Volunteer in India

Learn about Tibetan culture, support a school and promote eco-friendly practices
Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh       2 projects of 2 wks in March

Volunteer project: Valleys of the Himalayas - This small paradise on earth is home to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and to a significant Tibetan settlement in India. Dharamshala is set in the backdrop of the snow-clad peaks of Dhaulathar Mountains. It is the capital of the Tibetan Government-in-exile and the residence of the Dalai Lama.

The project aims to provide sanitation facilities and a safety wall for a local school and a cleaner environment for the community which is being affected by tourist influx and lack of waste management and watershed management systems. The project also wants to create awareness on the Tibetan migrants and their culture.
We have been conducting international volunteer projects in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala for the last 11 years with the purpose of bringing a sustainable model for development of the region in partnership with school management committees, the Tibetan Welfare Office and the local municipality.

The volunteers will work on the renovation of school buildings and walls, wall painting, educational murals, teaching basic English to children. There will be also cleanup activities in the area of the waterfalls, creating awareness among the community and tourists to support responsible tourism, Health and Hygiene awareness and tree planting to avoid landslides. Through their work in the community, the volunteers will promote eco-friendly practices.

Leisure activities: During the project, the volunteers will get the opportunity to learn about the Tibetan culture and the different issues related to the exile of its people and their re-settlement in India. There will be cultural activities, visits to important cultural sites and various Tibetan institutes, meetings with Tibetan monks and the local community.

During the first week of the project, the volunteers will participate in Yoga classes with a professional instructor.

After the end of the second week, the volunteers can take part in an optional 2 to 4-day trekking activity around the mountains of Dharamsala and Triund. The cost of the trekking is from 3,000 to 7,000 Indian Rupees per person.

Language: English

Accommodation: In a guest house, in shared rooms.

Location: McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra district. Dharamshala is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, North India, 500 kilometers from Delhi. Dharamshala is accessible by bus on a daily basis from New Delhi and other smaller cities of North India. The nearest railway stations are Pathankot and Kangra Mandir. Delhi is the nearest international airport.

Age range: 18 and over

Extra fee: 17,000 Indian Rupees (about $240 US)
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival.

All available dates for this project:
March 2 - March 15, 2020
March 16 - March 29, 2020

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