Teach in a Buddhist Community

  India

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Any time between March and mid December

Description: Denjong Pema Choling Academy (DPCA) is an educational institution, registered under the Muyal Liang Trust (an NGO established in 1980) that provides free education and boarding to 300 destitute and underprivileged children from the tribal rural areas of Sikkim, India. In addition, they provide vocational training to students on small income generating projects (bakery, tea plantation, carpet weaving initiative, yak and dri farming) and shelter and work for 12 destitute women.

They are looking for mature, skilled, volunteers who can help them improve the standards of education for their children and help them run their income generating projects.

Classes take place in a school building that has been built near the Nyingma monastery of Pemayangtse. Volunteers are provided with simple lodging and all meals including breakfast. Each volunteer is given a room of their own, with attached bathroom. Hot water is not available, however a hot water heater and a bucket for showering can be purchased at a reasonable price. Bedding is provided, however most volunteers tend to bring their own sleeping bag with them. It can get cold at night.

Sikkim is a restricted part of India, so the maximum period you can stay at the DPCA is two months. If you wish to stay longer in the area, we can place you in one of the schools in the Kalimpong area once your time in Sikkim is over.

Highlights: A chance to teach poor children in a major Buddhist centre in western Sikkim.

Qualifications: In addition to teachers, Denjong Pema Choling Academy (DPCA) is seeking other skills, especially medical skills. We are looking for volunteers with a love of children and a desire to teach.

In addition,the qualities you will need to make a useful contribution to your school are: resilience and adaptability, an open mind and an interest in other cultures, good mental and physical health, and tact and diplomacy.

Minimum Education: Diploma/Certification

Cost in US$: From approx. $700

Salary / Pay: The benefits are non-monetary: the chance to live in a fascinating and beautiful environment and to go trekking in the Himalayas. There is also the pleasure that comes from making a valuable contribution to a poor community.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Most of our volunteers are graduates, or working people taking a career break, or retired people. However, anyone with relevant skills can be considered.

Age Range: 20+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to India Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme's Mission Statement: The Himalayan Education Lifeline Programme (HELP) is a charity registered by the Charity Commission of England and Wales. The aim of HELP is to enhance the lives and environment of poor Himalayan communities by supporting the educational objectives of selected health, school and environmental projects. HELP realizes its aims by enabling responsible and committed people from the developed world to: - sponsor young people with the potential to benefit from a school or college education, but without the means to do so. - make a donation to provide grants to individual students, and also to schools and health clinics that lack the means to acquire the materials or premises required to provide a satisfactory service to their communities. - undertake short-term assignments as volunteers in support of educational and training projects

Year Founded: 2002