Nursing in a Buddhist Community

  India

Rural Areas

Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

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.

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.

There is absolutely no nursing experience in the Academy, and the children's health is not handled in a professional way. A nursing volunteer is badly needed to ensure that the children's health needs are catered for.

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 improve the health of a school

Qualifications: General nursing experience, especially in schools.

Minimum Education: Diploma/Certification

Cost in US$: From about $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: Typically our volunteers are mature people with useful skills and a sense of adventure. They include fresh graduates, people on a career break and retired people. However, anyone with the right personal qualities and skills will be considered.

Age Range: 20+

This Program is 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