A non-profit Buddhist mountain village and retreat center in the Italian alps near the Swiss border, Italy

  • Favourited 2249 times
  • Last activity: 17 Apr 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a Buddhist mountain village and retreat center in the Italian alps near the Swiss border. We are open from spring to autumn and receive guests for Buddhist courses and retreats, practitioners who wish to profit from the special atmosphere and people in search of nature and quietness. We serve simple but wholesome vegetarian dishes. We are non smokers.

    For 2023 we are more than usual in maintenance projects and in upgrading the traditional stone-houses. Other activities are cleaning the surrounding, kitchen help and preparing and keeping the rooms. If you have experience in cooking this is also most welcome. It is important that you are physically fit, like outside work and feel at ease as well on your own as when sharing activities with others.

    The village is old and very beautiful. It is owned by a Swiss cooperative whose main objective is to maintain the traditional houses and open them for meditative activities. It is run by the Italian dharma foundation. Both organisations are non profit oriented and everybody, also the people coordinating, are doing this on a voluntary basis. All offerings given us by the participants of the activities are used fully for the maintenance and running of the place.

    Volunteers are expected to have an interest in Buddhism and personal inner development. The place is excellent if you like to question your habits and outlook, and together with others want to work with yourself.

    You need to have your personal health insurance and be physically quite fit, as the village is not accessible by car and is built on a slope.

    Please note that drugs are not permitted and you cannot smoke in the village (and absolutely not in your room). So if you smoke please do not apply.
    Please note that you cannot bring pet animals.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    This is a great place to go back to the roots, be it your own inner roots, be it the wish to live in a surrounding which helps you to find your basic needs. You will be in contact with interesting people. Other volunteers, the staff in place, many and different visitors. Our focus lies on Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhist meditation. It is important to be interested in this approach to have a satisfying time in this remote village.

    There is amazingly little distraction (also irregular internet connections....). On the other hand you live in simple, well furnished houses, eat healthy and tasty food, and are surrounded by an exuberant nature. It can be an ideal place for a break in your ordinary activities with the wish for new orientation in life.

  • Help

    Help

    We are happy to get support in running the place. Preparation and maintenance of the rooms and structures, cooking, cleaning, maintenance of the surrounding and more. With experience you are welcome to take over responsibilities. Attendance to the morning stand-up meeting is compulsory, as we then share our experiences and coordinate the tasks.

    We suggest a minimum stay of four weeks for volunteers and are happy if you stay longer if we feel at ease with each other. We expect you to actively participate in the running of the place. There is no need to be Buddhist, but it is important that you are interested in meditation and inner development, and wish to participate in the regular shared meditations (2-3 times a day about 30 minutes), as they are a part of our group process and help us grow together.

    We are always looking for people to continue rebuilding and restoring our historic village in different construction projects. We also need people for technical maintenance at already finished houses as well as the modernised village infrastructure. If you are a professional craftsman/woman, let us know.

    Our cook is happy to have somebody at his side who has experience in cooking, maybe having worked for some time in a restaurant. Our garden team is interested in support for sustainable gardening.

  • Languages spoken

    German: Fluent
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    Italian: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Depending on season and availability you will have a simple room for yourself or share with one, maximum two other people of the same sex.

    Sanitary facilities are shared and not always close to your accommodation.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    On our weekly day off most of us use the local buses which several times a day go down to Domodossola (if you need the bustle of town) or up to Antrona Piano (if you want to be in a really beautiful place with mountain lakes).

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    25h a week

Host ref number: 15192877514e

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