Cultural Exchange and Community Work

location
4 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+
rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Bring smile to poor children
  • Explore India and Indian
  • Volunteering to bring peace around
  • Community Service
  • Visit Incredible India and help smilengo

Especially good for

Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Do you wish to explore India and learn about Indian culture and tradition while living at local host family and helping SMILE NGO in good causes.

It is a great cultural experience while doing volunteering service for community children from the street. Volunteers will given different task as per following schedule given below. It is an unique opportunity for short term travellers to explore the part the beautiful Kolkata city while be a part ...

About the program

It is a great cultural experience while doing volunteering service for community children from the street. Volunteers will given different task as per following schedule given below. It is an unique opportunity for short term travellers to explore the part the beautiful Kolkata city while be a part of good causes to enrich their knowledge and make a small contribution to the society during their trip. Be volunteer not a tourist is the main slogan of the programme. 

Main Accommodation at  Madhyamgram (8 away from Kolkata Airport) based local host family. It is a peaceful suburb with all the facilities. Other days if required night stay would be at other guest house or hotel on shared basis. 

Volunteers Responsibility : Volunteers would be guide by local experienced members during the project on everyday basis. During the voluntary work target would be mainly Street Children Teaching and welfare at SMILE House India. Children age 3-8 years. Number of the children varies between days from 10-20. Apart from this prime target group there would activities like cleaning school building, organic Farming, painting at SMILE House based at Madhyamgram,  India. Volunteers would be given duties like care giving,  Teaching basic English (elementary level), hygiene, moral education, entertainment activities, art, craft etc. 

Typical day

Example Daily Schedule: 
  • Wake up early morning: 9 am
  • Breakfast: 9:30 am ( required to  prepaired by own)
  • Project hour : As per project In charge. 
  • Lunch at : 1-2 pm (on the way) 
  • Dinner : 7:30 pm ( volunteers required help themselves in serving ,washing )
  • After 8 pm exit door would be closed.No one ...

Typical day

Example Daily Schedule: 
  • Wake up early morning: 9 am
  • Breakfast: 9:30 am ( required to  prepaired by own)
  • Project hour : As per project In charge. 
  • Lunch at : 1-2 pm (on the way) 
  • Dinner : 7:30 pm ( volunteers required help themselves in serving ,washing )
  • After 8 pm exit door would be closed.No one allowed to go out or come in the accommodation after 8 pm everyday including weekends.
  • 9:30 bed time 
This schedule can be changed or altered if needed. 

Free-time activities

 Volunteers get plenty of time to travel around during weekends. India is an amazing country with diverse culture and tradition, Interesting people ! Explore the country with exciting diversity .Kolkata ,the city of joy was known before as Calcutta since the colonial time. This ancient city was ...

Free-time activities

 Volunteers get plenty of time to travel around during weekends. India is an amazing country with diverse culture and tradition, Interesting people ! Explore the country with exciting diversity .Kolkata ,the city of joy was known before as Calcutta since the colonial time. This ancient city was used to be the capital of British colonial period. This city has full of heart ,people are basically belongs to the middle class . There are also rich and poor people all around . City Kolkata is know for its busy traffic ,huge population ,warm welcome and poverty around the street corners! It is a great place to visit for every tourist coming to India. More over if anyone get a chance to live with the local host family then that brings extra bonus to any traveler .It helps to learn the culture ,tradition,language while staying within the normal people of the society.Living on any hotel can never give any traveller such wide scope to know the society and communities as a whole. Kolkata( itself is a great tourist place with its historical value ) is well connected with many famous and attractive tourist places during weekends. 

 

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 16 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

No

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by SMILE Society, India

3 veg meals, shared room, Limited wifi, transportation, airport pickup, language classes, yoga class, project training. 

During the trip every thing is included in the fees except the entry fees to the monuments, any special drinks or food, medical emergency. 

Airport Pickup at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport

6 am to 6 pm on any day. 

Accommodation

Shared room 2-10 volunteers with common toilet at local host family /guest house. 

Food & Beverages

3 veg meals with mineral water. 

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (CCU) in Kolkata. We assist you to find cheap flights to India. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for India provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in India you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for India. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Round the year

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 398€
6 weeks 596€
8 weeks 795€
12 weeks 1,193€
16 weeks 1,591€
20 weeks 1,690€
24 weeks (max. stay) 1,789€
Average fees 86€/week

Program fees

86€ per week 4 - 24 weeks Age 16 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

4 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with SMILE Society, India during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

SMILE Society, India

Fantastic 4.5 rating (18 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2003

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Kamala

Spoken languages: English

About the project

SMILE NGO is one of the prestigious International Youth Volunteering organisation from India. SMILE is also member of various international Volunteer Exchange networks.

Meet your organization

SMILE Society ( Situational Management & Inter Learning Establishment Society) is a registered NGO / NPO working in the field of International voluntary Service ( IVS) . SMILE is a member of CCIVS (an international volunteer network under UNESCO), NVDA and WANGO. SMILE is also working with many international reputed voluntary organizations including members from European Alliance Network and other IVS networks from around the globe.

Our foremost goal is to "Bring a Smile to Every Child." We ensure that all volunteers are provided with a safe and enriching experience. Our flexible approach means that you will be given a placement to suit your needs and time scale. There are many other attractions that SMILE volunteers can enjoy, including discounted rates for trekking, rafting, and various safari trips including the Ganges.  All international students are also welcome to take part in our Internship Programme. Our unique placements could become the trip of a lifetime.

International workcamp for youth volunteers , students groups, and long & middle term volunteer participants are welcome in India.SmileNgo offers exciting volunteering opportunities like special group & Teen group projects in India and abroad. Be a Volunteer to help in different noble causes which can change other's life forever. There are many short,middle & long term and group volunteering opportunities available round the year. Inter cultural exchange youth & student exchange projects are also available to know each other's culture and tradition.

Lets volunteer to bring smile around !

Languages Spoken

India is a big country with many local languages, hindi is the national language though there are many other languages spoken in the different states of India. There are local people in every city know English. Volunteers need to speak basic English as their Indian host families speak with them in English. 

Wo are we looking for?

We simply ask that volunteers are open-minded, flexible, and respectful of cultures and traditions, determined and motivated. Any special qualifications you may have are always useful. Volunteers can seek placement and/or accommodation with a friend/ friends. Please indicate in your application, and we will do our best to place you in the same accommodation and/or project. Please keep in mind that this is subject to availability.

18 reviews · rating4.5

Andrea Montoya Garcia rating5

2024 at Cultural Exchange and Community Work

I came from Spain to Smile NGO to volunteer in the a Cultural exchange and Community work program, but in the end I have learned and participated in everything. I have done yoga, known the important work they do here in Smile and traveled around India also. But the time shared with the children ...
Finn Biemüller rating3.4

2023 at Cultural Exchange and Community Work

SMILE ist ein Programm mit mehreren Facetten. Nicht nur Kinder werden jeden Tag betreut, auch die tägliche Einheit Yoga und Meditation sowie Gartenarbeit durfte nicht fehlen. Man findet schnell Anschluss bei den dort Arbeitenden und auch zu den anderen Freiwilligen kann schnell ein (sehr) gutes ...
Remy Thomasson rating5

2024 at Repainting and Renovation Of School

I absolutely loved my experience at Smile Society! Living with the amazing host family was an enriching experience, and being able to contribute to helping underprivileged children was incredibly fulfilling. I urge others to join this program; not only will you make a difference in the lives of ...
Bruno Fischer rating4.4

2024 at Repainting and Renovation Of School

Belle expérience de vie, qualité d'accueil et de nourriture excellente. Des personnes très gentilles avec lesquels on peut échanger sur la culture et la façon de vivre en Inde. Un plaisir d'aider les enfants du quartier qui nous le rendent bien avec leurs jolis sourires. Pratique du yoga, ...
Frédérik Tchoungui rating3.8

2024 at Care Assistant for underprivileged children

My smile experience was more than perfect. The hosts are really adorable and caring. During this experience, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of good and generous moments with the children. These are captivating and stimulating, their smile is an immediate reward that fills you with happiness. ..
My experience with Smile in Kolkata was simply amazing... I have been warmly welcomed and I felt at home my all stay ! The family is so kind and will help you with whatever you need. The house is very clean and the food excellent. You will have the opportunity to live and experience real yoga, and ...

Location

Asia > Southern Asia > India > Kolkata

You might also be interested in

Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Social Work in India
Contact Kamala
  Good response rate
English

Most volunteers ask about

Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Kamala
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.