Working with the VWI was the best choice ever. Especially not only teach children but also learning more deeply about the organization was insightful. (Example – mobile van clinic). At the beginning, I did not like that fact I only could stay/work here 5 to 6 hours where I wanted stay longer with children. So thanks so much for being flexible and accommodated. Also visiting famous places in Jaipur (sightseeing included chokhi dhani, monkey palace) was so great and I love meeting families and friends of Sukret, Govind, totram ji and host family house as I value fine experience with local people and personal connections. Peoples in India have been so inclusive and welcoming so I had amazing fine participating like kite festival and wedding ceremonies. VWI has well chosen staff for their work and you guys have been very professional, friendly and lovely. I love the fact that VWI made things so easy for me include transport, pick up daily, accommodation includes food so that I could focus my time and energy more important thing like children project. So I really appreciate it.
I found staff at the project site very helpful if you ask questions and be open. Don’t expect them to come to you; here in India you open and say hello first if you want to become friend with them. Love working from early morning so I can utilize well of each afternoon for more teaching, shopping, visiting etc. Project staff love me stay longer hours and showing deep interest for in what they doing. Also I had opportunity to visit the Elephant house although it was not my project. It was so good to experience and see other VWI projects so definitely consider doing for future volunteers. It is not very easy work what VWI do accommodate each individual needs, so thanks for doing your best and help me to have colorful, fun, meaningful and memorable time in India. I recommend to future volunteers to use your service.

I and my daughter spent 3 weeks volunteering for The Working with Children Project, set up through the Volunteering with India (VWI) Organization. Overall the experience was amazing and worthwhile, highly recommended for those interested in travel, the culture of India and making a difference.
When volunteering for The Working with Children Project, the volunteer’s main objectives are teaching English and Mathematics, although the work day also includes a dance time prior to lunch and arts and crafts/ life skills project in the afternoon. We were lucky to be with the two of us and found it useful to divide the boys and sometimes some girls into different groups in which we were able to adjust our teaching to better suit their needs.

We started our days with English, everyday repeating days of the week, We worked with basic attributes as the alphabet, marks, colors, months, seasons, fruit, vegetables, parts of the body, the parts of the house etc. We connected these topics with the other subjects, which included drawing and coloring fruit and vegetables, the parts of the body and house with the different types of rooms. I brought along with me balloons and we played a game with one balloon. I brought also some skipping-ropes with me, it was nice to see how they made their best efforts to jump. We all really enjoyed this and we had fun together!
Teaching can be cumbersome due to the wide variety of students, i.e. given their age and the various degrees of education. One suggestion, when possible, is to place the children into different groups depending on education level and creating lessons for each level. Another suggestion might be to bring materials from home if available or wanted, for example glue sticks, scissors, pencils, since classroom materials are limited. The children had only a pencil and a notebook. For the teacher there was a blackboard.
Most of all we tried to be there for the children- tried to make them smile and laugh – praising their work and effort, trying to help and encourage them to take a step “small” forward. We really enjoyed it and had fun together and we could share love.
The VWI organization was fabulous. They helped us to do volunteer works as easy as possible by arranging the transport to the school and back to the family of the guesthouse. The trips in the weekend were also organized perfectly by Sukret arrange. Totram was a fantastic driver in the busy traffic of Jaipur. After a couple of days I travelled relaxed in the tuc-tuc. He also knew the best place to drink Chai after the work in the school. Govind was very kind and helped me very good to translate my English in Hindi. They all were personable and friendly. It felt like a big family, especially when my daughter was ill and must go to the hospital. They helped me as much as possible. After a laborious start with the family later we have a good contact. So we could share life’s and we had real personal contact and the contact with the local people were really appreciated, Thank you Sukret, Govind, Totram, the family and last but not least the children of the school, Thank you very much for this great lovely experiences in your colorful exciting country. I take all of you with me in my heart. Now I walk in the garden of the good memories.

I heard about VWI & their projects from an old school friend and I always wanted to visit India and learn more from their culture. I volunteered before with kids and I wanted to give more of my time to children in need. Especially to these kids in orphanage that have been through a lot of hard things. The project staff members, accommodation, food & family was very nice and helpful all the time. If you are looking forward to spend your time getting to know new culture and helping to give children an education this program is the best decision. I spend unforgettable time here and I am sad to leave all the kids here. I hope I will be able to come back Soon!

It has been for me an unique experience where I had the chance to really live into Indian culture and learn as much as possible about Indian culture, surrounded by really nice people and doing a fantastic activity with kids that are able to give you more than what you give them. I have a good pick up service in time; I could not expect a better one. The Host family & food was good. The transportation service, staff members all were good. I would like to give 10 out of 10 to VWI.

We are father and daughter come in India to visit someplace and also volunteering. We had an amazing time during our volunteer work in India. It was brilliant working with the children project. We everyday spent 5 hours to care the children at the center; where we educate the children, play games with them and also every day dance. Both of us are very satisfied with the project which VWI has offered us. Really glad to give them 10 out 10 for Overall Experience and Satisfaction. Everything was fantastic with us Food, Accommodation, Transportation & Project Staff Member. Really recommend the project for future volunteers.

Thank you for such a amazing volunteering week in India. I participated in the street children project for 1 week teaching classes of English, mathematics, arts and games to previous street kids of Jaipur. Got also opportunity to see the Mobile VAN project for slum children & make chapti’s in Elephant Village. It was an amazing and rewarding experience, and I would definitely like to come back again. On top of volunteering we also joined celebrating the holy day kite festival, visiting Krishna temple at night and celebrating angazement and wedding party with VWI staff; yeyyyyyy