Property:Othercommunitywork
From Tsadra Foundation Advanced Contemplative Scholarships
This is a property of type Text.
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In my CV sent separately is a list of some of my pro bono work over a four year period as a survey research consultant for non-profits serving communities. I provided high quality services at low cost to low budget organizations by training their members in survey data collection methods. In addition, I volunteered for other non-profits such as our local Luckiamute Watershed Committee (2009), Senior Housing and Retirement Enterprises Board Member, Secretary and President (2002-2006), Servicios Para la Communidad (on Board 1992-1994), Women's Rights Coalition Board Member and Secretary (1985-1988). +
Instead of doing military service, which was still compulsory at that time, I choose to do Civil Service and work for "Tele accueil" which is a phone number people can call if they feel lonely. In 1988 they were receiving 100,000 phone calls a year for the region of Brussels only. +
Prior to moving to the monastery I did a variety of community work such as volunteering in a soup kitchen, elderly care facility, and animal shelter. +
I do a lot of work on the cabins surrounding the dharma center for students of Rinpoche. My work mainly involves building and minor repairs. Our sangha also does yearly "Compassion in Action" work in the community such as road cleaning, visiting the nursing home and some school meal programs. During the 2020 pandemic, I have made and sewn into packages over 200 mantra protection rolls for distributing to our greater sangha. +
Having been very active in community organizing and fundraising work in my life in New Orleans, after moving to Katog Rit’hrod I really focused my energy on Khentrul Rinpoche’s activity. Most of the work I did outside of the Katog Rit’hrod land was helping with the retreat cabins and homes of the Dharma community surrounding it. +
When I lived in the UK, I used to be one of the main drivers to pick up and drop lamas and teachers to and from our Buddhist centre Palpung Changchub Dargye Ling in Wales. +
In Holy Isle for seven years during my lunch breaks I helped supervising the flower garden of the south end retreat center. +
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As a teenager I could only work for a short time (as the refugee camp was closed very soon) as child caretaker of traumatized refugee children from former Yugoslavia and was furthermore active in my schools’ Anti-fascist group, where we tried to develop awareness programs. As a volunteer I took part in community development projects and development educational workshops organized with the “Usungu Women Group” in Makueni/Kenya at the beginning of my studies. At a later point in time I participated in the establishment of a “Center for scientific debate and transcultural understanding in South Ethiopia”, At the final stage of my studies, I had been to Mali and focused more and more on the core of my objectives, development aid and especially alphabetization. +
mostly doing volunteering work for different Buddhist centers. +
Quite a bit of informal work.
-Volunteered at Schumacher College in Devon, England for around 3 months in winter 2019 into spring.
Mostly helped out in the kitchen and gardens. Though offered several free sessions to students as well.
-Volunteered in Costa Rica for 2 weeks, doing all sorts of activities, both conservation and community
Work. That was in the summer of 2007.
-2 months in Konso Ethiopia volunteering at a permaculture project, doing all kinds of labor. +
No, I spent all my time in Dharma and Sangha activities. +
I worked as a support worker with foster kids and adults with special needs for several years. I have volunteered with several homelessness charities, including being a live-in volunteer at a Catholic Worker community for about three months. +
I work with children as an aftercare teacher.
I mentor three people in the Dharma. Two doing their nondgro and one who recently took refuge vows. +
Volunteering in wildlife conservation for the Mumpalanga district in South Africa.
Volunteering for children's school in Sarnath, India.
Volunteering in assisting lepers, the destitute and dying, in Lakshman Joola and Calcuta, India. +
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1973: Vietnamese Orphan Relief Program (with FOR);!
spring 1978: Tutor for disabled students (Dept. of Sociology, UC Berkeley);!
2000-2011: Tutoring for elementary school students.!
Other community work is noted in my resume. +
Flood relief at a school in Shey, Ladakh, India, after the flood, 2010. Digging the school free of mud. +
September 2010 - April 2011: Served as a Mentor for a high school student at the Master's Program Charter School in Santa Fe, New Mexico who was conducting a study on Buddhist practice in contemporary American society. Met weekly to introduce her to basic Buddhist philosophy and meditation, and accompanied her to different Buddhist practice communities around Santa Fe. Supervised her final project, a two-part live presentation on Buddhist practice with question and answer period. +
Cidade Escola Ayni (2015-2016):
At 18 years old, I volunteered for over 4 months during the inception of 'Cidade Escola Ayni' in Guaporé, Brazil - a community school project based on libertarian pedagogical principles, built entirely using natural construction methods.
Volunteering in Nepal (2016):
During my first trip to Nepal at age 19, I volunteered at a children's school and orphanage in Kathmandu for several weeks. While I later became aware of the problematic aspects of some volunteer tourism (such as displacing local workers and creating dependency rather than sustainable development), I was genuinely motivated to help at the time.
Education Fundraising (2018-2019):
I helped fundraise among RYI students and Dharma friends to support a young Nepali friend's high school education when his family faced financial difficulties.
Atlantic Forest Açaí Documentary:
Upon invitation from friend Tomaz Martins, I helped produce a short documentary about the sustainable use of Açaí Jussara in Brazil's heavily deforested Atlantic Forest. I worked on fundraising, conceptual planning, and locating communities for filming. The project aimed to raise awareness about transforming the Açaí palm from an endangered tree (illegally harvested for palm hearts) into a sustainable food source, featuring stories of a former illegal cutter turned local producer and the indigenous community Guyra Nhendu. This work aligns with my belief in finding solutions that promote sustainable human presence while preserving nature in Brazil, where colonial legacies continue driving environmental destruction for agribusiness profits, turning the country into one of the world's largest food commodity exporters while actively promoting hunger among its own population.
Rio Grande do Sul Flooding Relief (2024):
While I was away in Nepal, Rio Grande do Sul was hit by unprecedented flooding caused by global warming, affecting parts of the state totaling roughly the size of England, including 10 days of flooding in areas of my city Porto Alegre. Besides making donations, I helped compile lists of affected marginalized communities - including indigenous communities, Quilombolas (communities formed by fugitive slaves during Brazil's slavery period), and MTST solidarity kitchens - sharing these with friends and Dharma communities in Brazil and abroad for targeted assistance.
Teach Buddhist philosophy, ACI courses and DMU courses since 2000.
Teach yoga and taught at a public school to 7th graders +
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I have been involved in efforts to feed the homeless in the past with "Creations for a Cause". +
