Volunteering at Root Institute
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Root Institute! Volunteering with us is a wonderful opportunity to offer service in the blessed environment of Bodhgaya. Volunteers should be willing to live according to the Buddhist Five Precepts, preferably with an interest in spiritual practice or at least a sincere respect for our spiritual environment. The spiritual programme as well as the community health projects are run according to Buddhist principles and beliefs. The work is satisfying and exciting, with space for creativity in the work place.
Each winter Root Institute seeks seasonal volunteers to form a team of dedicated to fulfilling Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's wish for to provide the opportunity for people to study and practice the Buddha Dharma in Bodhgaya.
Opportunities for 2011-2012
Resident Sangha Members
Working closely with the Director and Spiritual Program Coordinator, the role of resident sangha within Root Institute during the winter season (October to March) is to lead daily meditations, organise pujas, meet and advise new students, run short workshops, guide pilgrims to the holy sites around Bodhgaya and offer general help with the spiritual program.
The quiet and beautiful (hot) summer months offer an opportunity for retreat.
Position: Kitchen Coordinator
6 months from October 2011 to March 2012
Do you have an interest in food, and experiencing the Indian way? If so, we need you to run our kitchen and dining hall.
The responsibilities and challenges of the Kitchen Manager are to oversee a team of local staff, to oversee hygiene and plan an exciting and nutritious menu while working within a budget and the rather limited variety of foods available here in Bodhgaya. The peak of the season, December and January, will prove to be the most challenging with up to 200 guests to feed at once.
An interest in food, a creative eye for detail, confidence, patience, and a sense of humour are essential to making this position work for you.
Position: Office/Housekeeping
6 months from September 2011 to March 2012
The office positions can be very demanding roles so good organizational skills and focus on the job are essential to make the position work. You will also need to be prepared to be on call after hours on a roster basis.
The job entails overseeing the room reservations, welcoming guests, short tours/introduction of the institute for new comers, keeping track of guest accounts, laundry, meals, etc. There will be some data entry and monitoring of the general email account, answering enquiries, etc. so computer literacy is useful.
You will be working closely with the Centre Manager for ground and room maintence and housekeeping, and with our Spiritual Programme Coordinator for student and teacher reservations.
The role starts off beginning of October with preparation of the rooms, updating the database, emails and reservation chart and while it's still a little bit quiet, helping out around the Institute for whatever is needed to set up for the season.
During the busier months, November through January, the job will be based in the office overseeing all the guest needs.
This job requires patience, flexibility and an easy way of looking at things when problems inevitably arise.
To apply for any of the above positions, please email director@rootinstitute.com and state which position you are appling for, add your current CV highlighting any relevant experience, a covering letter explaining why you’d like to work here and a brief summary of your Dharma history. Please also provide email addresses for two referees.
Health Programme Volunteers
The Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Programme has long benefited from the service of volunteers who have come from other countries. Nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists work alongside our Indian staff and help to create systems that sustain the programme long-term.
Experienced nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists are welcome year-round for a minimum stay of 6 months. If you are unable to commit to this length of time, or are inexperienced in these fields, you are welcome to observe our work in the on-site clinic and the village health programme on a short-term basis.
Position: Nurse (required immediately)
The role of the volunteer nurse with our health programs is two-fold: providing direct care to clients in conjunction with Indian staff and helping to develop sustainable systems that will support the program long-term.
Some of the daily nursing responsibilities include providing daytime care for patients in 8-bed “hospital” unit; assisting with general medical clinic (TB, Diabetes, HIV); aiding in the development of our village-level health promotion program; helping to manage the pharmacy and working closely with staff to aid in their professional development.
Experience with HIV+ children would be very useful.
Position: Physiotherapist (required immediately)
Our physiotherapy department is looking for an enthusiastic, creative and committed physiotherapist who can mentor our local staff by sharing ideas and techniques on the screening and treatment of patients.
The main purpose of the physiotherapist volunteer is to build up the confidence and skills of our local staff so that they may carry on their good work for many years to come.
An overview of the physiotherapist volunteer’s duties are:
- To assess and treat patients suffering from knee, back, neck and similar problems, as well as paralysis due to various causes, e.g. poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy, hemoplegia.
- To improve the physiotherapy facilities in Shakyamuni Buddha clinic.
- To visit outlying villages with the mobile medical unit.
- To teach local staff how to assess and prescribe suitable exercises.
- To train local staff in basic physiotherapy techniques
- A professional who has worked in Neurology Departments and with teaching and training experience will be given precedence. Qualities that are essential to this role are patience, perseverance and an open heart and mind.
The clinic is located on Root Institute for Wisdom Culture’s premises, a semi-monastic centre. Therefore we ask that volunteers abide by the five precepts whilst living here - applicants should be content living and working within a spiritual environment. Non drinkers and non-smokers are preferred.
People with a strong interest in the Dharma and preferably a connection with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche are encouraged to Contact Us for additional information.
All on-site volunteers receive accommodation plus three delicious vegetarian meals per day and a great deal of satisfaction and merit (positive energy) from benefiting so many people.
