Experimental Living with India Family
Code: 6a18c90ed1d944c6b489e2e2bf0e38b5 Copied
About the project
Experimental Living with India Family
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
💼 What the programme involves
Project Background: SMILE always believes in family type of environment ! Organisation always trying bring all international Volunteers to live together with local volunteers as a big family . It is an experimental living initiative where volunteers living as an Indian family and follow Indian culture while helping poor children in needs. Such shelter would be our base point to bring smile around through volunteering. Presently shelter is going on under the observation and guidance of local family of volunteers. We welcome young energetic hard working international volunteers to participate in our mission ! We also welcome groups to come and help us in construction and painting while experiencing living as a family !!
Work details:
* Helping local host family in their daily lives.
* Practice local language (as per available)
* Practice Yoga and Meditation ( as per available)
* Helping in painting / farming / dog shelter ( as per available)
Tentative Daily Schedule:
Wake up early morning: 9 am
Breakfast: 9:30 am ( required to prepared by own)
Lunch at 12:30-1 p.m
late afternoon: 2 pm - 5:30 pm
Dinner : 7-7:30 pm ( volunteers required help themselves in serving ,washing )
After 8 pm exit door would be closed. No one allowed to go out or come in the accommodation after 8 pm everyday including weekends.
9:30 bed time
** Please remember that programme schedule or project site can be changed or altered by the Project In-charge if required and all volunteers are requested to cooperate with our local members and partners. All schedule should be followed and mandatory for everyone to participate and contribute **
🏠 Accommodation on site
Dormitory basis in host family as per available on arrival (on cot with mattress/on floor with mattress, 2-4 volunteers in one room) shared accommodation (normally male & female separate room). You will get accommodation till 6 pm on the last day of your camp. We are unable to provide you any accommodation before or after these dates. Please arrange your own accommodation in case of early arrival or late departure. You are requested to meet our representative at the meeting place on exact time given above. If you arrive early then you can have your stay in any of the different hotels available nearby Airport, within 2 -3 km .on the road popularly called as V.I.P road. You are requested to take any cab to check in any of these hotels. If you arrive at earlier night then you are requested to stay inside the airport terminal and meet at the next morning with our representative at 12 noon.
🍲 Food
You will get 3 times local homemade food from host family as per available on arrival. Please do not expect any kind of special dishes (veg/nonveg) or cold drinks or special living room or air-conditioned room during your term. You are requested to get ready for a simple and challenging life.
📍 About the location
INDIA is an amazing country with diverse culture and tradition .Interesting people ! Explore the country with exciting diversity. Kolkata, the city of joy was known before as Calcutta since the colonial time. This ancient city was used to be the capital of British colonial period. Madhyamgram is a suburb with full of heart. All modern amenities are available in the suburb. Local people are basically belongs to the middle, lower middle and poor class. City Kolkata is known for its busy traffic, huge population, warm weather and poverty around the street corners! It is a great place to visit for every tourist coming to India. Kolkata (itself is a great tourist place with its historical value) is well connected with many famous and attractive tourist places.
🎒 Leisure activities
Free, you are welcome to travel nearby places, but you are requested to return home before getting dark (5 pm in winter/ 6 pm in summer). Night stays outside during project duration is not permitted due to the safety and security reason. Please cooperate.
⚠️ Requirements
• Volunteers are requested to pay their living cost soon after they arrive our place.
What to bring: A bed sheet, malaria medication
Flashlight, umbrella, mosquito repellent with DEET, sunscreen, alarm clock OR watch with alarm clock, journal, sleeping bag, any games or craft items like Origami would be great for the kids, raincoat, snacks from your country, music/ dress / special souvenir from your country, medicine and first aid supplies for emergency personal use, any special games or study material for kindergarten standard kids.
🤝 Meeting point
Netaji Suvash Chandra International Airport, Kolkata[ 8 km away from SMILE office and your accommodation].
Airport pickup (volunteers are requested to meet our rep at the meeting point on time. Train station pickup or hotel pickup are not available. Pickup service and accommodation may not available in case of early arrival. If any volunteer comes late then he/she should contact our office (email preferred) in advance and wait for our next available pickup service.
ℹ️ Additional information
(It is a non-refundable and non-transferable free that REQUIRED to pay by cash on arrival for the full term applied to local host representative).
Fees includes: 3 times tasty home made local food, shared dorm room at local host family,public transportation (train/bus ) to and fro Project if required ,Airport transfer on arrival and departure between 8 am- 6 pm, drinking mineral water , orientation, Limited 24/7 wifi connectivity , training if required (Mon-Fri) , Pre departure orientation , emergency support ,local language training, Project Supervisor support.
Fees excluded : Flight ticket, visa, medical cost, if any personal cost ,weekends trip, special trip at the end of the camp ,gift, any special food / drinks, insurances, vaccination.
Date of Joining : Anytime of the year.
Age: 16-65 years
Duration : 1-12 months
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
SMILE MLTV14
01/11/2019 → 31/12/2022
SMILE MLTV14AUTO-EXTAUTO-EXT
03/03/2026 at 00:00 → 02/05/2029 at 00:00
SMILE MLTV14AUTO-EXT
01/01/2023 at 00:00 → 02/03/2026 at 00:00
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
16–65 years old
Solidarity donation
450.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Madhyamgram, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
India
🌍 Location info
Local currency
India Rupee (INR / ₹)
Exchange rate
1 INR = 0.009550 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
India Standard Time
Local time: 21:29 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken