High School Service Trip – India
June 18 – July 1, 2026
$3,950 (*airfare included out of SFO)
Scholarships available to those who qualify.
Designed for high school students, our journey to India is immersive and impactful. Travel with us to the Northern State of Rajasthan, a region full of strong cultural traditions and warm, lively people. You will get to experience Jaipur, known as the pink city, and get to know fascinating cultural sites alongside local neighborhoods.
In Ambedkar Nagar, the community we work within, you’ll connect with families who face a lack of food, clean water, electricity, and basic healthcare. Your service will focus on education and community development, especially advocacy around education equality for women and girls.
Get ready to become immersed in the local culture – from Bollywood dance, to cooking classes, to a Sari workshop, you will have the experience of a lifetime in India!
The cost of the trip covers virtually all in-country experiences, including:
✓ Airfare
✓ Housing and meals
✓ Excursions and cultural activities
✓ Coordination
✓ Service project materials and coordination
✓ Daily transportation
✓ Airport pickup and drop-off
✓ Dedicated group leader and experienced local guides
✓ 24-hour emergency contact
✓ T-shirt
The fee does not cover visa expenses or immunizations (if necessary). With the exception of meals during your free time on the arrival and departure days and any shopping you do, all trip costs are covered from the minute you arrive until the minute you return.
Jaipur is a bustling medium-sized city in Northern India. It is developed, yet has maintained its historic landmarks and cultural traditions. Our housing facility in Jaipur is a large guest house with various bedrooms, each with private western bathrooms, a major common area with couches and meeting space, and a large dining hall and kitchen where our groups eat together. It is set in a part of the city outside of downtown, but only a $5 taxi ride to just about every popular part of the city.
Preparing to Travel to India
BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT
WEATHER
There is one rain season (called monsoon season): from June to September with frequent rainstorms throughout the season. Mosquitos are most active during this time.
VACCINATIONS
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following immunizations for travelers to India.
- Up-to-date boosters for routine vaccinations
(measles, mumps, chicken pox, COVID-19, etc.) - Hepatitis A & B
- Malaria (prescribed as a pill)
- Meningitis
- Typhoid
Malaria has been reported in India and the CDC recommends travelers to be rigorous about preventing mosquito bites.
Many of the vaccinations should be started four to eight weeks in advance so please check with your healthcare provider or Travel Medicine clinic. Please refer to the CDC website or your doctor for more information on necessary vaccinations and insect repellents.
WHAT TO BRING
Jaipur is hot. Your clothing needs will be fairly casual and you will want light layers. While we advise traveling light, you will have limited access to laundry so you should plan accordingly. In Jaipur, the locals dress conservatively, covering most parts of their body (avoid tank tops and short shorts). Also, you will be expected to remove your shoes when visiting at a home (many wear sandals or slides).
Some suggestions to pack:
ATTIRE
- Casual & Light (Layers)
- Short sleeve shirts, long shorts, or summer pants/skirts/dresses
- Old clothes for some project work that can get stained/ dirty
- Comfortable sneakers and/or sandals
- Extra socks (to avoid blisters)
- A light rain jacket or poncho
OTHER
- Bug repellent
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses, hat and sunscreen
- OTC Medicine
- Journal and pen
- Ear plugs if you are a light sleeper
- Spending Money (approx $200)
DONATIONS & GIFTS
- Most of our time in India will be spent working in schools with kids from impoverished homes. These kids/schools often lack sufficient clothing, toys, art supplies, and books. If you have the capacity to collect bring such items with you, it would be greatly appreciated, though is not at all expected. You may also wish to consider small gifts for the directors and caregivers at these facilities, including such things as t-shirts, hats, sweets and other speciality items representing where you live.
- Monetary donations are most helpful. If each of us could raise at least $100, we would be able to send 1-2 teens to school for an entire year, as well as improve the physical structure of the local elementary school.
Due to the humanitarian nature of this trip, you may find creative ways to ask friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbors, business owners, etc. for monetary and in–kind donations. We can provide you with two documents, which may aid you in your efforts. These Google Docs are read-only. To be able to edit them into your own version, you will first need to make a copy
1. In-Kind & Monetary Donations Letter for Store Managers/Business Owners
2. In-Kind & Monetary Donations Letter for Friends, Relatives, Neighbors
All tax-deductible checks can be made payable to our 501(c)(3) non-profit, Dream Volunteers, and mailed to our headquarters: Dream Volunteers, PO Box 390726, Mountain View, CA 94039.
FUNDRAISING
View Funding Your Trip for more ideas about financing your trip or Fundraise for how to involve others in the cause.
To learn more, please submit your name and email address
