Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "study/educational" projects in United Kingdom

WOMEN ONLY PROJECT

Started in 1985, Taraloka is a Women's Buddhist Community and Retreat Centre of the Triratna Buddhist Community set on the Welsh-Shropshire border. It was a run-down farm that has been gradually renovated, rebuilt and adapted over the years with the help of many different women with many different skills. The importance of providing a context for women in which the practice of meditation and Buddhism could be developed and deepened was a strong motivating factor for everyone who set up this centre. The name Taraloka means realm of Tara. Tara is an archetypal female figure representing the Enlightened qualities of Compassionate Action.

Thirty years on and the aim of Taraloka is the same. Women go there and explore what meditation can bring into their life; learn something about the relevance of Buddhist teaching to contemporary life; and experience themselves in a different setting to usual.

Taraloka hopes to give the volunteers the opportunity to experience living as a community and practising co-operation in living and working together. Women in Taraloka live and work as a specifically Buddhist community and are willing to share what it can look and feel like when living and working from ones deepest values.

They will offer the opportunity to learn new practical skills, develop life skills and build confidence through both. They will teach two fantastic meditation practices (which do not make anyone a Buddhist) but which can positively change your life. There will be the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism including ethics, ritual, study, question and answer and personal talks. Again, by attending any of this you are not making yourself Buddhist!

The work areas on the project will involve maintenance and decorating work and learning to cook tasty and nutritious vegan meals for the group. In addition to these projects there may be some gardening and landscaping work – this is yet to be confirmed. We hope that the volunteers will have fun working together on these projects as well as meditating together, learning about Buddhism and living as a community.

Taraloka always recommend that their retreatants going there contact their friends and family by writing letters to them rather than by phone or Skype (of course you can let them know you have arrived and again just as you are leaving). This is because the experience can be so rich and personal that it can be quite jarring to try and communicate with loved ones at the same time as being on retreat. They are often missing you greatly and wanting to talk about what is going on at home for them and sometimes it can be difficult for them to hear about your life. Or you may hear news (good or not so good) that will draw your energy away from the retreat and make it difficult for you to remain engaged, in the present and positive while working. We would ask that if you do need to make contact that you speak to one of the team before and after so that we can be there to support you. This is an opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and really have some fun without them!!

The retreat centre is mostly level and all communal areas are on the ground floor, with some walk in showers and toilets. Rooms are shared with up to 4 people in a room. Taraloka provides all bedding and bed linen.

Taraloka provides three well-balanced, nutritious and deliciously tasty vegan meals per day. Organic cows milk is also available. You will have the chance to learn how to cook this wonderful vegan food while you are there. Please note the retreat centre is totally vegetarian, please do not take any meat/fish with you.

No alcohol or drugs on site please.

Close to Whitchurch, Shrewsbury (Shropshire), near the border with Wales.

Whitchurch (Shrops) train station or East Midlands, Birmingham or Manchester airports.

Volunteers will be asked to pay a fee of £80 GBP upon arrival.

This is a women only workcamp. Please add a motivation letter to your application form explaining the reason for your interest in applying for this specific project.

The Quadrangle Trust, housed in a farm built in 1870, is a non-profit enterprise the runs art, well-being, ecology and sustainability education programmes and workshops. It is used by many different organisations and charities and has a particular focus on working with young people, refugees and asylum seekers who have limited access to the countryside. It is situated in the beautiful Kent countryside only 27 miles (43 kms) Southeast from central London.

cutting back and digging up the roots of invasive bushes.

Sleeping in a large dormitory, cooking, eating and relaxing in a kitchen and sitting room.

This camp will be part of the international Raising Peace Campaign promoted by CCIVS (Co-ordination Committee for International Voluntary Service). The Raising Peace Campaign aims at strengthening and improving the role of international voluntary service movement in the construction of peace and human rights, through raising awareness, training activists and improving advocacy and networking. There will be extra workshops on this theme given during the project.

Screening of documentary films and discussion; swimming in the river (if the weather is warm); Scottish dancing; one day visit to London in the middle of the camp.

Working clothes and gloves, waterproof boots (it can be muddy), raincoat, sleeping bag.

Shoreham, near Sevenoaks, Kent. Train from London in 1 hour or less.

£160 GBP to be paid upon arrival. 50% of this fee will cover the food costs of the project. The other 50% will go to VAP.

VAP applied for funding which in case of being successful will pay the costs of this camp and in that case we will not need to charge a hosting fee. We will inform our partners of the results of the funding application during the month of May.