It was great to see a VWI staff member waiting for me as soon as I got off the bus. The host family was really wonderful — always ready to help whenever we needed anything. The transportation service was excellent, and the friendly taxi driver made the trips even better. The project staff members were very helpful, especially the program coordinator, who was always around to translate and assist.

I decided to volunteer with VWI because their website was clear, communication was great, and there was no payment required before arrival. I would rate my experience 10 out of 8! Volunteering in India was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I met so many people and experienced India in the best possible way.

The arrival pick-up service was very good. The host family and food were fine. The transportation service was punctual and reliable, always taking us where we needed to go. The project staff members were very helpful and supportive. I decided to volunteer with VWI because I liked the detailed information on their website and wanted to experience REAL India while working with elephants. I would give VWI a perfect 10 out of 10. I truly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone seeking an authentic and rewarding adventure. The elephants were fantastic — hard work, but absolutely worth it!

Rita:- The Project itself was very enjoyable. It was cool to get to know the elephant. The work was not too challenging. The Mahouts were friendly and joking with us. Raj the project coordinator was pleasant to have with us. Govind and Sukret were very accommodating too. Totoram the driver was kind and caring and we enjoyed his presence.
Nina:- Project was good, all mahouts that I worked with were friendly and tried to talk to me even limited English. Elephant work was good. It was good to be up close and personal with the elephants. All were well trained and I felt 100% safe when working closely with them. The Transport was reliable, on time and friendly. Project coordinator Raj was great to show us around and answer our question about elephants, the project, Indian culture. His English is really good which enabled us to communicate with him and the mahouts. Project was great, everything associated with the elephants was amazing, such a great experience.
Justine:-The elephant project is incredible! The mahouts were very friendly and obviously we devoted to their elephants. Being able to wash and bathe the elephants was a highlight! The Project coordinator was amazing , very helpful and lovely to talk to. Totoram was the best driver. He was so friendly and accommodating & took us every morning for chai!

Our Pick up service was fine. Accommodation and food was good. Enjoyed riding in Tuk-Tuk for everyday project transportation. Project staff members were fine, tried hard to support me. I decided to volunteer with VWI because I wanted to do something while in India and Love Elephants. I would like to give 10 out of 8 to VWI. The VWI project is a good partnership between volunteers and places that need help. I learned a lot about India – the people and the animals.

Our host family was wonderful, providing delicious Indian food and comfortable accommodation. The transportation service was good, and the taxi driver was a very lovely person. The project staff members were also very helpful. I decided to volunteer with VWI because I wanted to spend time with elephants and contribute in some way while in India. I would give the organization a 10 out of 8! These projects offer great opportunities for Westerners to experience many aspects of India and Jaipur. I hope we were helpful to the projects, the people, and the elephants.

I had a wonderful time during my elephant program in Jaipur with VWI. Being with the elephants was truly a lovable and memorable experience for me. I worked with five elephants over four weeks, and although working with them is quite hard, it was incredibly enjoyable. My days started early as I washed the elephants, cleaned them, gave them massages, scrubbed their bodies with brushes, and prepared bundles of hay for them to eat.

The elephant village is huge and absolutely adorable to see, with many elephants grouped together, especially when they play in the lake. The village really needs volunteers to help care for the elephants and support the mahouts in their hard work, as there aren’t enough people to assist them.

During the project, I stayed with another volunteer in an Indian host family, which was very helpful for us to learn about Indian life and culture. The food was delicious, and our Indian mother was an amazing cook who made a new dish every day. She even taught me a few recipes during my stay. Interacting with the host family was a great experience.

Indian culture is very different from the U.K., and it was fascinating to learn about various aspects such as religion, festivals, traditional clothing for men and women, and everyday life. There are so many beautiful moments to capture on camera, write about in blogs, and cherish as lifelong memories.

In conclusion, I highly recommend volunteering with elephants — these incredible animals are truly a part of our lives.

I really enjoyed the project. My approach to life and volunteering is to travel and learn as much as I can, so my advice to everyone is: don’t expect anything — just be open and absorb everything that comes your way. I would like to give VWI 10 out of 9 marks!

I’ve wanted to work with elephants for a long time, and after researching many organizations online, I found that VWI stood out. Their flexibility and hands-on approach made it the best choice. The project transportation, weekend sightseeing, and staff members — everything was perfect.

I’m really looking forward to coming back again, hopefully with my friends and family.

This project was a wonderful experience and a great way to learn about India. The arrival pick-up service was perfect. Accommodation, transportation, and staff members were all excellent. I chose to volunteer with VWI because their price was the best compared to other volunteering organizations abroad and in India. I would give 10 out of 10 for my overall experience.

Trabalhar com os mahouts foi uma experiência maravilhosa. Conhecer os elefantes é algo verdadeiramente indescritível. Não me arrependo de nada e espero voltar a fazer voluntariado com a VWI. Sinto que fiz novos amigos e estou ansioso por os voltar a ver. Eu classificaria o Volunteering With India com 10 em 9 pela minha experiência geral. Toto, o nosso motorista de táxi, foi o melhor - sempre pontual, divertido e cheio de riso. Os membros da equipa do projeto, o alojamento e a comida eram excelentes. Recomendo sem dúvida este projeto a outros voluntários.

The family house where I stayed was lovely, and the whole family was very welcoming. Before I started the project, all my emails were answered quickly and professionally. During my stay, both the program coordinator and the tuk-tuk driver were friendly and helpful. Visiting their homes was a great experience—many thanks to them for their hospitality.

However, I was a bit disappointed during the first few days because I had to wake up very early in the morning. But after a few days, it became a habit as I understood that caring for the elephants starts early, when they wake up. I worked every day from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and also came in the afternoons twice a week to help make chapatis for the elephants.

I took care of five elephants and really wish I could bring all of them home with me. I’m sad that my project has finished and I need to return home to continue my studies, but I will definitely come back next time. I also visited the children’s project for two days, and that was great—I truly felt I was contributing to something meaningful. I would recommend all the projects that VWI offers.