I had the opportunity to spend 4 weeks with the association, working in two different settings. First, I worked in a school, where I provided academic support to teenagers. Then, I joined a beauty school where women were training for careers in aesthetics.
Personally, this experience was enriching. However, I’m not an English teacher but rather a business and marketing trainer, I was still able to share my expertise with some women
On the other hand, I want to highlight the quality of the association’s hospitality, as well as the weekend excursion offerings and the comfort of the guest house. These aspects undoubtedly contributed to making my stay enjoyable.

I chose the women’s empowerment programme because I wanted to come into contact with Indian girls and women – especially from the slums of Jaipur – and understand more about their world, their lives, their expectations, their difficulties and their dreams. The two weeks I worked in the programme were very enriching for me. The girls who attend the six-month course at the NGO Veeneta Society are trained to become dress makers and/or beauticians. I attended their practical lessons, helping where needed, and I was their teacher in the English lessons. With a great dedication the girls made me the beauty treatments they had learnt in their course. Despite the language barriers between us (there was always a Hindi-English language mediator with me, to help in case of any misunderstanding) we shared bits and pieces of our lives. I also had the honour of handing diplomas to the girls who had completed the six-month course. The festive moments were unforgettable for me, the girls performed traditional Rajasthan dances. All in all, I highly recommend this experience.

My volunteer program lasted 4 weeks in Jaipur, India. I spent 2 weeks in the women’s support program and 2 weeks in the hospital.
Both were very enriching experiences for me.
The girls and women were incredibly open-minded and inquisitive. They were interested in and implemented everything that was offered to them. First and foremost, they want to learn English. Any form of teaching is welcome, whether role-playing, singing and translating English songs or face-to-face at the blackboard.
It was a lot of fun to see how quickly they learn.
In return, I got traditional make-up, beautiful braided hairstyles or henna tattoos on my hands and feet. It was a very warm and unforgettable time.
The work in the hospital was very touching, as people came with problems and pain and needed help.
The doctor’s idealistic commitment means that even the poor population can receive very good treatment. They couldn’t afford a normal hospital.
So they only pay a small fee and only those who can afford it pay. The doctor works on a voluntary basis.
The treatments mostly consisted of infusions, acupuncture with electrotherapy, cupping treatments, stretching and the administration of medication. The doctor also makes his own Ayurvedic medicine.
I was very impressed by his efficiency and was able to learn a lot.
As a physiotherapist, I was able to alleviate the pain in some patients.
All of this left a lasting, deep impression on me.
Perhaps it was a start for me to further projects of this kind.
I would like to thank the organization again for making this possible for me. Sukret, my local coordinator, responded immediately when there were questions or problems. They were solved immediately.
Shekhar, my driver and “bodyguard”, drove me everywhere extremely reliably, picked me up again and showed me a bit of the area.
Perhaps it is still possible to get a small handout about the work in the projects beforehand so that you can prepare better.
However, I was integrated quickly.

My accommodation at Boby Mansion Homestay was a blessing because, as a woman travelling alone, I enjoyed family contact with all the care that comes with it. I felt very safe and secure in a foreign world.

During August I volunteered for three weeks with the Women’s Empowerment Program and the School Program. Volunteering for an extended period of time meant I was able to build strong relationships with the women and children. Most of the time was spent teaching English, however, the programs are flexible which means you can contribute knowledge and skills based upon your own background and strengths. I was able to draw upon my own resources (nutrition, yoga) and I would encourage this for future volunteers – if you have teaching resources/activities/games from your home country, bring them with you! The home stay accomodation was AMAZING. The family treated me as one of their own, sharing safe, local advice and including me in activities such as visiting the temple, the cinema and a theme park! My favourite part of the stay was playing with the children and helping cook meals. I recommend Volunteering with India for those who want to experience an authentic Indian lifestyle.

Volunteering with India is a really good organization. I applied for women empowerment project and I had my best time. The organization helps you a lot before and during your stay. Sukret is very patient and answers your questions quickly. The girls are very kind and sociable and welcomed me with enthusiasm. During the project, I talked with them taking part in sewing and beautician classes, as well as giving English lessons.
I lived for two weeks with an Indian family at the Prity guest house. They are really nice people, the food was great and the room very clean.
I am really happy to have done this experience with volunteering with india, and i will surely miss the girls so much!

This is such a fulfilling program and I recommend it to anyone looking to help equip disadvantaged women / children with the skills and information they need to get by in the world.
The females in the program very eager and excited to learn from the volunteers, which makes the experience all the more fun and uplifting! The staff / program coordinators also make you feel very welcome and comfortable.
Jaipur is a wonderful city and there was so much to see during my off time – it was a great experience!

This is unlike anything I have ever done before. I volunteered for one week with my adult daughter and we had a great time. India is so vibrant and colorful. The girls we met on the project were lovely and welcomed us into the group. Some of the things I really enjoyed were the henna, yoga, teaching a women’s health class (I was so surprised at what they didn’t know) and the meals at the guest house. The family at the guest house were so friendly and helpful as were the project organisers. They responded to WhatsApp messages quickly and answered any questions we had. Although the accommodation was basic, there were comfortable beds, clean sheets and air conditioning in the room. I would recommend this to anyone and encourage you to take every opportunity that is offered to allow yourself a truly immersive experience where you get to see the real India!

This experience was definitely worth it, as a person that lives in europe, the lifestyle is completely different but very interesting. Working with the women was awesome, they always wanted to learn new things and were really happy to spend some time with us. The other part of this experience was to discover a new culture and visit some temple or cities like Delhi or Agra with the Taj Mahal that was wonderful. I am really happy about this experience it definitely changed me as a person. I am really glad about it.

My wife and I volunteered for 1 week for the women empowerment program. As most of the women were learning to become tailors and / or beauticians / hairdressers, we took the opportunity to share with them our experiences working for product companies in the hair & beauty industry. The overall experience was positive and we really got the chance to interact deeply with the locals. I think having more hands on skills (like sewing, or hairdressing or skin therapy, massage or any other practical training) would have supported the group of women more. English and maths were some of the other areas, were we tried to support. The program gives you a chance to bring your own skills and knowledge to the table, which is great. However, I would have also liked to receive more direction from the organisation on how we could deliver most impact. Something to keep in mind and to ask prior to starting the program. All the staff at the organisation were very welcoming and made are stay enjoyable. However, we would have liked to learn more about how we could truly support the locals to deliver more impact. Our host family was great and really made us feel at home.

I had an amazing time with the association and the kids. The women were so happy about our presence and give us a really warm welcome. They were really happy to learn english and math but also to show us their beauty or stitching class. The city is beautiful and the culture is also very incredible. The hospitality of the people but also how nice they were with us was super nice. If you like to travel, discover a new culture and spend time with kids this program is perfect for you. You would not be disappointed.

I have visited India a few times as a tourist but now I wanted to feel and learn more about India’s every day.life. That is why I decided to work as a volunteer with „Volunteering with India“

Sukret, the manager welcomed me although I am already 73 years old and so I stayed in Jaipur from altogether six weeks.

For the first 2 weeks I joined the Medical Program and then 4 weeks the Project „Women’s Empowerment. And this was the project in which I was in the right place. I taught English and the contact with the young girls and women showed me so much about life in India, especially the life of women.

I had booked my own accomodation in Jaipur where I was picked up for the project and dropped off at the hotel again. Sometimes it was by Tuk Tuk and sometimes by car with the most reliable drivers, Totaram and Shekar. They took me safely through this incredible Jaipur traffic.

Rohit the coordinator was caring for me and the other volunteers, for our safety, for our well-being in the projects and for the sightseeing weekends. He was always helpful when I needed something. This could be an information any time or just 50 samosas and 50 sweets for my farewell party. Thank you Rohit.

In my opinion „Volunteering with India“ is a reliable organisation which looks after their volunteers. This was not only important for me, but it is even more important for teenagers and young adults, especially when they are away from home for the first time in a completely different culture like India.

All in all I can say, due to the good and careful organisation these 6 weeks have been a really precious experience for me.

O projeto das mulheres vale muito a pena e é muito divertido. Embora possa ser complicado comunicar com pessoas com um inglês limitado, isto pode ser ultrapassado. Recomendo vivamente este projeto a qualquer pessoa que queira realmente fazer a diferença. Tinha planeado viajar para Jaipur com dois amigos meus. Pesquisámos muitas agências online, mas a VWI é a melhor na zona. O serviço de alojamento era bom e a comida era muito boa. Os membros do pessoal do projeto são muito prestáveis e gostam de estar ao serviço. Eu daria 10 em 9.

Fiquei contente por me poderem ir buscar ao aeroporto e não ter de me orientar. O coordenador do projeto chegou pouco depois da aterragem do meu voo. O alojamento, a comida e a família de acolhimento eram bons e muito prestáveis. O serviço de transporte foi fantástico e o motorista foi muito simpático e sempre pontual. Os membros do pessoal foram sempre muito fáceis de contactar quando eu tinha dúvidas. Gostaria de dar 10 em 9 para a minha satisfação e experiência geral. Estive em Jaipur durante 1 semana no Projeto Elefante e 1 semana no Projeto Mulheres, ambos os projectos são maravilhosos e fazem com que o meu tempo aqui na comunidade seja significativo. O Projeto Elefante foi muito agradável e gostei de trabalhar com os mahouts. O programa para mulheres foi difícil nos primeiros dois dias, porque havia muitas mulheres com diferentes níveis de competências, mas à medida que as aulas avançavam tornou-se mais fácil. As aulas para crianças foram espectaculares. Elas são adoráveis e divertidas de trabalhar.

O serviço de chegada foi perfeito! O Sukret veio buscar-me e fez-me sentir muito bem-vindo. O alojamento e a comida na família de acolhimento foram fantásticos! Fizeram-me sentir parte da família assim que entrei. Ficar com eles foi um ponto alto de toda a experiência. E a comida era sempre óptima e não demasiado picante para mim. O serviço de transporte foi excelente. O motorista de táxi chamado Toto é o meu herói. Os membros da equipa do projeto são fantásticos. Govind, o coordenador do projeto, ajudou-me em todas as fases. Sem ele, o ensino seria muito mais difícil. Sinto-me muito sortudo por ter estado aqui durante o festival Diwali. Obrigado VWI por tudo.

Ficar com a família foi brilhante e fazer parte dos projectos foi fantástico, pois estão a fazer um bom trabalho. Gostaria de dar uma nota de 10 em 9 à VWI. Os membros da equipa do projeto foram muito prestáveis com traduções e indicações. O serviço de recolha à chegada foi excelente; o carro e um membro da equipa estavam à espera quando chegámos. O alojamento e a comida eram óptimos. Usámos o Tuk-tuk, o melhor serviço de transporte para ir todos os dias para o local do projeto. Se viajarmos em Tuk-Tuk, podemos explorar muitas coisas na estrada. Recomendo vivamente a todos que participem no programa.

Foi ótimo ver alguém do pessoal da VWI assim que saí do autocarro. A família anfitriã foi realmente óptima. Se precisássemos de alguma coisa, bastava pedir. O serviço de transporte foi ótimo. O comportamento simpático do taxista tornou a viagem melhor. Os membros do pessoal do projeto foram muito prestáveis. No projeto, é ótimo que o coordenador do programa esteja sempre por perto para traduzir e ajudar com as coisas. Decidi fazer voluntariado com a VWI porque a Volunteering With India parecia ser o melhor programa porque o sítio Web era claro. A comunicação foi óptima e não tivemos de pagar antes de chegar. Gostaria de dar 10 em 8. Ser voluntário na Índia foi uma das melhores experiências que já tive. Conheci tantas pessoas e vivi a Índia da melhor maneira possível.

O serviço de recolha à chegada foi bom. O meu alojamento numa família de acolhimento indiana foi fantástico! A comida era deliciosa e o quarto era muito confortável. Os serviços de transporte durante a minha semana de programa foram óptimos e o motorista de táxi conduziu com cuidado. Decidi fazer voluntariado na Índia porque queria fazer voluntariado no estrangeiro durante as férias da primavera e este programa tinha o maior número de opções e os melhores preços. Gostaria de dar 10 em 10 a Volunteering With India. Fomos bem acolhidos. Os funcionários ajudaram-nos a planear actividades para a tarde e para os fins-de-semana. Este programa tem muitas opções e posso dizer que a minha presença no centro de mulheres foi útil. Escolhi apenas 1 semana, mas é pouco tempo para fazer todas as actividades com eles; gostaria de vir em breve e participar no mínimo de 4 semanas. No meu fim de semana em Jaipur, pude ver o Taj Mahal e muitos outros locais bonitos.

The women on the programme were unbelievably enthusiastic and eager to learn. It was such a joy to both teach and help them in skills development program. I hope they enjoyed themselves as much as I did. The family at the house welcomes us and were able to help if we needed anything. It was a great insight into both the lives of an Indian family and the children. I would definitely recommend the program. I have decided to volunteer with VWI as I Found the company online and thought it looked like a very down to earth charity with good intentions. Relatively inexpensive. The food at the house was delicious and the family were very friendly. The project staff members too very friendly and organized. I would rate the program 10 out of 10.

Ficar com a família foi brilhante e fazer parte dos projectos foi fantástico, pois estão a fazer um bom trabalho. Gostaria de dar uma nota de 10 em 9 à VWI. Os membros da equipa do projeto foram muito prestáveis com traduções e indicações. O serviço de recolha à chegada foi excelente; o carro e um membro da equipa estavam à espera quando chegámos. O alojamento e a comida eram óptimos. Usámos o Tuk-tuk, o melhor serviço de transporte para ir todos os dias para o local do projeto. Se viajarmos em Tuk-Tuk, podemos explorar muitas coisas na estrada. Recomendo vivamente a todos que participem no programa.

Working with the children and women was very rewarding and they are fantastic! It’s worth making lesson plan through as we were surprised how much control we had. It was a great week though, the host family made us feel at home and Jaipur is brilliant place to explore. Thank you VWI! Challenging but well worth the effort. I would like to give 10 out of 9 marks to the organization. The project staff members were Helpful + reliable + very good! The arrival pick up service was very good; one of the staff members was there to meet us at Bus Station.

O projeto das mulheres vale muito a pena e é muito divertido. Embora possa ser complicado comunicar com pessoas com um inglês limitado, isto pode ser ultrapassado. Recomendo vivamente este projeto a qualquer pessoa que queira realmente fazer a diferença. Tinha planeado viajar para Jaipur com dois amigos meus. Pesquisámos muitas agências online, mas a VWI é a melhor na zona. O serviço de alojamento era bom e a comida era muito boa. Os membros do pessoal do projeto são muito prestáveis e gostam de estar ao serviço. Eu daria 10 em 9.