Volunteer travel with Tibetan women and babies
from
425€
por persona
Open all year round except during the Tibetan New Year (February-March approx.).
Did you know that India has never signed the Refugee Convention? This fact affects more than 85,000 Tibetans who, since 1959, have found their second home in India. Without refugee status, these people are excluded from the labor market and all the rights provided for Indian citizens. Tibetans are treated in this country as foreigners. Not only do they have very limited access to work, but they cannot even access some of the public universities.
This project is located in McLeod Ganj, in North India. Called "Little Tibet", the city is the administrative capital of Tibetan refugees who were forced to flee their country due to Chinese occupation. The initiative, founded in 2004, works on two levels: on the one hand, it promotes Tibetan culture and the well-being of the refugee community. On the other, it manages a nursery for Tibetan babies and children, thanks to which parents can engage in paid work and improve their economic condition.
In this project, you will live in a center run by Tibetan monks and you will be able to get to know their culture up close. Living in the city that is also the home of the Dalai Lama, it is quite possible that you will coincide with one of the public teachings he gives in McLeod Ganj.
This project works towards achieving the following Sustainable Development Goals
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Project Location
McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, IndiaVolunteer hours
Monday to Saturday, two shifts: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.Volunteer activities
Childcare, library support. Most of the volunteers combine this project with conversations in English.Minimal collaboration
2 weeksIncluido
Tumaini accompanimentHot waterAccommodationLocal CoordinatorTraining courseAirport pick-upVolunteer liability insuranceWIFINo incluido
Tourist activitiesLunchDinnerKitchenBreakfastTravel insuranceFlight
Galería
Volunteer Program
1
Voluntary activities
- Child care.
- Library support.
- For specific profiles work in product design. if it is a several month volunteer you can work together with the women.
- The project can be combined with English classes in the same location.
2
Profiles required
It is not necessary to have a specific profile to participate in this solidarity trip. The only requirements are:
- Level of English (intermediate level equivalent to B1, no diploma required).
- Be of legal age.
- Be open-minded, tolerant, supportive and willing to learn. Flexibility is essential, as tasks may change depending on the needs of the NGO, similarly the ability to work in a team since volunteering is done in coordination with other people.
- People who want to work with babies
- People interested in Buddhism or the Tibetan cause
- Teachers, professors, social educators, people with experience in product development, etc.
3
A day in the project
La mayoría de las personas voluntarias combina este proyecto con el de conversaciones en inglés, por lo que por la mañana colabora en la guardería y por la tarde asiste en las conversaciones:''My volunteering consisted of 4 hours in the morning at the nursery. From 8:30 to 9:00 the parents brought the children and played for half an hour with them, and from 9:00 they were left in charge of the 3 caregivers and the volunteers. We made them urinate frequently, at mid-morning in groups, each one drank water from their bottle, so we distributed their bottles to them. Around 11:30 they began to eat, so we helped them especially the little ones, and from 12:00 they went to bed to sleep for a while, so we prepared the mats, each one's blanket... the rest of the time playing with them..''
Xoana Primoy Pico
Project Location
Project
The project is located in McLeod Ganj, a suburb of the city of Dharamsala, in northern India. As the first point of arrival for Tibetans fleeing their country after it was occupied by China, the city became the world center for Tibetan refugees. It is often called ''little Lhasa'', after the Tibetan capital. McLeod is also the home of the Dalai Lama, whose residence, called Tsug La Khang, includes a monastery, several temples and a museum dedicated to the Tibetan people.The city is 2,000 meters high and is surrounded by mountains and close to the Himalayas. It is a starting point for different nature excursions, making it perfect for mountain lovers.
Climate
The climate of McLeod Ganj is divided into three seasons:
- Winter: from October to February. In this season the temperature during the day can rise up to 9ºC, but at night it drops to 0ºC or even less. The city experiences snowfall and, despite the cold, the environment becomes very beautiful. March is an intermediate month between the cold and hot season.
- Summer: from April to June. Daytime temperatures are usually between 22ºC and 30ºC. It is the perfect season for mountain excursions.
- Rainy season: from July to September. The temperatures are pleasant, between 18ºC and 22ºC and thanks to the rains nature revives and the environment becomes beautiful. It usually rains a lot; however, you can take short excursions around the city.
| 2 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks | |
| High season (April, May, June, October, November, December) | |||
| Double room | 425 € | 485 € | 540 € |
| Single room | 470 € | 550 € | 630 € |
| Low season (July, August, September, January, February, March) | |||
| Double room | 390 € | 440 € | 485 € |
| Single room | 435 € | 505 € | 575 € |
* The costs that appear are per person.
- Search for the solidarity trip that best fits your profile and interests to provide an enriching beneficial experience for both travellers and NGOs.
- A guide of the project with useful up-to-date information on the status and needs of the project.
- Support during the preparation of your trip: visas, vaccinations, tips for buying your flight, advice on what to visit, essentials to carry in your backpack, practical information (money exchange, transport, timetables, culture, etc.).
- Tumaini coordinator available by email or phone whenever you need to solve all your doubts. Sometimes, if possible, face-to-face meetings are also held.
- Online course on solidarity travel and responsible tourism, mandatory for volunteers to get the most out of their experience.
- Contact, if possible and on request, with volunteers who have already been in the project.
- Contact, if possible and on request, with people who are going to travel on similar dates to chat before the solidarity trip, resolve doubts or organize it together.
- Basic Tumaini Tibetan-English dictionary.
- Accident and liability insurance specialized in volunteering.
- Follow-up during the solidarity trip.
- Letter of reference or certificate of solidarity travel/volunteering on request.
- Accommodation in a single/double room with private bathroom.
- Internal road transport from Dharamsala airport to the project.
- Local Coordinator.
What is not included?
- International ticket
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Visa
- Extras such as personal excursions, shopping, etc.
- A contribution to Tumaini for the efforts and assistance of the volunteers.
- A contribution to the project for board and lodging.
Services
- Single or double room
- Private western bathroom with hot water
- Airport pick-up