1. Ladakh: SECMOL
What?
Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) is a one-of-a-kind school that admits students who have failed in conventional educational institutions. Here they live an eco-friendly life, use renewable energy resources, learn through activity base teaching, get hands-on practical experiences and contribute towards reforming the traditional education system.
What can you do?
The SECMOL school built from environemental friendly materials. Source: indiapages.in
2. Ladakh: 17000 ft Foundation
What?
The 17000 ft Foundation’s goal is to reach remote villages that are difficult to access due to the rough terrain and strengthen their schools, infrastructure, education and skill sets. The organization’s objective is to grow despite geographical boundaries and enrich the communities.
What can you do?
With 17000 ft foundation’s Voluntourist Program, volunteers get the opportunity to explore remote villages of Ladakh while returning the favour by teaching and schools and instilling creative skills. You can volunteer under reading, art, video, infrastructure programs depending on your skill set. The structured programs range from 10, 16 to 1 Month programs.
Register here
Teach at Local schools in Ladakh with 17000ft Foundation. Source: better india
3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team
What?
What can you do?
Particpate in ecological conservation with ANET. Source: anet.org
4. Sikkim: ECOSS
What?
What can you do?
Discover the beauty of Sikkim. Source: eSikkim Tourism
5. Jodhpur: Mandore Project
What?
What can you do?
Help with the Mandore Project while you stay at the Mandore Guest House. Source: booking.com
6. Chennai: Chennai Trekkers Club
What?
What can you do?
Go Trekking with the Chennai Trekkers Club. Source: chennaitrekkersclub.blogspot
7. Auroville
The first and the only township that recognizes human unity by encouraging diversity and sustainability. Auroville in Southern India is a world of its own with a population of roughly 2,500 people from all over the world. The township is built by the people and truly for the people. Not only a destination, Auroville is a way of living and more and more people are now adapting to it.
What?
The community focuses on cultural, spiritual and social progress through shared learning and community building by keeping the environment at the core of it. One visit to the township and you’ll know there’s plenty you can offer. Besides the permanent residents that work towards building the community, volunteers can help a great deal.
What can you do?
Community engagement, skilled technical work, maintaining records, managing projects, fundraising or designing products – whatever your skill be, you can volunteer in areas like arts, social change, environment, health, research, education and technology.
Register here
The township of Auroville. Source: aurovillge.org
8. Spiti Valley: Spiti Ecosphere
Leaving behind the urban life and seeking the simpler things – Spiti’s best offering. Yes it is spectacular, yes the mountains look even more majestic, yes it shares its borders with Tibet, yes it is still untouched, and yes Spiti is a different world altogether. But rest aside, Spiti’s heart lies in the Ecosphere.
What?
Ecosphere is an organization that can take the credit entirely for making Spiti a self-sustained village and promoting tourism in a previously unexplored valley. Strengthening the skills of the locals, conserving their culture, developing solar-powered houses, building greenhouses, making the utmost use of their local flora – Ecosphere is helping Spiti transform itself while maintaining its core.
What can you do?
With a place that has so much going on, there’s lots one can do. You can be a helping hand in a variety of development projects, teach at schools, build greenhouses, help out at stores and more.
More info here
The Spectacular Spiti Valley. Source: thrillophilia
9. All Over India (& World): Willing Workers on Organic Farms
What?
If experiencing the simple farm life has been one of your to-do things, look no further than WWOOF. The Willing Workers on Organic Farms is a worldwide initiative that promotes cultural exchange and an organic lifestyle by connecting farms and volunteers. You can volunteer at any of the locations registered with WWOOF by farming at coffee estates, tea estates or farmlands. Training, developing projects, crop procurement, horticulture, hygiene, food safety, livestock management are few of the many things that the organization undertakes.
What Can You do?
By joining WWOOF you can stay at a local farm, help with their livestock, their crops, participate in farming activities while you get a taste of their life.
More Info Here
Work on a farm with WWOOF. Source: wwoof.org
10. All over India (& World): Workaway
What?
Exploring a new place on a limited budget can be a hassle. What if you get to discover a new destination and get accommodation and food in exchange for a helping hand? A platform built for people who want to engage with different cultures cut down on travel expense and engross themselves in a new lifestyle for a brief time, Workaway is your answer to voluntourism. It is a community of people who want to work in exchange of experiences. Individuals or families can host volunteers at their houses or for projects and in return volunteers can lend their time and effort in contributing to their chores or projects.
What can you do?
The range of activities depends on the host. Gardening, painting, waiting in restaurants, farming, teaching a language, animal welfare, activities at school – there’s a range of things you can help with.
Register here
Meet people from different nationalities through Workaway. Source: booking.com