The Volunteer Tibet Guide

This guide intends to give you all the information you need to know in order to volunteer with us. Please also see the FAQs and Our Community sections for answers to questions about preparing for your trip and life in Dharamsala.

Types of Volunteer Opportunity

Generally, volunteer opportunities fall into two different categories — Long Term (2-3 months or more) and Short Term (less than 2 months). Many organizations require Long Term volunteers for opportunities that require special skills or experience. Short Term opportunities are usually language instruction or tutoring or small projects. Either way, you'll find the Tibetan people very receptive of your efforts!

Short term opportunities

While many government offices and larger non-government offices (NGOs) have a minimum time commitment of three months, there are still many smaller organizations that are happy to take volunteers for shorter periods. If you have a special skill, particularly technology or computer-related, there are many short term projects or training opportunities available.

A good number of short term opportunities arise from the desire many local Tibetans have to learn English. Many of these placements require no teaching experience and can be very flexible with scheduling. Tutoring English is one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. Tutors have a chance to meet with their students individually and have a personal exchange with a local member of the community, developing lasting friendships and providing a personal insight into the Tibetan culture. (Try clicking on the "Tutoring/Teaching" category on our search page.)

Long term opportunities

If you find a longer term opportunity that suits your interests and skills, chances are it will be with a Tibetan Government-In-Exile office, an official NGO (Nongovernment Organization), or with one of the larger Tibetan organizations. Compared to the short term opportunities, the long term are usually more important positions in the organizations, and require a full-time commitment. Many volunteers are expected to work 9-5 M-F and every other Saturday. Most of the organizations are not able to provide compensation for these positions. You will find some, however, that do offer free room and board for special situations.

Applying for a Volunteer Position

To search through the current available vacancies and apply online please look at the Search Postings section and fill out the relevant application form. The Volunteer Tibet team will then respond to your application as soon as possible. If you are unsure as to which position would best suit you, or have a particular set of skills you believe could be utilized, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Before applying, please read and bear in mind the information regarding volunteer responsibility.

Reimbursement and Accommodation.

Many volunteers ask us if they get free room and board or any compensation for volunteering. While each opportunity is different, and there are no real rules for which opportunities provide room and board and which don't, in our experience, the majority do not. This information should be clearly listed on each opportunity page.

Volunteer Tibet can help arrange accommodation for you during your placement; depending on the location of the project, we can help you arrange an apartment with other volunteers, a homestay with a Tibetan family, or a place in a local monastery or nunnery. In McLeod Ganj, there are also a number of guesthouses ranging from inexpensive backpacker style hostels to more comfortable hotels. When applying for a project you will have to opportunity to discuss accommodation arrangements with us. Further information on costs is listed below.

Unlike many other organizations which request large fees for arranging placements for their volunteers, finding a volunteer position through Volunteer Tibet is completely free of charge. We are a grassroots, not-for-profit organization, and all of our funding comes from the kind donations of our volunteers, friends and family. To help support us and provide vital funds for our projects, we offer our volunteers two valuable services they can choose to take advantage of, Reception and Orientation. These services provide our volunteers with a deeper understanding of Tibetan culture and the local community and make their arrival in Dharamsala much more enjoyable.

Living Costs in Dharamsala

While the costs of living while volunteering depend largely on the location of your project and your accommodation arrangements, you'll be happy to hear that in general cost of living in this part of the world is dramatically cheaper than in western countries. In Dharamsala, you can live comfortably on as little as $150 US a month for lodging and meals (with more typical budgets running from $200-300). There are many cheap (but good!) restaurants and cafes to eat at, and being such a small place transport costs to get around the city generally don’t apply.

For more information on transport to Dharamsala, advice on what to bring, health advice and other information about life in the local area and the Tibetan community, please see our FAQs page and also the Dharamsala information page.

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