Volunteer at Shanti Bhavan

Be a Part of Our Story

Shanti Bhavan’s volunteers help break the cycle of poverty by contributing to our children’s world-class education. Volunteering at Shanti Bhavan is an experience unlike any other. Your work as a volunteer at our school will be challenging, culturally enriching, and life-changing.

Shanti Bhavan is a boarding school with a tight schedule from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm. A volunteer can expect to support our teachers and provide supplemental instruction with various academic and co-curricular programs that will vary during the academic year. The school is accredited by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) in New Delhi. The grade levels and classes available for volunteers to teach are subject to change, as they can vary depending on the active roster of full-time teachers.

Shanti Bhavan provides all volunteers with free on-campus accommodations and meals. Read our volunteer FAQ for more information on the volunteer experience.

We accept volunteers based on the application cycle below. Your application may list prospective dates, and we can discuss specifics throughout the interview process. Volunteer placements will be determined by program needs and space availability at our two campuses.

Volunteer Application Timeline 

We offer three volunteer terms throughout the year — Fall, Spring, and Summer. Applications received after a deadline may be considered on a space-available basis.

FALL

Accepting apps: March – June

Deadline: June 23

First-round decisions: May 23

Final decisions: July 23 

SPRING 

Note: Shortened application period due to December holidays and office closures

Accepting apps: July – September

Deadline: September 23

First-round decisions: August 15

Final decisions: October 24

SUMMER

Accepting apps: October – January

Deadline: January 24 

First-round decisions: January 16 

Final decisions: March 24 

Application Requirements

  • Volunteer applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
  • There is a six-week minimum commitment for all applicants, waived only under special circumstances.
  • One letter of recommendation is required, submitted with your application.
  • All applications must be submitted in English. Shanti Bhavan is an English medium school, and volunteers are required to be fluent in the English language.

 

Application Process

  • Submit the online application form below.
  • Submit your recommendation letter within the online application form, or have your recommender email their letter to [email protected] within one week of submitting your application.
  • Fulfill up to two rounds of video interviews.
  • Complete online training modules (post-acceptance).
  • Participate in two online, pre-departure training sessions (post-acceptance).

Before you apply, here are some things that are important to think about:

  • All accepted volunteers are required to complete a federal background check as part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.
  • COVID-19 Update: Each volunteer must present proof of vaccination. Please keep in mind that campus procedures may change from month to month, depending on international and national COVID-19 policies.
  • Flexibility is essential when volunteering at Shanti Bhavan. Consider how you handle yourself in new, different, or stressful situations and if this could impact how you work with children.
  • The children of Shanti Bhavan have experienced extreme trauma and difficulties. Whether it is a lack of access to nutritious food, loss of immediate family or friends, or being a victim of racism and discrimination, the children have all survived some form of crisis. Please consider how the reality of these traumas may affect you, and impact the way you interact with the children. We encourage our volunteers to practice self-care throughout their time on campus.
  • Due to a variety of unpredictable factors, you will likely need to step out of your comfort zone at some point during your time on campus – whether it’s due to food, living conditions, time constraints, or cultural differences.
  • The volunteer’s workload is demanding and requires very long hours. Prospective volunteers should expect a full-time workload with little opportunity to engage in side projects.
  • Volunteers are role models for our children. No smoking, alcoholic beverages, or illegal substances are permitted on Shanti Bhavan property ever, without exception.

Ready to Join the Shanti Bhavan Family?

The Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, status as an individual with a disability, gender, or sexual orientation. All information will be held confidential unless specified otherwise.

Start Your Application

Media Volunteer

Do you have a background in videography or photography and an interest in coming to campus? Shanti Bhavan is looking for an experienced individual to serve as a media volunteer, helping to gather content for our website and social media platforms. Click below to find out more about the Media Volunteer position.

Media Volunteer

Still Have Questions?

Check out our Volunteer FAQ below!

Volunteer FAQ

What Shanti Bhavan Means to Me

Volunteer Chinmay

Chinmay

“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.”

Volunteer Eduard

Eduard

“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.”

Volunteer Abby

Abby

“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.”

Volunteer Diego

Diego

“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.”

Volunteer Emily

Emily

“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.”

Boys racing at Shanti Bhavan

Karan

“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.”

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