Since 1959 when the Dalai Lama fled Tibet, North western India has become home to a refugee population that now numbers around 120,000 located in the state of Himachal Pradesh at the foot of the Himalayas. All of our placements are within Tibetan monasteries or nunneries where volunteers are immersed in traditional Buddhist culture and exposed to the realities of the Tibetan refugee population.
Placement Locations
Placements are located in the hill stations within Tibetan communities around Dehra Dun, Shimla and Manali.
Is it for me?
For anyone with an interest in Buddhism the chance to live and work in a monastery should not be missed. You will be welcomed by the monks or nuns and alongside your teaching duties you will also be able to take part in the daily life of the monastery and witness Tibetan Buddhism first hand.
You must not forget that the Tibetan population are refugees and that India is not for the faint hearted. You must also be mature, self-sufficient, open-minded and willing to forgo some of your usual creature comforts.
Roles Explained
Teaching monks and nuns of all ages, you will help them to practice conversational English as well as help out with a range of other subjects. Volunteers will need to be motivated self-starters as English classes often take second place to prayer and ritual. Kindness is the most important quality in Tibetan Buddhism and both adults and children are delightful to work with and teach.
Accommodation and Food
Accommodation and food is provided on site and you will live in the monastery.
What’s Included?
Pre-departure briefing
Teaching skills course if required
Airport pickup
Accommodation & food
In-country orientation
In-country support
24/7 support
Need to know
Pre departure briefing – all volunteers are invited to a group briefing prior to departure
Teaching skills course in London following the pre-departure briefing.
On arrival – volunteers attend a three-day orientation organised by Lattitude before commencing their placement
Costs
| Interview fee | $100 |
| Contribution fee | $3100 |
| Tax | $36 |
You will also need to budget for:
Travel insurance
Airfares
Visa
Teaching skills course
Police check
Travel
Volunteers have the opportunity to travel at the end of their placement. Why not continue with your Tibetan experience and spend time in Ladakh, barren, beautiful and remote, or move west into picturesque Kashmir? The hill stations in the Himalayan foothills provide a respite from the Indian summer or, for a complete change of scenery, you could explore monumental Rajasthan and its timeless cities and stunning wildernesses.