Welcome to EkNews - Ekno Experience’s Volunteer newsletter!

Is it your dream to help others less fortunate than yourself? Volunteering can make that dream happen. Volunteering attracts all types of people and they contribute in different ways. Volunteers make a significant and positive difference in many areas of their host community – whether it is in your own country or in places less well off than your own – such as India and Nepal. It can be through social welfare, education, health or the arts, the host community benefits enormously from the generous input of volunteers who engage in the community. Volunteering has both short and long term benefits for both parties.

Kylie Gilbert from Australia has recently returned from trekking in Nepal and her dream is to return to Nepal again to make a worthwhile contribution. She dreams of working in an Orphanage and teaching children English, here is what she had to say.

’I have just recently been back to Nepal (second visit) and it has affected me incredibly. I did the trek to Everest Base Camp and also spent a week in Kathmandu and visited an orphanage. All I can think about is going back permanently to Asia to work and volunteer in projects as my life back here now feels so shallow and my job so boring’.

I would like t to do some volunteer work and looking to sponsor a child. And I am researching doing a Diploma in Teaching English.

The reason I am writing is that I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all and was hoping you could give me some guidance’.

Whether you choose to come to Dharamsala, India or the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, if your dream is to volunteer you will benefit your host community in many ways. As a past volunteer of Ekno Experience correctly put it – "It's not taking time from me – it's me using my time to do the things I love – helping others". As a volunteer tourist in a host community, it is your passport to ‘community engagement’.

Ekno Experience will organize you to help others!

Our placements range from 1 week to 5 months – placements include 7x 1 hour language lessons.
Combine volunteering with yoga/meditation.
Our 14 day short programs are designed for those who want to combine work with language lessons with travel in both India and Nepal.
More details on our website www.eknoexperience.com – Work

CURRENT JOBS/WORK EXPERIENCE

English Conversation Partners - Required English conversation partners for Monks who are studying for their Geshe degrees (Professors of Buddhism) in the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics. The Head of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD) is the Dalai Lama and has he has given instructions and funded the monks to study English and Chinese for a year (possibly 2 years). Offered in India only. Volunteer English Teachers - Teach English to Tibetan Refugee mature-aged students or teach English to Nepali School students. Offered in India & Nepal. Nurse Educators - Teach Health education in both in both Tibetan and Nepali schools. Subjects to be taught are: Nutrition, Hygiene, Women’s Health. Offered in India & Nepal. Nurses - Work with local nurses on home visits. Train local nurses on up to date methods in home care. Offered in India only. Volunteer Technical Trades Teachers – Teachers with the following expertise are required: Automobile (basic) and Motorcycle Mechanics Electricians (Electric and House Wiring) Plumbers Draftsman Offset Printing Press These positions are with an adult Vocational Teaching Centre in the Kathmandu Valley. Offered in Nepal only. Trainee Potters – Learn techniques of an ancient old craft traditional pottery making with local potter from the delivery of the clay, preparing, kneading, and forming the ware, finishing, drying, firing and preparation of the pots for delivery. Offered in Nepal only. Editors - Required helping with editorial duties of transcribing Tibetan Buddhist texts into English as part of the Tibetan Library & Archives objective of publishing books and manuscripts. Offered in India only.

Graphic Designer - A Graphic Designer is required for the local English news magazine CONTACT. The magazine is a free distribution which relies on stories from other volunteers and advertising. Offered in India only.

Journalists for two positions:

1. The local English news magazine CONTACT. This print magazine is a free distribution which relies on stories from other volunteers and advertising.
2. An online news internet site called Tibet Sun. This internet news site has its office in McLeod Ganj.

Other Volunteering opportunities are also available in Dharamsala and Nepal. Full details on our website www.eknoexperience.com or email Sharon at info@eknoexperience.com for further details.

DHARAMSALA NEWS!

The Director of Ekno Experience, Sharon Thrupp along with other people had the very special privilege of a blessing and teaching from the Dalai Lama last month. The occasion was the inauguration of Thosamling Institute in Sidhpur, near Dharamsala India. Thosamling Institute is a centre where western nuns and lay women can come to live and study Dharma and Tibetan Language. The Dalai Lama spoke on the importance for people to have a place for Westerners who come to India to practice Dharma to have a place to study and practice. Ekno Experience runs fundraising tours each year to Ladakh and to the Buddha’s Sites and is proud to be associated with Thosamling.

Dalai Lama News: The Dalai Lama’s busy schedule continues in 2009. He is expected to teach in Kaza, Himachal Pradesh in July, (see below) and Ladakh, Leh in August this year. This year’s Nirvana Tour participants are attending the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Kaza as part of their annual fundraising tour to Ladakh. For details see bottom of newsletter.

He will teach in Dharamsala from October 15 to 18 on The Diamond Sutra, Seven Point-Mind Training and Tsongkhapa's The Three Principal Paths.

He will also teach from October 20 to 22 on The Four Noble Truths and from November 25 to 27 on Atisha's Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment.

If you are thinking of coming to Volunteer in Dharamsala during the months of October or November, why not combine it to fit in with one of the Dalai Lama’s teaching dates.

NEPAL NEWS!

Nepal is always a popular destination for volunteers. Our volunteers have been working in Thimi in the Kathmandu Valley since 2001. Catch Kylie’s story at the top of our newsletter about her dream to become a volunteer in Nepal or you can catch other people’s stories about Volunteering in Nepal on our Blog at www.eknoexperience.com – eknoexperience blogs. Why not join up and have your say.

WHAT OUR PAST VOLUNTEERS HAVE SAID

A big thank you to Julia Smith from Katoomba, Australia who is coming to the end of her 3 month teaching stint in Dharamsala India. Julia spent her time teaching the Dalai Lama’s monks and in her spare time attending Buddhist Philosophy classes, going for walks in the area and could be seen drinking coffee with the locals. Here is her story!

If only I had known!

My three months of volunteer teaching in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala is drawing to a close, and my only regret is that I didn’t do something like this ages ago. Sharon has been absolutely wonderful all the way through this steep learning curve which consists of the experience of living in India. She organized a taxi to meet me at Delhi airport and take me safely to my hotel in the middle of the night, a blessing indeed. Then she also organized a sleeper berth on the train to Pathankot and transport to Hunted Hill House. Thanks to Fairy Godmother Sharon, travel in India has been totally smooth with no problems, when one hears some of the stories this is indeed something to be grateful for. If you are at all hesitant about an Indian experience, like I and my friends were - (What do you want to go to India for?), then this is the way to do it!

Volunteering has been absolutely delightful, all my students have been so keen and it has been a pleasure to meet them and learn so much about Tibet and life in northern India. One always gains so much more than one gives when working as a volunteer. I think I can truly say this has transformed my way of looking at so many things back home. Yes, the poverty was a culture shock, but then the people here are so much richer in so many different ways, now I understand what “City of Joy” was on about, mind you I don’t have the stamina to be that drastic. This is the soft option for an experience that is bound to change anyone. I came here as a teacher but also as a student, as I wanted to find out more about Eastern Philosophy. I have had the good fortune to be able to attend a series of lectures on Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy, and I know I have learnt a lot. Others here have attended Reiki and Yoga classes and some even cooking classes, there is truly something for everyone. There are lots of walks around and most weekends I have been out walking through the cedar forests and taking photographs of the beautiful snowcapped mountains, once seen never to be forgotten. Sharon has also organized visits to various Tibetan monasteries and nunneries and we were blessed by the Karmapa. There is always so much to see and do.

One of the pictures is of myself and Palden, the nicest ever Tibetan Monk whom some of you may remember, in front of the waterfall just along the track up the gully from Baghsu. The other was the memorable day when Sharon, Nicole, myself and two others walked up to the Triund, three hours to get up there and four to get back down again. I can truly say………...

I CLIMBED MY MOUNTAIN!! Both physically and in many other ways. This has been an unforgettable experience and I only wish I had come to it sooner….Julia Smith, Katoomba, Australia.

You can catch Julia’s and other Volunteers Experiences on our Blog. Visit our Website www.eknoexperience.com – Ekno Experience Blog

WORKING HOLIDAYS

If you have a short holiday planned why not try one of our working holiday programs – Teach English to one of the Dalai Lama’s monks in India, teach English to Nepali school children while combining it with learning Tibetan or Hindi or combine it with a holistic course such as a Reiki or Yoga course and or a cooking class… the choices are endless.

Full details are on our website www.eknoexperience.com – Work - Holidays.

Other Travel News:

2009 Nirvana Buddha’s Sites tour (13 days, 12 nights) with Dalai Lama’s teachings in Bodhgaya (21 days, 20 nights) leaves Delhi on 21 December 2009

The tour the Buddha’s sites of Sarnath, Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Kushingar and Lumbini

We are offering participants on the Nirvana Tour the opportunity of a lifetime to attend Dalai Lama’s teachings in the Bodhgaya, India as a 10 day extension to the Ladakh trip.

This trip is a fundraising trip for Thosamling International Institute for Buddhist Women. Further details are on our website www.eknoexperience.com – Travel, Buddha’s Sites, or email us at info@eknoexperience.com for further details.

If you are the independent type take advantage of our expert advice and experience to help you with your transportation and accommodation needs. If you want to learn a new skill combined with some travel to Dharamsala then one of our Mind, Body & Soul Packages will be ideal for you. Whether it’s a Meditation, Reiki, Yoga, Language Cooking or Jewellery making class, your journey won't be complete without one.

Other courses offered are: Reiki, Meditation, Yoga, Massage, Tarot Card Reading, Crystal Healing, Dance, Cooking, Language and more...

See our full range of courses and descriptions on our website.

We at Ekno Experience will do all organization, leaving you free to concentrate on getting the most out of your travels and your experiences in India. Be warned however, once she (India) is in your blood it could be there forever.

Email us your suggested itinerary and we will do the rest to arrange all the details. Check out the list of destinations on our website.

Email us to discuss your travel plans at info@eknoexperience.com
or
call or SMS on 0437 967 819 in Australia.