High school students who probably have nothing to do during their holidays or/and are looking for a huge life changing overseas experience before the next chapter of their lives may choose to volunteer in India for the fantastic opportunity which it provides, plus it looks really good on your CV!



In terms of population, India is the second largest country in the world, thriving with vibrantly fascinating history, culture and religion, specifically the world's four major ones - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Festivals are also a central part of India's culture and people, some of these include: Chhath, Durga Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan,Navratri, Thai Pongal, Vaisakhi, Holi (the ‘festival of color' – an enchanting array sure to bring thrill and excitement) and the well known Diwali, the magical display that is known as the ‘festival of lights'.



India is also known for its unmatched hospitality. The Indian saying "Athiti Devo Bhava" is roughly translated as meaning "the guest is God". Indian people are the first to honour their guests and treat them respectively, carefully ensuring that they abide with all their guests' requests. This is a very important aspect for high school students as they would be the most likely to be homesick considering their age and be the most glad of having a kind host.

In India there is a great difference between the rich and poor, meaning that although some people are very lucky, many, an in greater numbers, are underprivileged. Although these people try to move to the cities in search of a better life, other issues may come in their way so that many people find themselves homeless on one of India's many polluted and bustling streets. Countless individuals fall into deprivation, with many of their children ending up in orphanages. Other problems that affect the Indian population are education, health, and social welfare. This is why volunteering in a country like India is so important, solving these issues is essential to helping to eradicate injustice and poverty in the world and to help those in need, even if you only play a very small part in it all.



Whilst volunteering, students of high school age will also gain a sense of gratefulness that is difficult to appreciate in normal situations in your everyday life. High school students will surely become thankful for everything they have back home, especially as they tend to be the most unappreciative and moody at when they are at home!

Many high school students will find this a life changing experience, an opportunity to explore a completely new country with completely different cultural aspects to learn from, and to find people that they would not normally meet at home whilst also having plenty to do that will enable them to make their positive mark on the world, an especially fulfilling achievement for teenagers in high school who would not normally have this opportunity otherwise.