Celebrating Volunteering and Community in India

India has embraced Good Deeds Day, the global day of volunteering, since the country began participating 10 years ago. Every year, volunteer projects have been growing in popularity, and more people, NGOs, schools, and corporations have been helping local communities across the country. 

There are several organizations that work with Good Deeds Day (GDD) in India including Humans of Volunteering, ivolunteer,  Captains Social Foundation, and Bhumi which works in Mumbai and other regions, according to a statement from Good Deeds Day.

Good Deeds Day (GDD) was founded in 2017, in Israel as a day of kindness and volunteering by philanthropist and business woman Shari Arison. It went global in 2011 and today, GDD has united millions of volunteers from 115 countries. In 2026, the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of GDD with many special events and India was no exception.

In 2026, there were 90 Good Deeds Day events held in 20 states with over 60,000 people participating in causes that ran the gamut from educating youth, community building, health, and the environment, according to a statement from GDD India. Besides smaller events, there were large volunteering events that included a Good Deeds Day Fest in Bangalore, VolFest in Delhi and a beach cleanup drive at Fort Kochi Beach.

All About VolFest
Volfest is an annual event that celebrates unity and the power of volunteering. Organized by Humans of Volunteering, the festival is a chance for people to experience  doing good by volunteering, and taking action to do good for the community.

According to the organization, more than eight thousand people, 51 non-profits and 35 performers showed that doing good takes many different forms, including immersive workshops, music, and storytellers.

This two-day event in late March, held in Delhi, saw the space transformed into a “celebration of people, purpose, and possibility,” according to HOV’s Facebook page.

All of this was created and brought to life by volunteers from all walks of life to create a meaningful experience that will hopefully be the start of a journey of doing good for the community.

Cleanup Drive at Fort Kochi Beach
Every year, a major coastal clean drive at Fort Kochi Beach is conducted by the Captains Social Foundation youth organization in collaboration with Good Deeds Day India, according to a Facebook post from the foundation.

More than 50 engaged volunteers  came to help restore and clean the shoreline. They collected and properly disposed of approximately 350 kg of non-biodegradable waste that included plastic.

Besides beach cleaning and collecting waste, the youth learned about marine pollution and protecting the environment. Taking care of the planet is an important lesson to learn and share.

Good Deeds Day, an annual global day of doing good, is the pinnacle of doing good year-round. Initiated in 2007 by businesswoman, philanthropist, and founder of Goodnet, Shari Arison, Good Deeds Day has grown to 115 countries with millions of participants. Good Deeds Day 2027 will be on April 11.