Dory Beatrice

Dory Beatrice

Member La Jolla Golden Triangle

Greetings!

I am the Coordinator of San Diego Friends of Tibet, an all-volunteer grassroots organization which seeks to obtain greater freedom for Tibet, and to assist Tibetans in exile in India. I am also an active member of La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club.

Dharamsala

One of Friends of Tibet's programs is called, "Volunteers for Dharamsala." We created this unique program in Feb. 1998 to send volunteers to Dharamsala and other parts of India to serve the needs of the Tibetans in exile, via careful matching of volunteer skills with refugee/exile needs.

I recently returned from India, where I visited the places requesting volunteers, including the Tibetan Government in Exile and other programs. It is likely there will be more volunteer requests coming soon. So, if nothing fits from this list and you'd like to be on our e-mail list to notify you of future openings, please let me know at dorykb@san.rr.com

Here's a quick overview. The program is open to volunteers from anywhere in the world, as long as you fluently speak at least one of the primary languages over there Tibetan, English or Hindi. As for costs, no one is paid and no fees are charged. However, YOU MAY QUALIFY AS A ROTARY VOLUNTEER. Otherwise, you need to pay your own way. Some of the positions provide housing--if so, it is mentioned in the description below. The big expense is getting over there. If you can fund the airfare (approx. $1200 U.S. round trip if flying from the U.S.), it is very inexpensive for many Westerners to live in India--estimated $50 to $800 U.S. per month, depending on the level of comfort you want, and whether accommodations are provided. If accommodations are provided, it costs about $50 to $300 U.S. per month. Assignments tend to be long-term, from one month minimum up to a full year's commitment. Please see below. Most positions require experience with that line of work.

Being a volunteer will give you an experience of immersion in the beautiful Tibetan culture and an opportunity to really make a difference. The giving and receiving blend into one.

So here are the current openings:

ESL TEACHERS requested at two places one is a Nunnery 1/2 hour from Dharamsala, teaching English to 35 nuns from India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Private room and meals are provided. This is a peaceful rural setting in the plains, with the Himalayas in the background. One year commitment preferred.

The second request is to teach English at a Tailoring School to new arrival teens from Tibet. They have about 35 students. This position is part-time in the evenings in Dharamsala, with lots of free time. This Tailoring School is headed by a monk who is the Dalai Lama's Tailormaster, and is located next to Namgyal Monastery. This volunteer is requested to come for at least 3 months, longer preferred.

Monks in video lab

Also at Namgyal Monastery there is a request for a volunteer to TRAIN MONKS IN VIDEO EDITING AND USE OF VCR on Apple Computers for the Namgyal Video Archive Project. This project works to make videos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Teachings, plus to transfer old tapes onto newer formats to better preserve them. This opening is immediate for about 2 months ending by July. Accommodation MAY be provided in the Monastery, depending on space available.

School for Handicapped
Children

Next are two requests for PHYSIOTHERAPISTS. Both are for residential schools for handicapped children. The first is for Noenga School, a school for children with mixed handicaps, ages 6 to 16, near Dehra Dun, India, a large city in north/central India, in an agricultural area with beautiful views of the mountains. This is for a minimum of 3 months; housing and food are provided. This position must be planned several months in advance.

The second physiotherapist position is at NyingtobLing School, near Dharamsala. They have 26 students ages 10 to 20, with mixed handicaps. This position is part-time, for a minimum of one month. Accommodations possible.

Also at NyingtobLing School there is a request for a SPEECH THERAPIST, minimum 2 months, part time.

DOCTORS AND NURSES are needed by the Health Department for rural Tibetan settlements in south India. These would be hospital-based, not doing surgery or emergency care. Minimum 3 months. Food and housing provided. These positions need to be arranged several months ahead.

Gu Chu Sum, an organization in Dharamsala for former political prisoners, requests a volunteer to TEACH ENGLISH AND COMPUTERS to 10 students. They should be able to teach English grammar, essay writing, reading, conversation. They should be able to teach Microsoft Word, Excel, Photoshop, PageMaker, Thumbs Plus and web design. Position is for 1 year.

The Tibetan Government in Exile has several requests.
DATABASE/QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS Specialist needed to work with ACCESS, SBSS software to manage and analyze various data, such as census data, socio-economic survey data. This person needs one year experience with database management and research ability. Position is for 3 to 12 months or two-week workshops possible. This is in Dharamsala.

They are also requesting a PROJECT MANAGEMENT person, with experience with the "Logical Framework" planning tool. This person would help prepare projects and programs for many departments. Position is for 3 to 6 months.

And last, the Planning Dept. requests a volunteer to help with SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT in the Tibetan settlements. This would be a travelling position, for 3 to 6 months.

I am often asked about summer positions. Be aware that, if you go in the summer, you will be in the midst of monsoon season, so you have to be real comfortable with rain and mud! Please see time frames above for possible fit as a summer position.

CAUTION After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, and the arming of the India-Pakistan border, plus ongoing tension in Kashmir, volunteers need to go at their own risk. It will be up to you to research the present situation and make your own decision. However, we can provide some resources for that.

We maintain contact with current volunteers, plus those who have returned after their position ended. If you are seriously looking into a position, we will put you in contact with some of those folks, to share their experiences and "tips." The comment that keeps coming up from them is that "You quickly become part of a close loving community." They find that this experience is life-changing and deeply meaningful.

Please e-mail me for further information on any of this, or an application dorykb@san.rr.com Or call me at 619-543-1222.
Thanks again for your interest.

Warmly,
Dory Beatrice
Coordinator
Volunteers for Dharamsala
San Diego Friends of Tibet
Member, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club

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