Beginning in February 2010 and May 2010 Dechen Chöling will offer a Summer Volunteer Programme open to anyone with an interest in the Shambhala Buddhist teachings. Come spend all or part of the summer as a volunteer staff member, practicing and studying in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition.
The programme has two main entry dates, in accord with the staffing needs of Dechen Chöling:
We hope that volunteers at both entry dates who enjoy living and working here will consider staying until mid October 2010. Alternative entry dates are gladly considered!
The volunteer programme is based on regular group practice, work and study.
At both entry dates we will offer Shambhala Training Level One, and levels Two and Three later in the programme. Volunteers are asked to commit to the twice daily meditation practice followed by all Dechen Chöling Staff. In this way, each working day at Dechen Chöling begins and ends with formal meditation practice together.
As a volunteer you will be assigned a job throughout the summer, or work in various positions according to Dechen Chöling’s departmental needs. See the list of volunteer jobs. Please include all position preferences in your application.
The Summer Volunteer Programme will have a progressive shambhala Buddhist study curriculum, as well as weekly dharma talks to the staff by local teachers. We will offer classes in the new pilot curriculum: The Way of Shambhala.
If you cannot come on either entry date (Feb 2010 or May 2010), contact our Summer Volunteer Program Office, to discuss possible exceptions: personnel@dechencholing.org
The programme is based on the Shambhala Buddhist ideal of mixing meditation and study with everyday life.
Responsibilities: Planning menus and cooking for all staff and programme participants throughout the summer. During busy periods this can mean up to 200 people.
Skills needed: Large scale cooking experience, friendly disposition, sense of humor and courage.
Responsibilities: Acts as the main support for the cook, organizes food preparation and helps keep the kitchen running.
Skills needed: Prior experience working in a kitchen or other food service industry (barristas welcome!), interest in working as part of a team, love of food and cooking and the ability to work well under time pressure.
Responsibilities: Receive and process payments, and work with financial database.
Skills needed: Organization, attention to detail, ability and willingness to work with numbers and relating to payment related questions via emails and telephone in a swift, friendly and accomodating way.
Responsibilities: Act as front desk receptionist, field staff and participant questions and requests, answer phone calls and emails, register programme participants and serve as general communication board for Dechen Chöling.
Skills needed: Organization and attention to detail, computer proficiency, good communication and interpersonal skills, Must be fluent in English and French (German and Spanish a plus ).
Responsibilities: Maintaining equipment, structures and all Dechen Choling facilities; setting up tents and practice spaces during programmes; troubleshooting facility-related issues.
Skills needed: Experience with general repairs in plumbing, electrical work, equipment and carpentry. Must be willing and able to work outside in all kinds of weather.
Responsibilities: Assist the head of garden throughout the summer.
Skills needed: Physical fitness, some gardening experience, and the ability to work outside in all kinds of weather and temperatures.
Responsibilities: Setting up and managing the Boutique and adjacent coffee terrace during programmes.
Skills needed: Prior experience in a customer service environment. Organization, interpersonal and communication skills, customer relations, attention to detail, ability to multitask, a taste for coffee (barristas welcome!) English and French language skills required.
Responsibilities: Assisting the Head of Practice and Study by setting up practice spaces and shrines for a variety of programmes.
Skills needed: Knowledge of liturgy and ceremonies, shrine set-up, and teacher service, as well as the ability to multi-task, prioritize, use a computer and archive practice material. Physical fitness in order to prepare the set-up of practice spaces.
Shared accommodation. For this position we ask that you commit from Jan or Feb until the end of October 2010
Responsibilities: Setting up the sound and translation equipment, recording the talks, archiving talks for later use, storing and maintaining all sound/video equipment, and handling orders from the participants of programmes.
Skills needed: Previous experience with sound systems, recording devices and video recording equipment, ability to troubleshoot during recording and some affinity with recording and archiving.
Responsibilities: Providing basic health care to program participants, staff and summer volunteers. Stocking and managing health-care supplies.
Skills needed: Some experience and training in health-care.
