Volunteering for Tibetans with Lha

Lha offers different volunteer options, we welcome drop-in volunteers with no previous communication or planning and other options for those wanting to plan ahead and receive supported services before arrival in India, upon arrival and during their stay in Dharamsala. A wide array of meaningful volunteer opportunities is available for both skilled and unskilled individuals. Most volunteers work directly with Lha, while others are placed throughout the community NGOs. Some of the areas of ongoing need are the following:

1. English Teachers
2. Chinese Teachers
3. French Teachers
4. Spanish Teachers
5. Tutors
6. Office Assistant
7. Volunteer Coordinator
8. Class Assistant Administrator
9. Fundraising professional
10. Project professional
11. Computer professional
12. Web developer & designer
13. Graphic designer
14. Photographer
15. Medical professional
16. Massage therapy instructor
17. Environmental Professional
18. Yoga instructor
19. Editor
20. Grant Writer
21. Creative writers
22. journalists
23. Researcher
24. Human rights
25. legal professionals
26. Carer
27. Nursery
28. Soup Kitchen
29. Personal Assistant PA

If you want to volunteer we can most often fit your skills to a need. Thanks for your interest and your time. If you are trained with other specific skills we will try to provide avenues to use your expertise to benefit others
If you are planning to just drop in then our office is located on Temple Road in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. (Just across from State bank of India). Our office  is open from 9-5 Monday – Saturday excepted Second Saturday.
For those of you that would like to do some preliminary planning, here are a few options offered by Lha and the costs of those services. * note – all profits  received for services go directly into the social service programs supported by Lha.

1) Reception only - This option is for those of you that would like to have your travel taken care of once you arrive in Delhi, airport pick up, arrange accommodation and one night in Delhi Tibetan Colony, transport by bus or train to Dharamsala Mcloed Ganj.The fee is $150.US.

2) Orientation Only – This option is for those of you making your way to Dharamsala on your own. The fee is $110.US and includes, upon arrival, a tour of the town ( accommodation options, safe restaurants, laundry service, temples and other sites of interest…) cultural awareness preparedness and volunteer placement services .  Our volunteer coordinator will meet you upon arrival help you find accommodation then accompany you to the Lha volunteer coordination office.

3) Reception and Orientation - This option is for those of you that would like to have your travel taken care of once you arrive in Delhi. The fee is $250. This will include airport pick up and one night hotel stay and bus transport to Dharamsala. Our volunteer coordinator will be on-call for your questions while in Delhi and will be waiting to greet you for orientation once you arrive in Dharamsal (see more Reception and Orientation)

At Lha we welcome both drop-in volunteers with no previous communication or planning and also options for those wanting to plan ahead and receive supported services before arrival in India, upon arrival and during their stay in Dharamsala (See Pre-arranged Volunteers).

If you have one month or less available in which to volunteer, and are not in need of any of our supportive services on offer, we encourage you to drop in to our centre and see where your skills can be of most benefit (See Drop In Volunteers)

Lha also offers a cultural immersion program where will be paired with a Tibetan refugee, assisting with language skills, and who will offer you valuable insights into the community (see Cultural Immersion)

Related Important Information link: Guide for Volunteers, About Dharamsala and Advice for Volunteers.

Cultural Immersion:

This is for those of you that want to get the very most out of your experience!   This fee is $550. The same Orientation and Reception applies with these added opportunities. For your first week in Dharamsala you will be paired with a Mutual Learning Partner – a Tibetan refugee undertaking English language classes. Each morning your Tibetan partner will meet you from 9AM to Noon. During this time together we hope that you assist them with their English language and conversation studies – at the same time you will learn about the community, about the life of a young Tibetan Refugee and hopefully create a long lasting friendship.( See more Culture Immersion)

Homestay:

Lha arranges homestay of one month with Tibetan refugee families.  By sharing meals and day to day life with a Tibetan family, your cultural experience will be intensified and if you are interested in the Tibetan language – you will be able to practice your language skills in the home.  This homestay program can give you unforgettable insights into ritual, family and life “behind closed doors” in the Tibetan refugee community – and hopefully help you make friends for life. (See more Homestay)