Involvement Volunteers International *Project no longer running, but a similar project is running in Darjeeling, India.
WHY we need you in India
- India is one of the poorest countires in the world, with 2 thirds living in poverty.
- According to UNICEF, about 25% of children in India have no access to education, with higher rates of girls not attending school.
- 43% of childen under five years are underweight and around 61 million children are stunted due to malnutrition.
- Even though there is a law about no child labour under age 14, it's estimated by aid agencies, that there could be up to 65 million children aged 6-14 working.
HOW can you help?
- Learn more about Buddhist philosophy and culture
- Spend time with the monks and immerse yourself in their way of life
- Teach English language to the monks, a vital skill for them to learn
- Adjust to living off the beaten track, and enjoy a simple way of life
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: BUDDHIST MONASTERY TEACHING
LOCATION: SIKKIM, INDIA
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A
*January and February are winter vacations in Buddhist Monasteries, thus this project will not function during this part of the year.
Overview
Here you’ll be interacting with monks on a regular basis, learning about their way of life and exchanging ideas and intercultural learning. The project involve s various monasteries and monks are aged between 8 to 25. The monastery has classes between Nursery to Grade 5. Each class approximately has 10 to 15 students. You will mostly be teaching English but can also teach, Math, Science , or a subject of your choice.
Location
Sikkim is a small state in northwest India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. Spectacular scenery coupled with Buddhist monasteries are the highlight of this fascinating region.
Project Tasks
- Teach basic English to novice monks
- Teach writing, reading and conversational skills through various activites
- Integrate into the monks way of life for a true cultural experience!
Food & Accommodation
You will stay at our volunteer centreIn our center, where there is a small library, a dining room, a lounge area where you can hang out with fellow participants and a beautiful garden to relax. The house sleeps 2-4 people per room, and includes wifi, hot showers, bed linen, fans and moisquito nets. There is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.
The meals are a mix of Western and Indian food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice per week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Darjeeling Projects
- Cultural Orientation Week, Darjeeling
- English Teaching, Darjeeling
- *Buddhist Monastery Teaching, Darjeeling
- Kindergarten Teaching, Darjeeling
- *Community Construction, Darjeeling
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1 Week - $395
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2 Weeks - $555
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3 Weeks - $815
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1 Month - $1075
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2 Months - $2195
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3 Months - $3295
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ...
As this project is still in the fairly early stages of development, this project would suit someone who is willing to go back to basics and who wants to explore the ‘off beaten track’, with limited resources.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
- Introduction meeting, General rules, Setting Expectations, Advice on Health and Safety and insuring you have all your documents.
- Indian Do’s and Don’ts, Cultural introduction, learning about the countries history
- Tour around the accommodation and local area.
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Pakyong Airport, Sikkim (PYG). You must arrive between the hours 08:00 to 20:00 on Sunday.
We can also collect you from Siliguri Bagdogra Airport, Bagdogra (IXB), between 08:00 to 14:00 on Sunday, but this is not included in the fee, so will incur an additional cost.
If arriving outside the pickup times on Sunday, you can book a private transfer for US$50.
If arriving during the week, or on Saturday, we charge US$50 for any extra night’s accommodation before your program, and another US$50 fee for a private transfer.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From Pakyong airport to accommodation, it takes approx. 45 minutes by road. From Bagdogra airport, it’s around 5-6+ hours.
Monday to Friday
You will teach primarily English and various other subjects to the monks, both young and old, for around 2 to 3 hours of various age groups every day. There are various allotted starting time at the monasteries, thus you will be given the time schedule at the project location.
*This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
*January and February are winter vacations in Buddhist Monasteries, thus this project will not function during this part of the year.
Weekends are always free for relaxing or sightseeing of your choice. Our ground operators will help you organise additional trips with special (non tourist) rates which can be paid directly in local currency. As a volunteer you will gain access to local knowledge, opportunities and value you simply would not find if staying as a standard tourist.
No extra requirements for this program.
India is an eclectic and intoxicating cultural experience like no other! Home of the famous Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, the sacred Ganges river, and over 1 billion people of varying languages, cultures and beleifs, India is sure to push you to the boundaries of your comfort zone.
IVI is focused on establishing sustainable employment and education through volunteering efforts in India. Children in some of the regions we service have not had basic nutritional background. Over 950,000 newborns per year in India die from infections. Education about health for families provides a strong foundation for self-care in the communities we service in India.
India’s climte ranges from tropical down south to alpine up in the northern mountain regions.
From April until the start of October is summer, and in most places in India, is very hot. In June the monsoon rains start in Kerala down south, and move inland. Further north and in the rural areas of Rajasthan, it can get pretty cold from December to January- sometimes as low at minus 5 degrees!
Be prepared for some hot temperatures but if in the Sikkim region, bring along some warmer clothing as it can get cold in the mountains.
India is a country FULL of culture! From the beautiful colours, different religions, ancient traditions and the smells of spices- India is a country like no other. It’s the the second most populous nation after China, with over 1.2 billion people.
The most prominant religions are Hinduism and Buddhism and around 13% of the popualrtion are Muslim. Because there are so many religions, India celebrates a large number of festivals throughout the year. Some of these include Diwali, Holi, Eid and Good Friday.
In India, the cow is considered to be a Holy animal and you will see cars either driving around, or simply waiting if a cow is in the road holding up traffic! In some parts of India it is forbidden to eat meat or drink alcohol.
You will see many temples in India, as well as colourful clothing, particually the sari’s that the local women wear, and many cultural dance shows and activities.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
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