Your regular Monday to Friday routine will involve an Australian breakfast at 8:00 am followed by a journey to the rescue centre at 9:30 am. Throughout each day you will assist with the following tasks:

• feeding the animals
• carrying out daily or hourly monitoring of the animals, assessing them and reporting on their condition
• observing and reporting any changes in behaviour
• changing dressings and bandages as required
• washing and cleansing animals as required
• administering medicine and ointments as necessary
• maintaining the cleanliness of enclosures and the overall environment
• Enriching the lives of the animals
• Visiting the beaches to feed the dogs

You’ll have a break to rest and have a light lunch at 12:00, and resume the daily tasks between 2:00pm and 4:30pm. Finishing your duties at 4:30 pm you will then have a 30 minute journey to the accommodation centre. After taking the chance to rest, you will enjoy a dinner consisting of local Indian Cuisine and vegetarian dishes. Each day will end with a light entertainment session, possibly a movie, and some free time.

Monday

• Breakfast
• Volunteer on the project  3-5 hours
• Lunch
• Volunteer on the project 2-3 hours
• Dinner
• Free Time

Tuesday

• Breakfast
• Volunteer on the project  2-3 hours
• Lunch
• Volunteer on the project 2-3 hours
• Dinner
• Free Time

Wednesday

• Breakfast
• Volunteer on the project  2-3 hours
• Lunch
• Volunteer on the project 2 -3 hours
• Dinner
• Free Time

Thursday

• Breakfast
• Volunteer on the project 2-3 hours
• Lunch
• Volunteer on the project 2-3 hours
• Dinner
• Free Time

Friday

• Breakfast
• Volunteer on the project  2-3 hours
• Lunch
• Volunteer on the project 2-3 hours
• Dinner
• Free Time

Evenings and Weekends

You are free to do as you wish at the weekends, kicking back at your accommodation, or travelling further afield with your new-found friends.

Places to Visit

Goa has a very long coastline with an almost unbroken sand cover. So, if you’ve come looking for sun, sand and sea without the crowds and the fuss you’ll be pleased to discover these beaches tucked away in quiet recesses where you can go to truly escape the world. Here is our list of secluded beaches to try during your Goa weekend getaways. You might have to take your own food and water as there are no eateries or accommodation near some of them. And though some of them may seem out of their way, you’ll be glad for the peace and quiet when you get there.

• Butterfly Beach
• Kakolem Beach
• Galjibag Beach
• Hollant Beach
• Betul Beach
• Arambol Beach
• Agonda Beach
• Cola Beach
• Velsao Beach
• Sinquerim Beach
• Siridao Beach

Goa has a pleasant climate all around the year. Monsoon season is from June to September which is the rainy season for Goa. Goa gets an average rainfall of 330 cm annually which is about 90% of its annual rainfall. This season also happens to be the favourite of the travellers coming to Goa with its various celebrations happening. And from October to March it gets a very pleasant climate with clear skies and nights being busy with the festivals and sky full of fireworks. Summer starts in April and the long sandy beaches and the sunshine are so welcoming.

Consistently ranked among India’s top tourist destinations, Goa is the ideal place for first time travellers and adventurers alike to acclimatise to a different culture. From caves behind waterfalls to villages hidden in sandy coconut forests, there is always something more waiting to be rediscovered. The mountain ranges and spice plantations enhance the beauty of this glorious state. Apart from its natural beauty, this former capital of Portuguese India and home to various UNESCO World Heritage sites has a lot to offer in terms of architecture with churches, cathedrals and forts abounding. Put together, it is all of these aspects and more that make Goa the ultimate travel destination.

About the Accommodation

You will be based at our volunteer house, The accommodation is standard with rooms being shared on a single gender basis, 4-6 people per room. You may also opt for a private room, this is subject to availability and at an additional cost. The house has a is a mini library, a dining room, a lounge area where you can hang out with fellow participants and a beautiful garden to relax.

Food Arrangements
The meals are a mix of Western and Indian food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice per week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants.There is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.

Facilities
ATMs: There are ATM’s around our centers. The closest one to our residence is about a 15 minute walk from the house.

Shop: The closest local supermarket is a 15 minute walk from the centre.

Transportation

Capital: New Delhi
Language: Hindi, English and 22 other officially recognized languages
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Time zone: UTC +5:30

India is known for its pyramid-like temples, its colorful streets and it’s crowded cities. This country represents one of the most vivid and the largest cultures in the world. From the golden triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra to the coast where Ayurveda medicine was born, India offers a 360 degree journey through the most magical of lands. Known for being the second most populated country in the world, India will show you the faces of thousands of Hindu gods in its very vast collection of temples all throughout the country. The land of colors and smiles is ready to take you on your next adventure whether road tripping or helping out in local communities, this sub-continent will amaze your senses. India will shift the way you see the world.

India’s literacy rate is around 60% for women and 80% for men. The principal language is Hindi and English is also commonly used in all major cities. New Delhi, the capital of India, is what many would call the real deal when travelling through the country. It is one of the biggest and most populated cities in the whole world with up to 25 million citizens. New Delhi is known for its amazing cuisine and its new modality of “street food”, which means restaurants with every specialty you can imagine are available to you all throughout the city! Chennai is another of the biggest cities in India, known as the “Detroit of India” for its automobile industry. If you are looking for a quieter spot Kerala is the centre of lifestyle, art, architecture, language and literature in all of the country!

Gap year programs to India are enjoyed in a country with wonderful history that dates back several thousand years. In particular, one of the most incredible historical points of India is how four separate world religions originated here – Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Beyond this, however, India has only truly been independent as a nation since 1947, just a couple years after World War 2 concluded.

In that time, India has grown to be the eleventh largest economy in the world as well as the second most populous nation, second only to China. This isn’t particularly surprising when you consider that India has been an economic powerhouse for trade routes in the past, but it is very impressive to consider that India has almost reached the status of superpower over the course of 66 years.

The geography of India has been a target for nature lovers for many years but is finally becoming an easy place to visit and explore for foreign tourists. With the Himalayas to the north, the desert in the centre and the luxurious beaches to the west, India has a type of climate that suits the desires of just about anyone. Even if you have a soft spot for snow, you can easily embrace that love by visiting some of the northern mountains which are nearly always capped in snow and ice!

With thousands of years of history and an incredibly diverse climate, India is not a place you can simply read about and understand. You have to visit and immerse yourself within the various Indian cultures before you get an idea of just how amazing India really is. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch now to find out more about our amazing gap year volunteer programs and holidays in India or browse the latest experiences below.

Please Note TRU are not currently able to accept any volunteers in India due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. We will be sure to update you when it is safe to travel and restrictions ease in India.