You have probably already found some volunteer programs where you can help Buddhist monks while surfing the internet, mainly educational projects such as teaching English to Buddhist monks.
Did you know that the monks you teach are mainly young novices who are sent to the monastery by their families for a short (or longer) period? Financial reasons are not always the main reason. Local families send their children to the temple or monastery not only for financial reasons or karma, but also to gain respect for the family.
Girls are not admitted to the Buddhist temple schools, so they are excluded from the training you give for free
Teaching English to Buddhist monks benefits the monks, and yes education is free. However, be realistic and keep in mind that if you volunteer at a temple and teach Buddhist monks, you exclude 50% of the population. After all, girls are not admitted to the Buddhist temple schools, so they are excluded from the training you give for free.
Every respected non-profit and NGO follows the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. At Volunteer Abroad Alliance, the Sustainable Development Goals are always our top priority and we also respect SDG5 – Gender Equality.
At Volunteer Abroad Alliance we open our projects to everyone. We welcome both girls and Buddhist monks, and yes, we have Buddhist monks taking classes at some of our education projects.
Immersion in Buddhism
By volunteering at our projects and being introduced to a local temple by our local team, you will most likely experience a more genuine Buddhist immersion than you ever imagined volunteering at a commercial temple complex, as the latter are constantly overrun by visitors.
We do understand that volunteers want to immerse themselves in a new religion and volunteer with Buddhist monks. That's why we offer the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism by volunteering at our projects in Buddhist countries.
You can currently volunteer at various projects in Laos and Cambodia. Our local teams are happy to explain more about Buddhism and introduce you to the local monks. Besides helping the local community you will also learn more about Buddhism directly from the locals.
