Learn about Buddhism & Confucianism in Taipei
The experience
We are a Buddhist & Confucian culture academy serving families for over 20 years.
Volunteers will help with daily chores as well as translation editing, digital content, and helping to improve our foreign language offerings. As a non-profit academy all of our classes are free and run on volunteer basis.
Volunteers have many opportunities to participate in discussion, study, practice, and events related to Buddhist practice or Confucianism.
What you offer
25 hours of help per week
Content Writer:
Write, edit and publish inspiring content.
Photography:
Take, edit and provide amazing photos.
Video Making:
Create, edit and publish digital videos.
Social Media:
Maintain and update social media channels.
What you get
2 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.
Free Tours:
We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Basic Internet Access:
Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Dedicated Workspace:
Specific space for you to work remotely
Requirements
Beginner English or Beginner Chinese
Over 18 years old
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
What's not included
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Program Details
Volunteers have flexible hours and can mostly determine their own schedule we do have a preference for completing the work in the morning/early part of the day. We tend to give out some general cleaning tasks and see how things are from there.
There are many members of all ages coming in and out of the academy which has a close family feeling.
Depending on the week/semester schedule we may have outings with the volunteers or guests, special events, hosting esteemed guests and scholars, visits to Taichung or Dongshi, night markets, etc.
Activities & Shift
Primarily: daily light housekeeping and cleaning, editing or translation as appropriate, creating digital content (video, photos) may be options. Writing blog posts/reflections on Buddhist or Confucian learning and culture, creative projects of program improvement ideas of your own can be implemented. We've had volunteers excited about cooking write recipes from our head cook and others create our introduction video. If you are passionate about something, self motivated, and forward- we will help support you so it is mutually beneficial.
Rules
We are an academy so there are members of all ages here from very young children to senior citizens. We expect all volunteers to conduct themselves professionally and with modesty at all times.
This is a no smoking, no alcohol, no meat/fish environment. All food served here is Buddhist vegetarian/vegan (no alliums like garlic, onion, etc.)
We have to close our doors at around 9:30 so if you leave after this period you need to arrange for someone to let you back into the building.
Rooms at times may be shared and other spaces are both study/work/living spaces or used for meditation and Buddhist services so attention to personal hygiene, keeping spaces orderly, and impact on the community is necessary.