Ayush

Volunteering abroad isn’t just limited to gap year students and career breakers. This life-changing experience is something that we encourage in everyone, no matter what walk of life. That’s why family volunteering is so important to us here at Volunteering Journeys. Because no matter what age, what background, what job, or what personal interests you have, there’s nothing more rewarding than travelling the world and helping others at the same time. And now you can do meaningful, responsible travel with the whole family. A step beyond the standard holiday, our family volunteering projects allow you to inspire adventure, exploration, compassion, generosity and the willingness to learn from a very young age. We find that our volunteering experiences are a great way of introducing young children and teens to different cultures and helping them form deeper connections with people from the other side of the globe. 

This is a major step in helping them become true citizens of the world and nurturing their want and desire to understand other people.

Tailor made to fit into your family holiday or travel plans, our volunteering programs will give you the freedom to explore philanthropy and a chance to embark on family bonding and teamwork, without tying you down or interfering with your summer plans. No matter what age groups or what group size, we can help you build the perfect family volunteering holiday so you can travel, sightsee and give back to others along the way.

Our family volunteering program in Kerala is suitable for families with children from as little as age five and upwards.

Family Volunteer Gallery


What is involved


When you join our family volunteering holidays you will be living in the laid back and tropical vibe of Fort Kochi in Kerala, Southern India. Voted in the top 10 cities to visit in 2020 by the Lonely Planet, we can assure you that you will simply fall in love with the location as well the projects. We allocate our family volunteers to our teaching programs helping from Kindergarten to general teaching (6-12 year olds) or school renovations where you would be painting or fixing classrooms. Fort Kochi is an absolute gem of a destination in South India, popularly referred to as “God’s Own Country” due to its rustic colonial era charm, lush backwaters, gorgeous beaches, serene tea plantations, rich culture, and delightfully sumptuous cuisine. While other parts of India can be too large and overwhelming for some families, Kerala is an amazing sanctuary for those looking for a family friendly, scenic and safe environment.

Our teaching projects in Kerala are created in a way that allow families to interact with local children and teachers at an intimate level. We have a team of experienced bilingual staff members that help facilitate these interactions and provide local guidance throughout your time with us. No prior teaching experience is necessary as we provide families with resources and support that can help you to volunteer. In short, we work hard to ensure all our families get the most of their experience and are able to contribute to the betterment of the children in a meaningful way.

Some details


Start Dates are suggested below. We advise you to check with us about public holidays and festivals during which projects will run with limited capacity and at times closed.

2024 2025
Jan 20,27 Jan 4,11, 18, 25
Feb 3,10,17,24 Feb 1, 8, 15, 22
Mar 2,9, 16, 23, 30 Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Apr 6,13, 20, 27 Apr 5, 12, 19, 26
May 4,11,18, 25 May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Jun 7, 14, 21, 28
Jul 6,13, 20, 27 Jul 5, 12, 19, 26
Aug 3,10, 17, 24 Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Sep 21, 28 Sep 6, 13, 20, 27
Oct 5,12,19,26 Oct 4, 11, 18, 25
Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Dec 7, 14 Dec 6, 13, 20

What your first week looks like


Arrival day

Image
Your arrival weekend will be relaxed. We will pick you up from the airport and bring you to your accommodation. Depending on your time of arrival, our team will meet you and give you a local orientation so you can get to know the area you are living in. The next day you will be given health and safety briefing, culture orientation and project training before we take you in for your program.

Weekdays

Image
Your project coordinator or a member of the team will be taking you to the project and after introductions you can get started. All your meals breakfast, lunch and dinner will be the accommodation unless you are at the project site or outside. In the evenings most volunteers spend it either exploring local sights, relaxing at the accommodation or preparing for projects.

Weekend

Image
Our local team will suggest many activities for you to do! Your weekends will be free for you to explore Kerala or India. We highly recommend you to utilise your time so you can get to see more of the country that you are visiting. We usually make recommendations based on past volunteer experiences. Its always better to book excursions in country with other volunteers.

Weekend activities


Backwaters of Kerala

Backwaters of Kerala
Be sure to visit the famous backwaters of Allepey and stay overnight on a traditional houseboat

Munnar Tea Plantations

Green tea plantations. Munnar, Kerala, India
For a adventure hike with incredible panoramic views, the Munnar Tea Plantations are not to be missed.

Varkala Beach

Varkala beach
We also recommend taking a trip to Varkala Beach, which is a couple of hours from Kochi but absolutely stunning.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal
Visit the Taj Mahal with our 3 day Delhi and Taj Mahal Weekend Experience. Email us for details.

Testimonial Videos


Choose an Inspiring Volunteering Destination


Cambodia will allow you to explore the heart of Southeast Asia, a nation replete with lush natural landscapes from dense forests to rice paddy fields, bustling cities, and the majestic architectural remnants of the great Khmer empire dotting every bit of the country.

The charming city of Phnom Penh is the capital and also serves as our base of volunteer operations. Volunteering Journeys Cambodia volunteer abroad projects include Teaching English, Working with NGO’s, helping Special Needs individuals, and Medical & Nursing Internships. Whether you are a gap year student, career breaker or a family or a mature volunteer, you can apply to any of our volunteer in Cambodia projects.


Learn More!
Cambodia

Connect!




    Our newsletter

    Stay updated with the latest news on what we are upto. Promise we won’t spam your inbox!


      Our brochure

      To get an overview of all our destinations and programs you can download our latest brochure


        Ayush Teaching

        November 21, 2021 |

        Volunteering with your family allows you to change lives whilst enhancing your own. Expand the mind and open the hearts of each family member with our unique volunteering opportunities abroad and instil the importance of responsible travel and philanthropy, whilst also building deeper bonds through important family teamwork. Plan a holiday with a difference and make travel exciting and rewarding for the whole family, no matter what age you are; our volunteering experiences can bridge the gap between generations and bring you all closer together and giving memories of a lifetime.

        Connecting and living amongst local communities and helping them in any way is one of our main goals. Through volunteering we hope to add purpose to your travel whilst adding value and meaning to your life. And with some of the most beautifully located volunteer bases, you can still embark on the most exciting, exotic travel destinations for the perfect family experience.

        Our family volunteer programs take place in child friendly locations in India, Nepal , Sri Lanka and Peru, and are short term programs that are designed to fit in with your children’s school semesters and holidays. Our family volunteering programs start from 1 week to 3 weeks with flexible start dates, making them ideal for families travelling with children under the age of 18. We work closely with you to tailor the program to suit your interests, age groups and needs.

        Our family volunteers can choose programs helping children with English teaching in school and after school clubs, working with disabled children, animal care projects, and school renovation projects. And with everything from transfers and accommodation to daily meals and project travel included in the program, doing something meaningful as a family has never been so easy. Our local teams will guide you throughout your time and we can help you plan your excursions before or after your volunteer experience.

        Share this Post