the students. As you encourage the students to use English through speech, debates and discussion, you’ll be boosting their confidence in using the language. This would make a massive difference in their learning of English, and it will reveal their level of the language and how it can be taught better. This project will also prove rewarding for you as students renew their interest in the language, eager to learn from an international volunteer.

Skills and Qualifications

No teaching experience is required to for this project, although volunteers must be fluent English speakers. Native English speaking is a plus, but not a prerequisite. You should have a passion to teach and aspire to help your students. An understanding of the Indian culture and Hindi language is a big plus, and can be strengthened by enrolling in the week-long Language & Cultural Immersion program. Volunteers should be good role models, flexible, patient, caring, creative, responsible and open-minded. Volunteers must also respect the locals and the host organizations, along with their rules and projects.

Project Location

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.

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