Discover inner peace and spiritual growth at Kadampa Meditation Center in Saint-Mars-d’Outillé. We welcome volunteers – join us!
Gap year in France – requirements & tasks
We’re a Buddhist organization working towards world peace and promoting inner peace and wisdom. We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities where you can help us make a difference.
We welcome volunteers to help us with landscaping, maintenance, or hospitality.
If you’re interested in volunteering and contributing to our mission, please message us.
We offer volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The number of volunteers we can accommodate varies depending on the season, and stays typically last 2 to 4 weeks.
We ask for 5 hours of your time each day, 5 days a week. We’re flexible about which days you take off, depending on where you’re helping out. We prioritize volunteers who can stay longer than a week.
If you’re a digital nomad or need to study or work online, please be aware that volunteering will take up most of your day.
You’ll be immersed in a French-speaking environment, so it’s a great chance to improve your French. We can also offer English meditation sessions twice a week if requested.
When you register, we’ll ask for your personal information and contact details to help us address any questions you may have.
Typical tasks
Your volunteer tasks will include:
- Groundskeeping: Helping to maintain and improve our forested land and outdoor areas.
- General Maintenance: Assisting with various tasks to keep our center running smoothly.
- Hospitality: Welcoming guests and preparing their rooms.
- Kitchen Support: Helping our cooks with food preparation, cleaning, and dishwashing.
You’ll work for about 25 hours per week.
Gap year in France – what we offer
In exchange for your dedicated service we offer:
- Comfortable Accommodation: Stay in our peaceful dormitories surrounded by nature. Our volunteer dormitories provide a comfortable and communal living experience. You’ll stay in cozy dorm rooms separated by gender, which encourages friendships and a sense of community. The facilities are well-maintained and equipped with everything you need for a pleasant stay. It’s a welcoming environment to unwind and recharge after a fulfilling day. Remember to bring your own towels and toiletries.
- Nourishing Meals: Enjoy healthy vegetarian meals prepared with care.
- Free Internet: Stay connected with complimentary internet access.
- Transportation: We can also arrange transportation from the nearest train station (Ecommoy-72) on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Spiritual Growth: Attend guided meditation sessions and teachings led by experienced practitioners (mostly in French).
- Community: Connect with like-minded volunteers and spiritual seekers from around the world.
More volunteering opportunities in Europe
- Volunteer work in Germany – help out on a farm
- Working holidays in Spain – volunteer at a hostel in Malaga
- Volunteer work in Italy – help with farming and gardening
- Volunteering for couples – help out on a farm stay
- Volunteer at a hostel in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Work exchange at a hostel in Palermo, Italy
- Help out in the vineyard and travel Italy on a budget
- Volunteer vacations on a farm in Puglia, Italy
- Help run a campsite in Ireland during a work exchange
- Help out on a farm as a volunteer in France
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