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. 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 volunteers on a rolling basis. On your application, you may list prospective dates, and we can discuss specifics throughout the interview process. Please keep in mind that accepted volunteers may be assigned to either campus based on need.

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:

COVID Update: Shanti Bhavan has several new volunteer policies in place related to COVID-19. These include proof of vaccination, restricted travel off-campus, and required testing. It is important for volunteers to know that COVID policies may change from month to month depending on the state of the pandemic.
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.

Early Childhood Development Volunteer

Join our passionate team as a volunteer for the landmark opening of Shanti Bhavan 2! Engage hands-on in our pre-primary classrooms, where you’ll support the language, social, and academic growth of our preschool and kindergarten students alongside our skilled educators. Click below to find out more about the Early Childhood Development Volunteer position.

Early Childhood Development Volunteer

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

What Shanti Bhavan Means to Me

Antonio

“I loved my experience at Shanti Bhavan in June 2017. I had the opportunity to see with my eyes what I’ve always dreamed of: love generates other love and education is a powerful tool to improve the future of children all over the world. The beautiful smiles of the children and the kindness of their souls reminded me that we can hope for a better future. Shanti Bhavan is truly a piece of heaven where dreams come true.”

Learn more about Antonio’s experience at Shanti Bhavan and his initiative ‘Coriandoli per Shanti Bhavan‘

Sophy

“As an educator, being a volunteer teacher at Shanti Bhavan has been a truly transformative experience both professionally and personally. Shanti Bhavan allows for anyone who becomes actively involved with the school to witness first hand the profound power of a high caliber education.”

Jason

“Shanti Bhavan represents the junction in which a relentless dedication to educating children meets the embodiment of hope, love, and compassion. My time at SB not only shaped me as an educator, but also built life-long friendships with the students, on-site staff, and the rest of the volunteer team. The children of Shanti Bhavan will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

Danielle

“Shanti Bhavan means everything to me. My year at SB taught me what it meant to be human, to be vulnerable, to be strong. SB taught me to cherish small moments of happiness, to dance, to step outside myself and my comfort zone and become a part of something greater.”

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