Volunteers

Volunteers at Deepam

Volunteers are highly valued at Deepam.

Volunteers engage in all aspects of life at Deepam and have the freedom to focus their energies where their skills and interests lie. We often welcome volunteers who have experience in our field, such as prior therapeutic or special-needs training, and who are able to share their valuable expertise with us. Some volunteers have practical skills that they can share with our students in our handicrafts room. Others bring energy and creative ideas and assist with group activities. Each volunteer is welcomed into Deepam with open arms.

As most of our children speak only Tamil, and Tamil culture is unfamiliar to many people from other countries and even to those from other states within India, it can take some time for new volunteers to settle into life here before they can really begin contributing. Therefore, we ask for a minimum commitment of six months, and ideally a year, so that everyone, including the volunteer, can get the most out of their time here.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact us at deepam@auroville.org.in. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with the necessary information about regulations in Auroville and visa requirements for foreign volunteers.

Our volunteers become part of the Deepam family, and most of them continue to keep in touch with us long after their time here.

Voices from our previous volunteers:

“It is an incredible feeling to see those improvements in the kids I worked with and I have decided to do the training to become an occupational therapist myself. My time here went by too fast and was full of exciting experiences. I could not imagine that staying here would influence me in such a way. Thank you Deepam!” – Clara

“Rarely has a day gone by that I have not thought about all of you and my experience there. I have pictures of the kids hanging in my home. They all have a very special place in my heart as do all of you.” – Julia

“Dear Deepam folk, each of you is so beautiful and special in her/his own wonderful way!
I love you a lot and you became very precious to me. I am deeply touched and feel very thankful for meeting you. I will take the love and everything I have experienced here with me on my way. Thank you so much for showing me who you are and thank you for letting me be who I am!” – Stephanie

“Deepam feels like a warm and lively cocoon, where fundamental values such as listening, respect and the spirit of mutual help and sharing is practiced. Most touching for me is the depth of the eyes of these children, their sincerity and their constant wonder. Their influence keeps enlightening me on my path into Auroville. Deepam means light and I am glad that my journey into living here started under this light.” – Patricia