To volunteer at Shanti Bhavan is to become part of something truly meaningful. Volunteers from around the world help break the cycle of poverty by contributing to our children’s world-class education and personal growth. As a volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, you’ll find the work both challenging and deeply rewarding — an experience that’s culturally enriching, emotionally impactful, and often life-changing.
Shanti Bhavan is a rural village and self-sufficient, relying on solar power and an organic farm for food. Shanti Bhavan provides all volunteers with free on-campus accommodations and meals at both campuses. Living conditions are relatively basic (dorm-style rooming, possible power outages, etc.), with limited opportunities to travel off campus. Candidates must be comfortable working in such an environment.
Our SchoolTeaching volunteers at Shanti Bhavan commit to a 6-week term and support our elementary school teachers in the classroom. They assist with lessons, offer one-on-one or small group help, and adapt to students’ individual learning needs. Volunteers may also help lead or assist with extracurricular activities like art, sports, music, or debate, depending on campus needs.
Media volunteers at Shanti Bhavan commit to 2–4 weeks on campus and should have experience in photography or videography. This role involves capturing day-to-day moments and creating content for Shanti Bhavan’s website and social media, telling authentic stories through photo and video.
“A day at Shanti Bhavan is a day with purpose. It’s a day to be curious and laugh freely and cement memories so vivid that you can still taste them years later (or maybe that’s the dosa?). My conception of opportunity and of true commitment to community is grounded in my time spent at SB; it is an experience that guides me everyday.”
“I came to Shanti Bhavan as an engineer and I discovered myself as an educator. After more than a decade of repeated visits and volunteering, I can say that there is no other school like Shanti Bhavan. This school is the reason why I now dedicate myself to designing and developing educational innovation projects. It is not only a magnificent place to share your knowledge with children who really deserve it, but it is also a place to learn and transform yourself.”
“I’ve never met a more tight-knit community than the one found at Shanti Bhavan. From the first time I stepped onto campus, I felt like I had been welcomed into a new family. At Shanti Bhavan, I grew immensely as an individual, learning from the students the values of love, community, hard work, and strong character. The children inspired me every day, and will continue to have a lasting impression on my heart.”
“My Shanti Bhavan experience was a pivotal point in my life. I had never felt such passion for anything else. In the school, I found probably some of the biggest challenges but also the best rewards. The children’s joy is contagious and it stays in your heart forever. After Shanti Bhavan, I decided to become a teacher and now I am a Teach for America Corps member in Detroit.”
“The Shanti Bhavan model proves that the cycle of poverty can and will end through education. My experience at Shanti Bhavan has not only transformed my work as an educator back in the United States but also has given me a renewed sense of purpose and a home away from home. Shanti Bhavan truly is a haven of peace.”
“Shanti Bhavan has cultivated a truly unique community in which all members, from teachers and volunteers to staff members and administrators, have the best interests of the students at heart and work incredibly hard to that end. This spirit, as well as the beautiful SB children who embody it, has made my involvement with SB one of the most rewarding aspects of my life and a source of great friendship, pride, and joy.”