FAQ

1.  Volunteering

i)  How old do I have to be to volunteer?

Beautiful World welcomes people from all ages and from all walks of life, the minimum age being 18. 

ii)  Do I need to have previous teaching experience?

Yes.  Either previous experience or a TEFL qualification is essential.  Teaching resources tend to be limited in Ladakh, textbooks or teaching structures may be non-existent, thus it is vital that you have the ability to determine the level of the students' English and decide on a syllabus for your stay.  It is not enough to simply assume knowledge or teach what has been taught previously but to assess the needs of the students and to define and tailor your lessons to meet these.  We aim to prepare you as much as we can with regards to teaching, but we also insist that you prepare as much as possible pre-departure.  There is a wealth of information on the web; see our links page.  It is, however, important that you are fluent in English and have a reasonable standard of grammatical accuracy and knowledge.

iii)  What skills do I need?

No formal skills as such, just patience, resilience, and a good sense of humour! 

iv)  Do I need to speak the language?

It's not necessary to learn Ladakhi (the local language) or Hindi (the national language which is widely spoken in Ladakh).  At other times, knowledge of the local language is an obvious advantage.  Try to learn several words of phrases in the local language(s) - several excellent phrasebooks are available. 

v)  Can I only teach English?

Teaching English is the primary role but there are several other areas where you may be of help.  The Ladakh Nuns Association always appreciate lessons in using PCs and various office skills (MS Excel, Word, Frontpage, Outlook, etc); you may assist in teaching other core subjects (eg. maths, science) depending on the placement, but English will be your primary responsibility.  

vi)  When can I go?

Placements usually run in summer season from the end of May to September.  Autumn/winter placements can easily be arranged if required.

vii)  Can I choose my placement?

We try to match up the criteria of each individual placement with your own requirements as much as possible but we cannot guarantee you will have the placement you wish.  We hope for your trust in best deciding a placement for you. 

viii)  How much notice do I need to give before I can go?

It is possible to arrange placements with just a few weeks' notice but we would advise you to book ahead as early as possible for two reasons.  Firstly, the number of placements are limited; secondly, the longer you have before you go, the longer you have to prepare yourself for your trip.

ix)  How long do placements last?

We prefer at least a two month commitment to our placements.  Longer stays are more than welcome.

x)  Can I work in more than one placement during my stay?

If other placements are available and if you meet the criteria for the placement (eg. males to monasteries, females to nunneries), you may work in more than one placement.

xi)  Are the placements safe?

Although in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is on the predominantly Buddhist east side which is completely safe.  In addition to this, you will be living and working in monasteries which are about as safe as you can get.

2.  Travel

i)  Do I have to arrange flights myself?

Yes, flights first to Delhi and then a domestic flight to Leh must be arranged yourself.  We can provide help with this if needed.  We also recommend that return tickets are left open (check validity) in case you extend your stay or decide to travel after your placement has ended. 

ii)  Do I arrange a visa myself?

Yes.  Again this is a simple matter that we can help with if necessary.

iii)  Do you provide medical insurance?

No, this must also be arranged and organised yourself.  Insurance is a must.

3.  About Beautiful World

i)  Is Beautiful World a registered charity?

Beautiful World was established in March 2004.  We aim to get registered charity status as soon as possible and have begun the process of becoming registered.  Our main focus now however, is to fill teaching placements for the 2007 season. 

ii)  What is the £200 administration charge for?

Beautiful World is run by Manoj Bharij as a non-profit organisation - entirely unpaid work done for the benefit of the monks and nuns of Ladakh.  The admin fee covers the administration costs of running the organisation; eg. telephone calls to arrange placements (UK and to India), travel expenses into London to meet volunteers for interviews, advertising expenses and web space rental.  Various donations are also provided to the monasteries and nunneries themselves, as well as a telephone fund for them to contact the UK with ease.  The majority of other volunteer organisations charge in the region of £800+ for three month placements, as such we feel that £200 (per placement regardless of time) is a small charge to ask for. 60% of this fee goes to the placement itself (ie. £120).

iii)  Why do I have to pay to volunteer?

As stated above, the admin charge is a one-off fee covering the small expenses of running an organisation that at present receives no funding or grants.  For this comparatively small amount, and for covering your own travel expenses, you get the opportunity to live and work in a region where you would not normally be able to do so.  The benefits of volunteering are endless - please see our Benefits section for more information.

4.  Signing Up

i)  OK, I'm interested.  How do I go about signing up?

Apply here - once we have received your application we will get in touch to arrange an interview if we feel you are a suitable candidate. If successful,  and once two suitable references and the £200 administration charge have been recevied, training will begin as will the arrangement of your placement.

ii)  Can I speak to other people that have already volunteered in Ladakh?

Yes.  See here for emails of previous volunteers who will be happy to answer any of your questions.

ii)  What if I have more questions?

If you have any more questions or would like to discuss our placements further, please call on +44 (0)7903 162 179, or email with your phone number, including a suitable time to return your call.