Shanti Bhavan’s volunteers help break the cycle of poverty by contributing to our children’s world-class education. When you volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, you have an experience unlike any other. Your work as a volunteer at our school will be a challenging, culturally enriching, and life-changing experience.
Our volunteers teach classes, tutor students, and lead extra-curricular activities such as art, dance, sports, spelling bee and public speaking. They help plan events, assist with projects relevant to their skills, and introduce our children to new ideas and cultures.
Shanti Bhavan is a boarding school with a tight schedule that runs from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm. Volunteers are expected to teach four to six classes a day, supplementing the full-time teaching staff for pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. 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 volunteer applications in three cycles each year. Depending on when you want to volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, you should complete an application in the following windows of time:
Before you apply, here are some things that are important to think about:
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.
“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.”