Volunteer work period providing a precious opportunity to offer service to the common good while practicing some of the foundational skills of sustainable and compassionate living, including organic gardening, natural building, permaculture landscaping, and more, all in a supportive community atmosphere.
Overview
Programme Type: Volunteer work period (residential)
Topic: Natural building, organic gardening, permaculture landscaping, and more
Dates: Multiple entries with a minimum 2 week commitment. Please mention the dates you are considering in your application.
Facilitators: Dharmalaya Institute’s long-term community members.
Language: English (plus some site work in Hindi) with translation if needed
Programme overview
For the first week, you’ll be settling in and getting oriented. We’ll have introductions and an overview of life at Dharmalaya Institute in general and of the volunteer programme in particular. After that, the activities will focus primarily on hands-on work, supported by occasional discussions 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 and other permaculture projects. We provide basic training in some of the fundamental techniques required to do the work well, and then you’ll practice them by working alongside our team of village artisans.
There will be time for a contemplative practice session every morning (e.g. yoga, chi kung, or meditation, which might be guided or unguided depending on the circumstances). For those who wish to keep up their existing yoga and/or meditation practices, our yoga hall will be available in the mornings before breakfast and in the evenings.
Main elements of the programme include:
Compassionate living: The practice of compassionate living touches all aspects of life: food, shelter, health, work, relationships, and more. We’ll make a holistic study of all of these areas and explore ways we can empower ourselves to minimize our harm footprints and optimize our help footprints.
Sustainability solutions: From hands-on natural building and organic gardening work to the vast and deep concepts of permaculture, voluntary simplicity, and more.
Contemplative work: We will explore various forms of work on sustainability-related projects from a contemplative perspective — meaning how do we tune into the most sensitive, receptive, and creative parts of ourselves and use the process esof building, landscaping, gardening, etc. to deepen our intimate relationship with nature and with ourselves.
Community, communication and collaboration: Living in community is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves and others, and to refine our skills for living, learning, and working together in harmony. (These skills last a lifetime!)
Social issues and ways to work with them: A Himalayan village is a fertile setting for intersectional exploration of social issues including caste, gender, socioeconomic factors, and more. In the process, you'll gain insight into the lives of rural Himalayan villagers, including both their wisdom and their struggles, and insight into yourself as well.
Holistic health and well-being: Enjoy the benefits of a healthy and balanced lifestyle with daily yoga and silent (non-guided) meditation, wholesome plant-based meals (including learning to cook them!), and a nourishing rhythm of work, reflection and rest.
Work activities: What you’ll be doing
It’s important for volunteers to understand that each day’s work activities will depend on the needs on site at the time, and also the weather and other circumstances. The ideal volunteer is one who shows up each day ready to do whatever is needed on that particular day with joyful enthusiasm, free of expectations.
Having said that, below are some examples of the kinds of activities that might be undertaken during this volunteer work period (circumstances permitting).
Natural building activities might include (depending on circumstances):
Finishing up our green roofing work.
Upcycling of rubbish to be used in construction (e.g. bottle bricks, etc.)
Interior finishing work on other structures, which might include plastering, varnishing, sanding, flooring, etc.
Organic gardening and permaculture landscaping
Building the resilience of the landscape through planting, earthworks and turfing.
Compost making
Fruit tree pruning and mulching
Water management (rainwater harvesting, swale digging, etc.)
Making DIY soaps, shampoos, and/or other sustainable products for use on campus
Helping with the cooking and cleaning, etc.
Other activities depending on the weather and the needs on site at the time
The meaning of ‘volunteering’
Few activities are as satisfying as offering ourselves in service to a greater good. Participants in this volunteer programme will be doing a service by helping the Institute with several projects on our eco-campus, while also helping to keep our local village staff employed during a challenging time.
That would be worth doing by itself, but it’s even better when one has opportunities to learn in the process. During this programme, the learning will come mostly by doing, not through classes or presentations. After brief introductions to the key topics, and basic training in how to do the relevant kinds of work, the focus will be on actually performing various tasks by working alongside our team.
So, it's important to understand that volunteering is really about the service part (seva), and the learning comes as a bonus while performing the service work. One’s intention should be primarily to serve by doing whatever work is helpful, without any expectation of being taught.
Campus life and the experience of living in community
Most of our past long-term participants tell us that experience of being a part of the Dharmalaya community, living and working together, is one of the best parts of the experience for them. We emphasize a culture of kindness and cooperation rather than selfishness and competition, and it’s great to live with kindred spirits in that kind of environment.
As wonderful as this community experience can be, though, it can also be one of the more challenging aspects of a residential programme, because when we live together closely with other people for a long time, eventually misunderstandings and other issues come up. This is actually a truly great opportunity if one embraces these experiences with a humble and sincere attitude, looking honestly at ourselves, wanting to learn and grow (instead of just wanting to be ‘right’). Dharmalaya maintains an environment in which everyone is supported to learn and grow in this way, and this kind of learning truly changes lives for the better, because few lessons are more valuable than those that help us understand ourselves and others better and learn to relate with others more sensitively and skilfully.
So one thing to understand is that learning to be a healthy part of a healthy community is one of the most important aspects of all of our residential programmes — and of compassionate living more generally — so that kind of inner work and social evolution should be something that appeals to you strongly if you’re thinking of applying for this programme. We’ll be spending time talking about it and asking you to self-reflect, journal, and share with others about your experiences, which benefits everyone.
Who is this programme for?
This programme is open to anyone wishing to:
Volunteer your time and skills in service of a greater good.
Practice sustainability skills such as natural building, organic gardening and more.
Be a part of a small, intimate group of kindred spirits collaborating in service.
Reflect honestly on your outer and inner life, with the intention to learn and grow.
Experience well-being through simple, healthy living and daily contemplative practice in an ashram-style environment.
Remain safely within our Himalayan eco-campus for the entire duration of them programme (without visiting town, etc).
Qualities that the ideal volunteers should have:
Sensitive and respectful to the experience and needs of others
Generous spirit: sincerely wanting to give even more than you receive
Team player, agreeable and cooperative, happy to do whatever is needed
Self-motivated to work and excel (not needing too much urging by others)
Honest with both self and others, putting integrity first
Motivated to improve oneself and takes constructive feedback well, with gratitude
What to expect
Two of the keys to happiness are: (1) to have realistic expectations to begin with; and (2) not to be too attached to those expectations, but rather to stay flexible as life unfolds. Both of these keys to happiness will be especially useful during this unusual period, when the pandemic often impacts life and work in unexpected ways. So, with that in mind, here are some of the things participants should expect (while remembering to keep a flexible attitude):
Full-time programme focus: With our residential programmes, the point is to be completely focused on the experience of being here. While there will be some time for rest, reading/journaling, and personal reflection, there won’t be much time for pursuing other activities unrelated to the programme. While you’re here, the expectation is that your full attention will be focused on the programme experience.
Plenty of physical work: Most of the work to be done is physical, and some of it requires physical endurance, so it’s best to be prepared both physically and psychologically for a lot of hard work. One key to happiness here is to keep a very positive and enthusiastic attitude about the work, knowing that you’re making the world a better place in a small way, which makes it a joy.
Supportive routine: A daily rhythm of contemplative practice, outdoor activities, discussions, and silent meditation time.
Natural simplicity: Rustic accommodations in natural earthen buildings or comfortable tents in a beautiful forest setting.
Yogic lifestyle: Clean and simple ashram-style lifestyle in which everyone contributes to the running of the place, including cleaning, washing dishes, etc.
Healthy food: Natural and mostly organic, purely vegetarian meals (100% plant-based, vegan). No junk food or packaged snacks, etc.
Digital detox: There will be no use of mobile phones or internet from 9-5 or during evening sessions so that everyone stays focused on the group tasks, and present with one another — and with our own experience. For those who are normally glued to your phones, it may take some adjustment at first but soon you’ll be amazed how much better you feel engaging with nature and good work with good people rather than the screen.
Schedules & dates
Schedule: Start and end dates
The programme will begin at 10:30am on Day 1. All newly arriving participants will be required to arrive sometime between 9:30am and 10:00am on Day 1 itself (we will provide detailed timing, instructions, and travel tips after confirming your registration).
Participants who completely programme successfully may apply to remain longer (with reduced fees starting after the end of the fourth month).
Schedule: What will the days be like?
Although the day-to-day schedule will vary a bit, the schedule for a typical day during this programme would more or less as follows:
6:00 Wake
6:30 Morning practice (yoga, chi kung, or your own contemplative practice)
8:00 BREAKFAST
9:00 Morning work session
12:30 LUNCH
1:30 Afternoon work session
5:00 Personal time
6:00 DINNER
7:00 Evening activity or personal time (various depending on situation)
9:30 Lights out, silent time until breakfast
Programme fees
As a volunteer programme there are no fees for tuition, but because this is a residential programme all volunteers make a contribution to help the Institute cover the substantial costs of providing their food and accommodation (just as they would have to pay their own living expenses back home), without which it wouldn’t be possible for the institute to provide these volunteer opportunities on a residential basis.
Recognizing that our participants come from diverse backgrounds, we are providing a sliding scale with three tiers, to make it possible for everyone to give according to their means.
Total fees for the programme (including training, shared accommodation, three healthy meals daily, and tea) at each of the three tiers are as follows:
Standard rate: Rs 7500 per week. For transparency: this rate is essentially a break-even rate, just enough to cover the Institute’s costs in providing the volunteer opportunity.
Subsidized rate (for those who are unable to pay the standard rate): Rs 6000 per week. For transparency: this rate is below our break-even rate, which means it is not quite enough to cover the Institute’s costs in providing the volunteer opportunity, but that shortfall is covered by participants who choose to pay the ‘Supporter rate’ below.
Supporter rate (for those who can afford to give more to help make the subsidized rate above possible for low-income participants): Rs. 9000 per week. For transparency: this rate is slightly above the break-even rate, and 100% of that surplus will be used to support lower-income applicants to be able to participate. We thank you for your generosity in choosing this rate if you can.
We do not want cost to be a barrier to anyone’s participation, so if you have exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford even the lowest subsidized rate, you can contact us to let us know your situation and your needs and, depending on circumstances, we may be able to work out a work-study discount in exchange for taking on extra responsibilities.
For those who prefer private accommodation, a very limited number of private rooms and cottages are available on a first-come-first-served basis, for an additional fee. For information on accommodation options, see the ‘Facilities’ section of our eco-campus page. Inquire for details.
OPTION TO STAY ON AS A VOLUNTEER AFTER THE PROGRAM ENDS
For those who stay as a volunteer beyond four months, there will be the opportunity for a reduced work-study rate of Rs 22,000 per month (including all meals and shared accommodation) beginning with your fifth month, in exchange for taking on a few responsibilities to help with the work of the Institute. And for those who stay six months or longer (or who have extraordinary financial hardship) will qualify to apply for work-study scholarships (subject to availability) to cover between 50% and 100% of the cost of your room and board.
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 THOSE SEEKING CERTIFICATES: This is not a certificate course. No certificate or letter will be provided (no exceptions).
NOTE FOR ARCHITECTS AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT NATURAL BUILDING: While Dharmalaya Institute offers a variety of courses to provide training in architecture and natural building, this programme is not one of those training courses. While the volunteer work activities will include a few elements of earthen building practice, the focus in this volunteer programme is simply on doing the work, not on instruction or training. For those who are serious about learning about architecture and practicing the techniques of natural building, we recommend considering our long-term residential programmes.
About your facilitators
Application process
Due to space limitations, we will be admitting no more than four applicants with each batch. Therefore the application process will be more selective than usual, to make sure we find the applicants who are truly best matched with the programme.
STEP 1 — APPLY: Submit the application form here on our website and wait for our reply. We may email you to ask follow-up questions if necessary.
STEP 2 — INTERVIEW: If your application is selected for the shortlist, the next step will be for us to schedule a time to do an interview on a video call. During this interview, you’ll have the chance to ask whatever questions may be on your mind, and we’ll have a chance to get to know you a bit better. If necessary, there might be a second video interview for final candidates.
STEP 3 — ACCEPTANCE & DEPOSIT: If you are selected for the programme after your video interview, then at that time we will send you more detailed information about the programme and how to prepare for your time at Dharmalaya Institute. You will then have one week from the date of acceptance to make your nonrefundable deposit to hold your place in the programme. The minimum deposit is 50%, but it is also possible to prepay in full.
If you have any questions after reading all the material here on our website, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to address your questions.
We look forward to connecting with you!