Volunteers

Volunteers across the globe give their time, talent and support to teach a skill, participate in various activities, or share the work load of our staff. Over the years, volunteering and internship have evolved into a structured programme at Salaam Baalak Trust. Volunteers need to commit to a minimum of four weeks, so as to achieve continuity and tangible outcomes. The programme begins with an induction of the volunteers to Salaam Baalak Trust programmes and services, followed by matching a volunteer's skills and profile with the present needs of the organisation, and the actual commencement of volunteering activity. Volunteer activities are concurrently assessed, and a final evaluation marks the closure of a volunteer's work. This well-planned strategy makes volunteering a productive exercise for the volunteers and organisation rather than a mere series of sporadic efforts. Salaam Baalak Trust attaches value and significance to a volunteer's engagement with various facets of the organisation, such as teaching English, training tour guides with communicative skills, marketing the City Walk, documentation, teaching school subjects, non-formal education, computers, theatre activities and counselling, among others. The only requisites from the volunteer are dedication and a commitment to work for the cause of street children. Salaam Baalak Trust's volunteer and internship programme has had positive results, wherein many volunteers and interns invariably extend their association with Salaam Baalak Trust or become Salaam Baalak Trust ambassadors and raise funds after returning to their home countries.

• Why Volunteer?

  Volunteering at Salaam Baalak Trust can be a life-changing experience. Our volunteers come from all over the world and have contributed in creative ways to impacting the lives of the children we work with, from teaching English in NFE schools to starting Hip-Hop classes. Learn more

• Volunteering Opportunities

  SBT also appreciates help in marketing its various programmes. We are always looking for creative ways to raise awareness of our activities, particularly with things like City Walk and with the volunteer programme itself. Learn more

• Volunteer Application

  Our mission at the Trust is to provide a sensitive and caring environment for the children living and working on the streets, who have been forced to dwell on the margins of society. Our vision is a world free from all the barriers which rob these children of the opportunity to realize their dreams. Learn more

• Accommodation

  In 2010 the Volunteer Flat was started by Nick, a Trustee of Friends of Salaam Baalak Trust, and Danish, an SBT beneficiary whose story current Lonely Planet. We have set up the flat with volunteer' needs in mind. These are quite different accommodation options in Delhi, Learn more

• "These 3 months of volunteering with Salaam Baalak Trust were a wonderful experience. I realized that working with street children is a real challenge and a big social problem in India. Thanks to the children and the staff, this experience allowed me to understand and adapt myself to a new way of work organization and to a new culture, even if, sometimes, communication can be difficult because of the language barrier. After this experience at Salaam Baalak Trust, I am more than sure that I want to continue my studies to be able to work for this cause all around the world."

  Laura, France

• "I liked this programme a lot. I loved connecting with the children of SBT. I liked that we had the freedom to create our own lesson plans. I will never forget the kids and will miss them very much."

  Ginny, USA

• "I loved this programme - I loved playing and dancing with the kids and really getting to know them, despite the language barrier. It was also cool to see them learn and remember everything we taught them. I am very sad to leave and will miss everyone I met very much."

  Emma, USA

• "I loved how well the boys responded to our lessons. I also loved how eager they were to learn. They also taught us. I liked that we were allowed to decide what we teach the boys. I will never forget this experience and the people I met. Thank you for this opportunity."

  Tess, USA

• "This programme gave me the best experience of my life. Working with the boys and teaching them new things was so rewarding. Their stories and personalities are amazing and I hope they go far in life. Salaam Balaak is so wonderful for giving these boys a great life. I love them and will miss them very much. hope I can see them again"

  Maddie, USA

• "I feel very privileged to have been a volunteer with Salaam Baalak Trust. There are few experiences in life that are so profound, with a lasting impact. I had the immense pleasure of teaching children at Contact Points on a daily basis for nearly a year. What took me by surprise was that many of these children actually loved learning! The first week I set up the classes was a bit of a struggle and consisted of me going to the railway station to ask/beg these children to come and learn with me. It therefore astounded me when a week later, my students were there before me, ready to learn with pencils and books in hand. Their generosity and unconditional love are unparalleled and humbling."

  Ronita Nath, Former volunteer from Canada

• "I joined Salaam Baalak Trust as a volunteer very recently and had initially planned to stay for six weeks. I am helping older boys to fine tune their English and also drawing up a plan to improve the City Walk programme. The eagerness and seriousness of boys to learn English really inspired me. Thus, I felt able to do something substantive at Salaam Baalak Trust. I need to extend the duration of my stay and I am inspired to come again next year for a longer duration of perhaps six months."

  Timothy James Rossiter, Volunteer from New Zealand

For more details about Volunteering and internship activities, please contact us at volunteer@salaambaalaktrust.org