India is a fascinating place to visit no matter what your reason for travelling, but if you’re hoping to be able to give something back to local communities, there are few ways better than taking a volunteering trip. Whether you’re looking to travel for an extended period or you’d simply like to volunteer during a short holiday, you’re sure to find there’s a good way for you to help.
To start travelling as more than a tourist, there are a number of things you must do.
Find a suitable program
The best way to ensure you are able to really help during your time in India is to travel with a suitable organisation. There are many different ways to volunteer in India, from working in education to helping families who are suffering from debilitating illness or even contributing to environmental campaigns. Find the program that best suits you – you should be able to search easily online – and be sure to double-check its credentials before signing up.
What to look out for
If you’ve never been to India before, chose companies who will offer you some help when it comes to accommodation and orientation, as they will help you adjust and settle in better. You should also be sure to run the name of any organisation you are considering through search engines and look for reviews from people who have used them in the past.
Think about visas
Before you can go and live and work in India, you will need a visa. Some volunteer organisations may be able to help you apply for one, but most will expect you to organise and pay for it yourself. Luckily, this is relatively straightforward when you are applying from the UK. The High Commission of India has officially authorise the India Visa Application Centre in the UK, which will allow you to complete your application online and can take anything from under a week for UK nationals to several months if you hold a passport for another country.
Raise money
You may need to raise some money for you trip before you go. If so, you may want to set up a local fundraising event or start a charity profile online to help you collect some cash for your endeavours.
Book flights
The sooner you are able to book your flights, the cheaper they are likely to be, so don’t leave it until the last minute. Skyscanner is a handy little tool for highlighting the cheapest flights, allowing you to hold onto some of that all-important budget.
Start packing!
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