Thank you for your interest in Jamyang Foundation!

Jamyang Foundation welcomes volunteers at all six of its education programs for Buddhist women in the Indian Himalayas. Students are keen to learn English, arithmetic, science, computer skills, gardening, leadership skills, Hindi, accounting, and health care. Help with our new gardens and trees is also much appreciated!

There are many reasons why volunteers love teaching at the Jamyang Foundation programs. The nuns are excellent students: smart, motivated, and funny. They treat teachers with enormous respect, and they also become wonderful friends. The Jamyang Foundation schools are ideal places for new teachers to gain first-hand teaching experience. The small classes and friendly students are an excellent introduction to teaching, and also a great experience for retired or vacationing professional teachers. After teaching in large public schools, many teachers find a class of six to ten eager students a welcome change. The most important qualifications for teachers are patience, kindness, a flexible and adventurous spirit, a willingness to teach, and a willingness to learn.

Living in one of the monasteries sponsored by Jamyang Foundation is a great experience in itself. At each school, there is a rich mix of local culture and elements of north Indian and Tibetan cultures. Volunteers at the various projects have participated in Buddhist pujas (religious services), had tea with learned lamas (religious teachers), befriended local villagers, learned snippets of many languages, attended parties and traditional Buddhist weddings, learned how to cook local foods, and many other things. Teaching at these schools is an unforgettable experience. Teaching give volunteers a glimpse of Himalayan life, well off the beaten tourist trail, and an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to needy communities.

The Jamyang Foundation schools are located in three different regions of the Himalayas: Zangskar, Kinnaur and Spiti. Teachers are desperately needed at projects in these remote mountain areas! The journey is arduous, but the mountains are magical. The roads to the schools in Zangskar and Spiti are generally only open during the summer months. Although the region is remote and the climate can be nippy, teaching in these Himalayan schools is an unforgettable adventure.

Volunteers from past years are happy to share their experiences with new volunteers. After teaching and living with the nuns, volunteers develop deep friendships and respect for their students, both as individuals and as a community. The students’ sincerity and commitment to their unique way of life is very inspiring. Visiting teachers help the nuns work toward their educational goals by providing a broad range of studies that would not be available without volunteer help. For more information, or to make arrangements for a volunteer teaching position, please write us: ktsomo@sandiego.edu. Please tell us about yourself: your education, professional background, any language skills, travel experience, volunteer experience, and what skills you would like to share as a volunteer in the Himalayas.

As a mark of respect for the students' monastic lifestyle, volunteers are asked to familiarize themselves with Buddhist monastic protocol and local etiquette. [link to etiquette – information coming soon] Please read over the information provided here and send any questions you may have. We will be happy to send further information. We can also help you with your travel plans to India.

Frequently Asked Questions

! What jobs exist for volunteers?
! What is the application process?
! How much time should I commit to?
! What expenses are involved and how can I cover them?
! What is the calendar year and daily schedule?
! How do I select a school?
! May I teach at more than one school?
! May I teach with a friend, partner, or child? Are male volunteers welcome?
! How are the accommodations?
! Should I learn some Hindi-Urdu or Tibetan? How?
! What about health and safety concerns?
! How can I communicate with home?
! How’s the weather? What should I pack?
! Will I have opportunities for Buddhist practice?
! What teaching supplies are available? What should I bring?
! How are the classes taught? Do you have helpful ideas for the classroom?

Here we attempt to cover some of the most frequently asked questions about volunteering with Jamyang Foundation. The information here is relevant to all six of our monasteries for women. If you have a question that is specific to one of the schools, please check in the section for that school’s geographic area. Please feel free to write to us with further questions! We can also put you in touch with previous volunteers, upon request.

The information we’ve included here is not meant as a substitute for a guidebook and your own research. Prices, political situations, the number of nuns at each nunnery, and other bits of information are likely to change. We appreciate your suggestions, and welcome your questions!