Volunteer work period, beginning with a six-day residential workshop to provide introductory hands-on training in some of the foundational skills of compassionate living as practiced at Dharmalaya Institute, including meditation, earthen building, organic gardening, and permaculture landscaping, followed by two weeks of volunteer work.
Overview
Program Type : Volunteer work period, beginning with a six-day training workshop (residential)
Topic : Earthen building, organic gardening, and permaculture landscaping
Dates : 6th–25th April 2020, with an optional extended practicum until as late as 9th May
Language : English (with Hindi translation if requested)
Facilitator : Dharmalaya staff including Anushka Joshi and Dharmalaya Institute’s artisans and interns
Description
Volunteer work period, beginning with a six-day residential workshop to provide introductory hands-on training in some of the foundational skills of compassionate living as practiced at Dharmalaya Institute, including meditation, earthen building, organic gardening, and permaculture landscaping, followed by two weeks of volunteer work (which optionally can be extended for another one or two weeks if you wish, until as late as 9th May). The actual training activities will depend on weather and the needs on site at the time. There will be a two-week practicum after the initial training workshop to support participants to deepen your skills and understanding further through practice on site.
› What is ‘natural building’ and why should I care? See this page for an introduction.
After the introductions, orientation and general overview of the programme, the workshop will focus primarily on hands-on training and practice, supported by basic discussion of theory and philosophy.
The hands-on work will include various projects around the Dharmalaya campus, including interior work on several earthen structures that are in various stages of completion, as well as organic gardening, tree planting, and other permaculture projects. We provide training in some of the fundamental techniques, and then step back and give everyone time and space to practice them by working alongside our team of village artisans.
There will be group meditation sessions every morning. For those who wish to practice yoga, our yoga hall will be available in the mornings before breakfast and in the evenings after the evening sessions.
Activities might include:
What to expect :
(depending on weather and circumstances):
Hands-on training in Kangra-style neo-traditional earthen architecture, which may include (depending on circumstances):
Making proper earthen mixes using local best practices
Earthen renders (mud plasters)
Wood/bamboo finishing work (sanding, varnishing, etc.)
Flooring (soling, slate tiling, polishing, etc.)
Water management (possibly drainage and gutter work, rainwater harvesting, etc.)
Organic gardening or tree planting (weather permitting)
Other activities depending on the weather and the needs on site at the time
Rustic forested setting with a clean and simple ashram lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and toilets, etc.
The days will be completely full: You’ll wake up early, work hard till 5:00pm, and then the evenings during the intensive training week will be occupied with presentations and discussions.
You’ll spend the whole twelve days at the Dharmalaya Institute without leaving, in order to make the most of our short time together, and for the first six days you won’t have much personal time. So, prepare yourself mentally for being focused and squeezing the maximum learning out of every moment.
You will be working with your hands and body (including plenty of honest hard work!) for approximately six or seven hours per day on most days of the programme, so it is strongly recommended to be in reasonably good physical fitness when you arrive, and you should bring work clothes.
Special note for architects and others interested in natural building:
The focus is not on design, but rather on doing real-world work to gain understanding of the materials, methods, and underlying principles of vernacular eco-architecture.
This is a very short introductory training, and only a few elements of earthen building practice can be covered in such a short span of time. For those who are serious about learning and practicing the techniques of earthen building, we strongly recommend staying as long as possible after the end of the programme to volunteer during the extended practicum period so that you can deepen your understanding and improve your skills by doing real-world, hands-on work alongside our local village artisans here on the Dharmalaya campus. An even more comprehensive option for those with serious interest is to take multiple workshops and consider applying for our Sacred Architecture course, our Internship in Vernacular Eco-Architecture and/or our Earthen Masonry Training Course.
Cost
The fees for this programme are divided into two periods: the initial six-day training (during which the fees are higher) and the two-week practicum that follows (during which the fees are lower).
The total fee for the initial six-day training is Rs 9000/-, inclusive of tuition, healthy meals, and comfortable accommodation in shared dormitories (and sometimes a private room may be available at additional cost). Transportation costs are not included. For participants with unusual financial hardship, a limited number of work-study positions are available (please contact us for details).
The costs during the practicum period that follows the four-day training are lower, at Rs 500 per day, for a total of Rs 7000 for the 14-day practicum.
Thus, the total cost for the full programme from 6–25 April is Rs 16,000.
If you wish to stay after 25th April for all or part of the extended practicum period (until any day up through 9th May), there would be an additional cost of Rs 500 per day for each day after 25th April.
Important Information
Before you pack for your trip to Dharmalaya Institute, please read the very important information on our Visitor Info page and our FAQ. If you have a specific question that is not answered there, contact us here and we’ll be happy to answer.
NOTE FOR STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATES: This is not a certificate course. No certificate or letter will be provided (no exceptions).
Application, registration & payment
This course has ended.