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Volunteer in a Buddhist Centre in Cafe, Housekeeping & Gardening

5.0
(32 reviews)32

The experience

Join Chenrezig Institute, our peaceful Buddhist Centre! Volunteer 20-25 hours per week with 2 days off to rest. Support with food preparation, housekeeping, gardening, and reception. Participate in daily activities such as yoga and meditation, for reflection and spiritual development. The stay includes comfy shared housing, healthy vegetarian meals, and meaningful connections 🪷

What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.

What you get

3 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Get free drinks or beverages.: Drink up! Get free and tasty drinks for yourself.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Yoga classes: Take free yoga classes at our place.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English

Over 18 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Travel insurance

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

This is work exchange for live-in volunteers, who'll work 20-25 hours per week in our Big Love Café, housekeeping , gardening, and reception in exchange for accommodation, nourishing vegetarian meals, a natural forest setting, and the chance to be part of a community making a positive impact. Volunteers have also access to Buddhist teachings, yoga and meditation classes.

Volunteers at Chenrezig contribute to meaningful work while living in a values-based environment grounded in compassion, mindfulness, and community connection. You don’t need to be Buddhist to join. We welcome open-hearted people from all walks of life.

Activities & Shift

Volunteer contributions include:

• Cleaning rooms, toilets, and showers
• Prepare and organise the laundry
• Helping chefs with food preparation, serving, and washing
• Supporting the café manager with coffees, teas, and cake orders
• Gardening and maintaining the groups (weeding, land mowing, bush clearing)
• Welcoming customers and attending our reception and shop

Shifts & Expectations:

Volunteers will typically commit to around 20-25 hours per week, spread across four days with six-hour shifts. Some weekend work may be involved, and regular days off are provided for rest and reflection. Volunteers are expected to engage with a collaborative spirit and respect the peaceful, values-based environment. There are also opportunities to work with Tibetan traditional art and holy objects, and to take time for yoga, meditation, and self-reflection in our serene rainforest setting.

Rules

Code of Conduct:
• No killing
• No stealing
• No lying
• No sexual misconduct
• No intoxicants including smoking.
• Respect for the monastic community of Buddhist Nuns and Monks in the Mahayana Tibetan Buddhist tradition.