Volunteer with a project focussed on sustainability and creative ventures at our home in the Himalayas, Kangra, India

Infos

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  Description

  Join us in the beautiful Kangra Valley to help our ongoing efforts in empowering local children and contributing to village upliftment. We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support our community initiatives and explore sustainable living in the heart of the Dhauladhar mountain range, located in the mighty Himalayas!
  
  Hello!
  My name is Varun, and I'm a traveler with a deep love for the Himalayas. After 15 years in the corporate world, I decided to follow my passion for exploring different cultures and the beauty of nature. I've also been a Workaway volunteer, traveling to many countries, and I loved the experience.
  
  I recently bought a house in the Kangra Valley, a peaceful place surrounded by nature and full of potential for creative projects and meaningful work.
  
  About the house
  Our house sits on a 900-square-yard plot, with the building itself taking up about 300 square yards. It has four rooms, a hall, and a traditional mud kitchen with bamboo roofing. The house is a mix of mud and concrete structures. While the mud kitchen stays cool and comfortable, the concrete parts of the house can get too hot in summer and too cold in winter.
  
  I don’t want to solve this issue with air conditioning or other artificial methods. Instead, I want to explore natural and eco-friendly solutions. In the past, houses were built with materials like mud and wood, and they provided better insulation. I would love to invite people with ideas and skills to help me make this house more sustainable and inspire the local community.
  
  How our plans 'failed'
  My main focus when buying this house in 2024 was to create a place where people could learn about sustainability and harmonious coexistence with nature and each other. My initial goal was to renovate the house using natural materials and traditional building methods, hoping to inspire others to use sustainable construction.
  
  However, finding people with the right natural building expertise for this project proved challenging. While the house renovation is still a long-term goal, our immediate focus has shifted.
  
  My parents' vision and the local children
  My parents, who have worked in various parts of India, have now settled in this small village after their retirement. They are dedicated to the growth of children, women, youth, and the overall improvement of the village and region. The local community has warmly welcomed them. My father, supported by my mother, organizes evening activities where children come after school to learn life skills and good deeds. They also receive support from local non-governmental organizations.
  
  What can you do?
  I wholeheartedly welcome people from all backgrounds to come and contribute in any way they can to these ongoing community initiatives.
  
  Ultimately, I still want this place to become a center where people from around the world can come together, share ideas, and work on solutions for common problems like climate change. By reviving traditional building methods and using sustainable materials, we can create something meaningful that respects nature and helps preserve old crafts. I've met local artisans and masons who used to work with eco-friendly materials, but these techniques are slowly disappearing. Together, we can give them new life and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Accueil / tourisme

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  You’ll experience the life of a Himachal village, learn about sustainable living, and explore local traditions and festivals.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  UPDATE - JULY 2025
  Our primary focus is on the initiatives my parents have started for the village children and community upliftment.
  
  But you can also contribute to other tasks mentioned below.
  1. Construction and Renovation: Working with natural materials like mud and bamboo to renovate the house.
  2. Gardening and Landscaping: Designing sustainable gardens and improving outdoor spaces.
  3. General Maintenance: Cleaning, painting, and small repairs.
  4. Creative Projects: Decorating and creating interior designs using recycled or locally available materials.
  5. Cooking and Housekeeping: Helping in the kitchen and keeping shared spaces clean.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Hindi: Courant
  Allemand: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
  
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  Hébergement

  * Accommodation: You’ll have a simple and comfortable room, or you can choose to camp in the backyard. We also have outdoor toilets and bathrooms.
  
  * Food: Meals will be prepared together using local ingredients, giving everyone a chance to share and learn new recipes.
  
  Rules -
  * We are a smoking and drug-free zone. Please respect it.
  * Respect the local culture. Wear modest clothing to align with the community’s values. (Avoid wearing tank tops, tight or see-through clothing, shorts above the knee, or low-cut tops)
  * Keep the noise levels low. Instead of loud music, enjoy the sounds of nature around you
  
  Important Note for Winter -
  In winter, the rooms become colder, as typical rural houses in these areas often lack insulation. We don’t have a centralised heating system to keep the house warm from the inside. Most people in this area wear layers of warm clothing to stay comfortable. Please come prepared with sufficient warm clothing and bedding, if needed.

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  Autres infos...

  In your free time, you can visit some beautiful places nearby, like:
  
  1. Dharamshala and McLeodganj: Explore Tibetan culture and the residence of the Dalai Lama.
  2. Palampur: Known for its tea gardens and natural beauty.
  3. Bir-Billing: Famous for paragliding.
  4. Local temples: Discover ancient temples rich in history and culture.
  
  
  We ask volunteers to:
  * Be respectful of the house, the local community, and its traditions.
  * Share copies of their ID for safety reasons.
  
  If you have experience in working with children, community development, or sustainable living or ideas in interior design, sustainable construction, or creative projects, that’s a big plus! Otherwise, a positive attitude and willingness to help are all we need.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il aimait accueillir les digital nomads.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Cet hôte a dit qu’il acceptait les personnes voyageant avec un animal.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

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