# Connect (Community): Community days in Bengaluru. > Volunteer with children in Bangalore on one-off days: Gift a Smile, kit drives, outings to IISc and the zoo, and company volunteering days. 18+, free, come when you can. Bringing the children and the city together: Gift a Smile, kit drives, trips to IISc and the zoo, and volunteering days with companies. These are one-off days, so come when you can. 18 and over · No experience needed · Free to join · One-off days [Volunteer for this](https://dash.proudindian.ngo/register) · [Donate](https://proudindian.ngo/#donate) ## Days out and days in. Gift a Smile, drives, outings and volunteering days are one-off days, so come when you can. - **Gift a Smile.** It begins with a question: volunteers sit down with the children and ask what they’d like. In December and January we hand the gifts over. In 2026 that was badminton sets, cricket bats, school kits and lunch boxes. - **Kit drives.** School kits of bags, books and stationery before the school year, and ration kits for families any time. - **Outings.** Trips with the children, to IISc and the zoo, playground outings and a visit to Prani. - **Volunteering days.** Company teams spend a day with us: a session with the children, kit-building at their office, painting a classroom or crewing one of our big days. ## Upcoming sessions New sessions go up on the [dashboard](https://dash.proudindian.ngo/events) first, usually for the coming weekends. How to join: 1. Register on the dashboard 2. Tap “Show interest” 3. Get approved, show up ## The days counted. From our annual reports. Each year runs from April to March. ### [From the annual report 2025–26](https://proudindian.ngo/reports/annual-report-2025-26.pdf) - 851 children at Gift a Smile 2026 - 6 places where we handed out the gifts - 53 volunteering days with 11 companies Most of the company volunteering days were in Mumbai, run by our chapter there. ### [From the annual report 2024–25](https://proudindian.ngo/reports/annual-report-2024-25.pdf) - 556 beneficiaries of Gift a Smile - 250 volunteer field hours at Gift a Smile ### [From the annual report 2023–24](https://proudindian.ngo/reports/annual-report-2023-24.pdf) - 42 children on the field trip to IISc - 296 volunteer field hours on the trip ## Questions, answered. ### Who can volunteer on community days? Anyone aged 18 or over. You don’t need any experience; patience and turning up matter most. ### How much time do I need to give? Gift a Smile, drives, outings and volunteering days are one-off days, so come when you can. ### When is Gift a Smile? In December and January. Children tell us what they wish for, and volunteers help plan the gifts and hand them over. ### When and where are the sessions? Each one’s date, time and area is listed [above](https://proudindian.ngo/community/#volunteer) and on the [dashboard](https://dash.proudindian.ngo/events). Most of our Bengaluru sessions are in south-east Bengaluru, around Bellandur and Iblur, and you get the exact meeting point once you’re approved. ### How do I sign up? [Register on the dashboard](https://dash.proudindian.ngo/register), tap “Show interest” on a session, and come along once you’re approved. ### Can I bring a gift for a child? Gifts and money go through us, never to one child, so every child gets the same. Gift a Smile is how children get their wishes. ### What are the rules with the children? Every session with children starts with a short briefing, nobody is ever alone with a child, and please don’t photograph the children yourself. [Read all the safeguarding rules](https://proudindian.ngo/volunteer/#safeguarding). ### Can my company volunteer together? Yes. We run volunteering days with companies and groups: sessions with the children, kit-building at your office, painting days and crewing our big days. [See the formats and how to plan one](https://proudindian.ngo/csr/#days). ### Can I help without volunteering? You can [donate](https://proudindian.ngo/#donate) towards Gift a Smile gifts and outings. Every gift gets an 80G tax receipt by email. ## More - [Volunteer guide](https://proudindian.ngo/volunteer/): every programme, where we meet, the safeguarding rules, internships and the FAQ. - [Proud Indian](https://proudindian.ngo/): the programmes, Kalakriti, donations and reports. - Questions: hr@proudindian.ngo, or call or WhatsApp +91 99864 31321.