By Jonas Hahn
Volunteer Position: German and English teacher

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Lha Charitable Trust in McLeod Ganj and I would highly recommend it. At the moment I arrived, I was greeted by the friendly house dog named Lucky and the kind and helpful Lha staff.

My room on the second floor had an amazing view of the mountains and was equipped with a small kitchen and washroom. (Almost) Every morning, I woke up to the sun shining through my window, which was a great start to the day.

I took German and English conversation classes, and I was impressed by how eager and motivated the students were to learn. We always laughed in class because someone made some jokes. As someone with no prior teaching experience, I was able to teach them and found it to be a very rewarding experience. Additionally, my private English tutoring with two monks was a highlight of my day, as they were funny, playful, and motivated to learn. We went on walks and practiced vocabulary, which was a fun way to learn.

Through the conversation classes, I met many people whom I recognized while walking through the streets. We often had spontaneous chai (tea), played table tennis, or went swimming in the nearby town. The food cooked at Lha for lunch was always delicious, and I even tried to learn some Tibetan from the highly energetic teacher.

Overall, everyone I met at Lha was warm-hearted and positive, which was a big contrast to Germany. I had a lot of free time, so I went on some hikes and visited nearby temples, which was a great way to explore the area. If you’re fortunate, you may even have the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama during your stay at Lha Charitable Trust. However, it’s important to be aware that the crowds can become very overwhelming.

If you’re considering volunteering in this beautiful place, I would definitely recommend it. It’s an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life, and you will meet many people from all over the world.

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