We love our volunteers, many become life long friends of the Foundation.
Volunteer
We have year round opportunities for volunteering at our resident volunteer center in Bodhgaya India. Volunteer activities center around helping at our Bodhi Tree schools and working on projects in the nearby villages. While learning new skills can be beneficial, it is not a requirement for a fulfilling volunteer experience. Bear in mind that the most valuable abilities you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, and a desire to help.
There are several options available for Volunteering
Volunteer opportunities can last from 1 week to 3 months. The average time for most volunteers is two to four weeks, shorter times are possible if space is available, and we also have longer resident internship options of 6-12 months.
Our volunteer project coordinators in India speak English and all local languages. All income generated from our volunteer programs goes directly into the projects the Foundation runs.
Bodhgaya is marvelous cultural Experience
Bodhgaya is the historical location where Shakyamuni Buddha reached enlightenment while meditating underneath the Bodhi Tree. Bodhgaya is the most visited of the main four historical sites related to the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. In 2002, the MahaBodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bodhgaya is a fascinating area, you will be within short distance of the MahaBodhi temple where the original Bodhi Tree is located. Our staff will take you to visit local historical sites and you will have plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture’s food, flavor and color.
Key Points to Know About Our Volunteer Program
The Foundation provides many full-time jobs for the local population. – Volunteer efforts support and supplement our staff, rather than replace it. Volunteers enhance an already functioning strong core program.
Volunteer efforts are coordinated to ensure that there is continuity in all projects, and a high quality outcome for all programs. Local cultural traditions are respected by the Foundation and all volunteer activities reflect this .
The strong respect that is fostered between volunteers and the children / locals encourages recipients of assistance to develop higher self-esteem and confidence in their own ability to attain greater prosperity. Our programs center around the idea that everyone can help – the people who are receiving help now know they are preparing to help others in the near future.
Our volunteers come away from their experience with deep satisfaction and pleasure in their close bonds with the children, community and staff. They feel valued for their contribution and develop friendship that can last a lifetime. Because of this, we have many volunteers who return every year and are greeted with a very warm welcome.
“The Best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”
– Mahatma Ghandi
We love our Volunteers, many become life long friends of the Foundation.
I had such an amazing experience staying here and visiting the Bodhi Tree school. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. I have never felt so inspired and uplifted before. I think the work done here is so amazing and i wish we could have stayed here longer to interact and learn. -Grace, Volunteer (USA)
Great project! Worked hard and played hard! Volunteering does make a difference- slowly but surely. Volunteering has made a huge impact on my life. I should have done it years ago! Just go for it. You will make great friends, see new places, learn different cultures, have a sense of achievement and make a difference. -Maria, Volunteer (Spain)
Ever since I left Bodhi Tree School our sweet home in India, I just can’t help thinking of people I’ve met during my stay. I absolutely miss every moment I spent with my sweet friends there whilst feeling just so happy to have had such a great opportunity to get to know them. A month there was certainly long enough for me to realize how I could actually make my own contribution to a certain society, yet definitely too short to say “I’ve seen/felt/done enough”. Everything is quite an inspiration for me! Let me wish every single one of you here all the best with all my heart. -Takehiro, Volunteer (Japan)
After one month volunteering in Bodhgaya, it is time to bid farewell to Dhirendra the director and all the staff and volunteers. I have had an amazing time during my stay here and am very sad to leave. I was welcomed into the community with open arms and included in all the projects and events, right from the very first day. It’s wonderful to see how previous students are now themselves working for the organization, after having learnt so much thanks to the management. I hope to be back in the very near future. -Olivia, Volunteer (UK)
I enjoyed visiting school with such an amazing greeting! The food served throughout this entire stay was very good. The hospitality at the volunteer house was the most welcomed. I have felt my whole trip in India. I loved the village and getting to speak with young students in the university. Thank you so much! You have an amazing team! -Willow, Volunteer (USA)
“Volunteering was magical on so many levels. The partner is inspiring, well organized, passionate and a privilege to be aligned with. The opportunities available to impact directly on the lives of those in need are incredibly special, and the rewards are felt by the children, their communities and the volunteers themselves. -Graham, Volunteer (UK)
I had the most unbelievable experience. It was home; an experience I will never forget and recommend to everyone. Hard work but hugely rewarding and after 4 weeks I didn’t want it to end. I met so many great people and learnt so much about the structural poverty, demography, social commitments, community life and much more, By the end it felt like my home! -Carmen, Volunteer (Spain)
Volunteering in Bodhi Tree School was such a worthwhile experience, not only for me but for the kids I taught as well. The impact you make on the school is something that benefits the children massively, allowing them to experience fun and a different method of teaching. Volunteering is a great way to see the world, whilst benefiting others. -Jose, Volunteer, (Spain)
Meeting amazing people who became like family to me, getting to know and love the children I worked with, exploring a beautiful country and culture: all of this is just the beginning of what my experience was like volunteering with the Bodhi Tree Educational Foundation in Bodhgaya, India. I’m very thankful to be able to say I’m a part of it. -Ruby Volunteer (USA)
