Volunteer and Job Opportunities in FPMT
Australia | Denmark | France
Germany | India |Italy
Latvia | Mongolia | Nepal
The Netherlands | New Zealand
Spain | United Kingdom | United States
Offer Service
From directors to work-study volunteers, there are many different ways you can help FPMT centers, projects and services - please have a look to see what jobs and volunteer opportunities are currently open.Click here for more background about offering service in the FPMT organization.
Australia
Spiritual Program Coordinator Opportunity
Atisha Centre, near Bendigo, Victoria
We are looking for a warm and kind hearted person, who is an excellent communicator and has the ability to work harmoniously with others. The applicant needs to have a good knowledge of common Mahayana practices and protocols, and a broad range of administrative, and marketing skills. The position requires the person to be a good manager, taking responsibility for the co-ordination of the spiritual programme and working with a small team of dedicated volunteers.
Join the Work Exchange Program
Chenrezig Institute, Queensland
We usually have about nine "volunteers" on the program working in the kitchen/cafe, grounds/maintenance or housekeeping - all vital to keeping this busy teaching centre open. We are about 90 minutes north of Brisbane on 160 acres of the beautiful sub-tropical Sunshine Coast hinterland. In exchange for thirty hours per week over five days we offer three meals a day, accommodation and access to teachings (including those of our two resident geshes) and meditations. People with building skills are particularly welcome to apply but the main requirements are an interest in the dharma, enthusiasm and reasonable English. For more information or an application form visit www.chenrezig.com.au or call (61) (7) 5453 2108.
Denmark
France
Volunteers Needed
Nalanda Monastery
Germany
India
School Manager, Physiotherapist and Nurse Needed, plus Volunteer Opportunities
Root Institute for Wisdom Culture, Bodhgaya
The Maitreya School Manager's responsibilities involve working with the school principal in: overseeing the day-to-day running of the school; organizing teacher training workshops; organizing Universal Education training; fund-raising and public relations.
People skills, patience, resilience, an eye for detail and a sense of humor are vital. It would also be very helpful to learn some Hindi while here. While the work is challenging, the benefits as well as the personal and emotional satisfaction are amazing, with the added bonus of practicing in this most powerful, holy place.
Room, food and stipend are offered in return for a two-year commitment.
If you’re up for a challenging role, please send your details along with a current resume to manager@rootinstitute.com
The Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Care Centre in Root Institute is looking for a physiotherapist and nurse volunteers. For more info please click here.
Additionally, each winter Root Institute seeks seasonal volunteers to work alongside the Centre Director, Centre Manager and Spiritual Programme Coordinator to form a team of dedicated FPMT students working to fulfil Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche's wish for students to meet and practice the Dharma in Bodhgaya. Volunteering at Root Institute is a wonderful opportunity to live in the blessed environment of Bodhgaya while benefiting others!
We have openings for a Kitchen Manager, Office Manager, Office Assistant and Shopkeeper. Click here for more information including how to apply.
Italy
Volunteer needed
Kushi Ling Retreat Centre
Kushi Ling offers free Dharma teachings, food, lodging, good company and a bit of pocket money for volunteers who like to help around the house and garden for a period of 2 months or longer. Kushi Ling is situated in a very lovely and quiet natural setting and hosts group retreats as well as individual retreaters. 8 months of the year the place has a lot of activity, the 4 winter months are much quieter. The volunteer does not need any particular skills, but some basic knowledge of Italian and/or gardening and cooking would be helpful. Please contact info@kushi-ling.com.
Latvia
Housekeeper/Manager/Handyperson Needed
Yiga Chodzin Study Group
Yiga Chodzin is a probationary retreat centre (study group) and urgently seeks a person, or a couple, to serve as housekeeper/manager and, if able, as handyman. The minimum requirements are to be able to cook for resident Sangha and individual retreaters, mow lawns, clear snow, chop/carry firewood according to the season, do the shopping, and to keep the premises clean and functional.
The position is ideal for someone who wishes to live in semi-retreat and at the same time offer service to others. This is a pioneer situation, so conditions are negotiable.
To apply and for more information, email the Coordinator.
Mongolia
Nepal
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Vegetarian Cook, Housekeeper and Groundskeeper Positions Available
Mahamudra Centre, Coromandel
Click here for more information about each position, and application details.
If you would like to offer service and are sure that you can live contentedly in a somewhat isolated rural area, please contact us. Information about the centre can be found on www.mahamudra.org.nz
Spain
Volunteer Positions Available
Oseling Retreat Centre, near Granada
We are looking for a vegetarian cook, to cater for courses, retreats, staff and volunteers. Responsibilities include cooking for up to 25 people, ordering kitchen supplies and maintaining kitchen to high standard. If you would like to offer service and nourish others with your cooking, we would love to hear from you.
We also need a housekeeper to take care of retreat-houses, dormitories, co-ordinate volunteers, assist with hospitality and if possible relieve on the cooks days off, and a person capable of taking care of the maintenance of the center.
Both positions are for a 3-6 month term, or longer, giving 36 hours a week service with one or two days off, depending on the season,(July and August being the months with most work. We offer single room accommodation, all meals and opportunities to attend retreats and courses.
Please contact the center at oficina@oseling.com
United Kingdom
Volunteer Work Opportunities
Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London
Would you, or anyone you know, like to spend some time in a Dharma community?
Jamyang Buddhist Centre in London offers the unique opportunity to be a Work Programme Volunteer in a vibrant and friendly FPMT city centre with a resident English-speaking geshe. We provide free board, accommodation and Dharma classes, plus a small weekly allowance, in return for three months work, five days per week. We are looking for volunteers to join the hospitality team, which cleans the centre, does some washing and ironing, and sets up our events (which can be physically demanding).
This post is very much about service - to visitors and to students - and about enjoying helping others get the most from their time here. As English is the working language of the Centre it helps to have good spoken and written English and some computing skills, but the main qualities you need are friendliness, enthusiasm and a good sense of humour (as sometimes it can be a bit full on here!).
Contact admin@jamyang.co.uk
USA
Spiritual Program Coordinator and Work-Study Opportunities
Milarepa Center, Vermont
We have a part-time residential position open for a Spiritual Program Coordinator (SPC). Ideally, we are seeking a nun or monk to reside with us for part of the year to help plan programs, events and retreats, as well as coordinate other spiritual activities of the Center. This position requires a detail-oriented person with a basic Dharma knowledge and meditation experience, along with a broad range of administrative skills. For more details, including how to apply, please click here.
Relief Cook and Skilled Volunteer Opportunity
Vajrapani Institute, Boulder Creek, California
We have a need for a Relief Cook (a part-time paid position), and an opening for a workstudy volunteer caretaker.
Volunteer Handy Man/Woman Needed
Land of Calm Abiding, Big Sur, CA
VOLUNTEER HANDYMAN/WOMAN FOR LAND OF CALM ABIDING. Golden opportunity for Dharma student who wishes to serve Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche by taking care of his meditators in isolated long term retreat. Central Coast of California wilderness center, three miles from the ocean. Good opportunity to serve a small community of meditators and to create the cause to eventually do your own long retreat! Must have Buddhist Refuge and be a non-smoker. Must be fit, active, hard-working, like isolation and nature and be able to drive 4-wheel drive truck and ATV. Handyman skills required and a valid driver’s license would be helpful. No children, no outside dogs and no outstanding debts. Contact us at director@landofcalmabiding.org
Volunteer Positions
FPMT International Office, Portland, Oregon
Would you like to offer service? The International Office of FPMT, located in beautiful Portland, Oregon, has several different opportunities available for volunteers. This is a great way to learn about the Foundation and the many activities that the office manages. Some of the areas that need help are in filing, database entry, IT support, general office help for individual departments, and order fulfillment and customer service for the Foundation Store. Volunteering is also an excellent avenue to apply for paid positions as the office continues to grow. Please contact Chuck Latimer for more information