Volunteer Tibet contains a compilation of different volunteer opportunities in or around Dharamsala, India, generally connected to the large Tibetan population in the area.

There is a volunteer page providing background information, pointing out that many opportunities are long term, but for short term volunteers, the areas of teaching – especially the more informal one to one tutoring – and technology/computers may be the best bet. Some longer term positions might provide accommodation, but even if they don’t, it’s possible to live on $150 per month with $200-$300 as a bit more common budget. They also note that while it is India…Dharamsala is in the north and in the mountains and it can snow in the winter; long johns are advised!

There are currently twenty teaching opportunities – some request experience or native English, but not all. In the social services section there are nine, a couple of which are as volunteer coordinators. There are twenty-four in computers and technology, and assorted other opportunities in other sections

Few if any opportunities involve the volunteer paying a placement fee. Volunteers make all of their own travel arrangements and while they may receive informal advice and information from the organization as part of the normal course of volunteering, the formal support structure which is a part of many of the pay-to-volunteer programs is not in place.

The responsibility page contains good advice for volunteers anywhere:

• Only apply for opportunities s you are qualified for – and this includes the time requirement as the whole process can be time consuming for local staff dealing with lots of volunteers.
• Be prompt with correspondence. As above, everything takes time to set up; and if you’re not going to take an opportunity and they wait for you, the chance for another person to take it may be missed.
• Inform yourself by browsing the site before emailing to ask a question that is already answered there.
• Similarly, the more you know about the cause, the more effective of a volunteer you can be – so all the better if you can learn about it before you turn up.

Once in Dharamsala, you can also attend a Reception and Orientation service.

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