Volunteer Projects in India by iSpiice

I stayed at the Ispiice center in Dharamsala for one month during the summer 2012. We were a group of 8 French friends and we all learned a lot from this experience. Our day-to-day life consisted mostly in teaching English, Mathematics and the basics of other various subjects to young students.
During the evening, we would gather in the living spaces at the center for a good dinner and some friendly time between volunteers and staff. We learned a lot about Indian culture thanks to members of the staff. They were always attentive to our needs in order for us to make the most out of our experience.
I thank them again today for the experience they enabled me to live.

Hi, I'm currently volunteering in Dharamsala for iSpiice. This is now my third week and I'm absolutely loving it. Having volunteered over the last couple of months for other organisations, I was very fussy and was looking for a humanitarian project which focused on improving the lives of families, especially women and children, and integrated the volunteers within the community.

The days are quite full but never dull, and are generally divided between three projects. I currently work, alongside the other volunteers and the iSpiice team, in a day care centre in the morning, and after lunch we help renovate another one: it involves doing some white-washing, drawing letters of the alphabet and generally adding colours in order to stimulate the children and get them accustomed to English words. This is really important as most government buildings for children are quite bare and in need of TLC.

The afternoon finishes with my favourite part, and possibly one I believe to be of the most important aspect of the organisation: teaching children in the slums. Without education, the lives of these children would be doomed, and iSpiice supports the children by providing exactly this, as well as sponsoring them to go to school, and by providing school kits and clothes.

The team here in iSpiice is fantastic. They work tirelessly for the community while looking after the volunteers on a daily basis, from answering patiently all of hour questions, to driving us to the various project locations, cooking us yummy meals, and even organising weekend trips to visit the area and help us make the most of our trip. The house where we set camp is really comfortable and situated at the foothill of the Himalayan range - what better place to relax in the evening and prepare for the next day?

I have noticed a lot of comments regarding the price of volunteering organisations. I have now worked for a few and this one is 100% genuine. The way they use the money is absolutely transparent and our fee covers our food, board, transport from and to the airport and any visits we choose to do. Every other penny left goes to the children in the slums, may it be for school equipment, food, clothes, vaccinations and generally helps with implementing the community programmes set up.

I recommend iSpiice with all my heart, you will have a heart-warming human experience and built some friendships that will last you a lifetime.. as well as help improve young people's lives.

iSpiice (Integrated Social Programs In Indian Child Education) is awesome! I've spent a month in Dharamsala within this volunteer program. I meet nice people; I've seen wonderful landscapes; I've discovered a country full of history, religion, love to share...The volunteer organism was safe, clean, good atmosphere, friendly...I totally recommand this organism! I taught english and computer skills to women and kids. I will always remember the moments I've spent with all of them...My best adventure abroad ever! Sandra from Paris.

I had received verbal feedback from a previous volunteer with similar life experience to myself and felt confident that I would be safe on my first visit to India travelling alone.
The guide met me at the airport and we stayed in Delhi for about 12 hours at a hotel, before boarding the bus for the overnight journey to Dharamasala. We arrived early in the morning at the volunteer house and the first day is mainly relaxation/recovery before starting the program the next day.
My days were well structured with day care centre in the mornings, community work (painting new day care centre) in the afternoon, then evening class teaching English to school students.
The staff at the volunteer house provided transport to all work placements and cooked delicious meals each day. The volunteer house was comfortably furnished with hot showers, cable TV and internet access - all set in the most magnificent scenery of the foothills of the Himalayas.
The impact of the organisation was demonstrated by the practical response to disadvantage experienced by local people. Varun (the founder) provides patronage to local services/tradespeople with disabilities, provides food and support to families who are recently bereaved, and organises sponsorship of promising students to be able to continue their education.
I took advantage of the add on excursions and a highlight of my trip was the visit to the Golden Temple at Amritsar.
I thoroughly recommend this organisation/volunteer placement. It has given me the confidence to travel to India again as a volunteer.

"I highly recommend iSPiiCE Volunteer program to anyone interested in truly understanding and connecting to social issues and cultural values within India. In my six weeks in Dharamsala I was able to interact and learn from the community in ways I hadn't ever expected. Everyone was so open to sharing and learning with the volunteers that I never felt alienated or overwhelmed by the multitude of cultural differences I encountered. The staff were magnificent; always so helpful, friendly, and generous. Their attentiveness and insights were invaluable, especially on the weekend ventures. What made this program so unique for me, was my ability to really connect with the community and push my knowledge boundaries, while still feeling safe and comfortable. Anyone with an open heart and mind will love it!" Volunteer with iSPiiCE was great experience.