Teaching at the Monastery

Program Description

In this project you will be educating Buddhist monks in the age range of approximately 5-16 years old. In The monastery at any given time there around 30 to 40 monks, of which there will be 2 classes, one for seniors and one for junior students.

VCD Nepal will provide you with a guide to planning lessons for the students but it encouraged that you compose your own lessons and games for the students to keep them stimulated.

Requirements: There are no specific requirements for the program other than fluency in written and spoken English. However the best things you can have is patience and a genuine desire to teach and help the children.

Program Dates: Are very flexible, the minimum time for the program is 2 weeks and the maximum length of stay is 5 months.

Suggestions: Depending on the subject, volunteers can bring along teaching materials such as picture books, instruments, flash cards, art supplies, and songs. Other good items to bring include: books about Buddhism, Chocolates/sweets for rewarding the children when they do well in class. Pictures of your family and country are always also a very good thing to take.

Accommodations: A simple room with a bed, shower and western style toilet. Located on the 4th floor with beautiful views of the hills at the edge of Kathmandu valley. We advise you to bring Sleeping bag and mosquito net with you or you can always by here which is 2-3 times cheaper than back home.

Meals: Breakfast occurs at 7:30 am and consists of a cup of tea and biscuits. Lunch is served at 11:30 am and is usually dal/bhat (rice, lentils, and vegetables). Dinner is at 4:30 pm and is once more Dal/Bhat. The food is very simple but also extremely tasty and filling. Additional food such as cookies can be bought at the local shop if you should still be hungry.

Locations: Kapan, Kathmandu. Kwaling Monastery, Kapan, approximately 20 minutes from Bouddha, where there is access to internet, phones and every western appliance or comfort you might want. In the villages around the monastery there is a small western style supermarket which stocks such things as toiletries and international brands.

The monastery is situated at the edge of Kathmandu valley with in easy walking distance of the surrounding foot-hills.