Attention: Volunteering Opportunites

Hello! I am receiving many inquiries into volunteering in Ladakh this year and thank you for writing to us!

At the moment we are busy planning and fundraising for some reading rooms in other areas of the Himalayan region. It looks like we’ll require some talented people with art and language skills September onwards.

So if you are interested, please email avalokitesvaratrust@avalokitesvaratrust.org with the subject: Volunteer 2016 and I shall send you a volunteer form if we are interested in taking it further. It’s difficult to reply to each individual, so please understand that we shall be in touch on a suitability and availability basis.

We also may require volunteers with a design or architectural background. More news on that soon.

Thank you!

P.S. The best and preferred way to be in touch is via email

LITTLE BUDDHAS IN THE WOODS

Little Buddhas in the woods

Little Buddhas in the woods

On a magical sunny day, in the month of August (2015), we decided to spend a day with the young monks of  the Chemdey Monastery in the village of Sakti. Our friends, artist, Abhishek Singh, musician and drum-jammer Kumi Masunaga and her lovely daughter Aya, came with us to share their talents, their skills and to spread joy! We were also accompanied by my little daughter Samira, my husband, our Ladakhi friends and Sushil, a Mumbai-based photographer who captured some glorious moments!

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Assembling hula hoops

The young monks from Chemdey Gonpa school participated in ice-breaking musical activities that Kumi had designed for them. Abhishek introduced them to a few art activities, took them through the process of creating their group artwork and showed them stunning visuals from his comic book. Aya demonstrated how to ‘hula-hoop’! We also set up a book corner in the school.

The young monks were keen to learn and listened carefully to the process, enjoyed drawing and colouring, asked questions and at the end, proudly exhibited their artwork in the woods!

Kumi is a Japanese percussionist and a drum circle facilitator who lives in Hong Kong with over fifteen years of performing, teaching, and facilitating experience. She has worked with a range of ages and cultural backgrounds, designing, planning and executing programmes. For more- www.drum-jam.com

Aya is natural performer. She sings, dances and has lead her “Circle Game” playshop for groups of children at events. She has acted in youth musicals, theatre play and some TV commercials in Hong Kong. She speaks English, Japanese and basic Cantonese and Mandarin. Here engagement with the children we visited, has been both endearing very valuable!

Abhishek Singh is artist,animation film-maker and graphic novelist who currently lives between his studios in Brooklyn, New York and Mumbai. Whenever possible he retreats for a meditation trek in the Himalayas. For more – www.abhishekartstore.com

Photo courtesy, Sushil, Kumi and Abhigya

In the slideshow you will see- Chemdey Gonpa, the village of Sakti,  the monks at play and at work, receiving their Ladakhi copies of ‘Chuskit Goes to School’ , a group photo and more.

Avalokitesvara Trust creates reading rooms for children so for International Book Giving Day , we decided to start a book-collection drive. We received an incredible response from all over India. Books were carefully chosen, ordered and shipped to Dharamsala for the young readers of Norling Creche & Kindergarten. We are happy to have enhanced their little library with good quality books. To have played a role in encouraging the joy of reading and bringing smiles to their faces!

We got together to open packages of delightful books and celebrate International Book Giving Day at the Norling creche and kindergarten. A group of 15 volunteers, aged 8 to 10 years were very eager to create a new library upstairs. They happily carried all the old books and categorised them into small, medium and large books. We had a little contest to see which group ( red, green, yellow, blue, white colours of the prayer flags) could count the most books in the least time. It was chao tic and so much fun!! And they finished counting the books in 9 minutes (they’d decided on 15 minutes as the target) After this exercise, they realised that their existing books needed to be categorised into levels and broader subjects. So we created colour codes for levels of reading, for Tibetan, science and for teacher reading material. After four hours of activity we finally displayed all the new additions on to the empty shelves.

The next day, we played a few games. An improvisation of ‘Simon says’, became ‘Norbu says, Sangmo says..’ and the library room was filled with laughter! To calm everyone down, we sat in a circle and concentrated on our breathing. This wasn’t any easy task as a few of them were curious to know what was to follow but we managed to bring back our focus and recollect the activities of the previous session and the task at hand. Setting up a library is no small job and the children once again, tidied up the piles of old books. After all this work, they had a tea break and then finally, chose a book each and sat in a corner or lay on their tummies to immerse themselves in their new book collection. It was very satisfying to see them enjoying the books with quiet rapture. We added a few finishing touches and called it a day by taking a group of books for the little ones downstairs to create a small toddler library. Now that we’re ready, we’ll be inviting ALL the children from ALL the classes to their new reading rooms. We can’t wait!!

Autoplay In Pokies Explained For More Informed Play

Pokies, also known as slot machines, are built around quick rounds, changing symbols, and simple controls. One feature that often attracts attention is autoplay, which allows a game to complete a series of spins without requiring the player to press the spin button each time.

Understanding how this setting works can make online casino play easier to follow. Autoplay does not change the underlying mathematics of a game, guarantee a result, or turn a losing session into a winning one. It simply automates a sequence of wagers according to the player’s chosen settings.

Clear information matters in every area of learning, from digital entertainment to literacy. Avalokiteśvara Trust supports reading rooms, book drives, and creative education for children and young monks across Himalayan communities. Its work reflects the value of giving people the knowledge they need to make thoughtful decisions.

What Autoplay Does In A Pokies Game

Autoplay is an optional feature that starts spins automatically. A player usually chooses how many rounds to run, then selects the spin speed or other available limits. Once activated, the game places each wager and displays the outcome without a separate manual click for every round.

The feature is sometimes called auto spin, automatic play, or an autoplay function. Names and layouts vary between casino platforms and individual games, but the basic purpose remains the same: to reduce the need for repeated manual interaction.

Autoplay does not decide which symbols appear. Each spin is generally determined by the game’s random number generator, just as it would be when the player presses the spin button. The setting controls the process, not the outcome.

How An Automated Spin Sequence Works

Before starting an autoplay session, players typically choose a stake per spin and the number of rounds. Some games also provide advanced controls, such as stopping after a specified loss, ending after a particular win, or pausing when a balance reaches a chosen level.

Once the sequence begins, the game deducts the selected wager for each round. If a winning combination appears, any credited prize is added according to the game’s paytable. The next spin then begins unless a stop condition has been reached or the player manually ends the sequence.

Rules can differ significantly. A platform may limit the number of automatic spins, require confirmation before a session starts, or exclude certain features from autoplay. Reading the game information and casino terms is therefore important before relying on the setting.

Why Players Choose The Autoplay Option

Convenience is the main reason people use autoplay. Repeating the same action can become tiring, particularly in games with fast animations or long sessions. Automatic spins allow players to observe the results without continuously clicking or tapping.

Some players also use the function to maintain a consistent stake across a predetermined number of rounds. This can make it easier to follow a budget, provided the player has set that budget in advance and is willing to stop when it is reached.

The convenience can create a risk, however. Manual play includes a natural pause between rounds, while autoplay can make wagers feel less noticeable. A long sequence may continue while attention drifts, which is why responsible gambling tools and personal limits remain important.

Settings That Can Change The Experience

Autoplay menus often include several controls, but they are not identical across games. Common options include the number of spins, the speed of play, and rules for stopping after a win or loss. Some providers also let players select a maximum total wager for the sequence.

A stop-loss setting can end autoplay after losses reach a chosen amount. A win-limit setting may stop the session when a selected profit is recorded. These controls cannot protect a player from every poor decision, yet they can create a clear boundary before play begins.

Players comparing online platforms should also examine withdrawal rules, identity checks, game availability, and responsible gambling provisions. An independent resource such as a heaps of wins casino review about payout rules can provide additional context about payment conditions, though the casino’s own terms should remain the final reference.

Comparing Common Autoplay Features

The same label can describe different tools, so it helps to separate the main features before activating a sequence. The following comparison shows what each setting generally does and what it cannot do.

Feature What It Controls What It Does Not Control
Number of spins How many automatic rounds are scheduled Whether any spin wins
Spin speed How quickly the game moves between rounds The random result of a round
Stop-loss limit When play ends after selected losses Recovery of money already wagered
Win target When play ends after a selected gain Future results after stopping
Total wager limit The maximum planned amount for a sequence The game’s return percentage
Manual stop Allows the player to end autoplay early Any refund for completed bets

A game’s return-to-player percentage, volatility, paylines, and bonus rules are separate from autoplay. These mathematical and structural features affect how the game operates, while autoplay only changes how the rounds are initiated.

The table also shows why a feature that appears protective should not be treated as a guarantee. A stop-loss limit can restrict further spending, but it cannot reverse a completed wager. Likewise, a win target can lock in a session boundary without making future wins more likely.

Practical Safeguards For Players

Responsible use begins before the first automatic spin. Players can set limits in advance and avoid treating autoplay as a way to chase losses or extend a session indefinitely.

Useful safeguards include:

  • Decide on a total entertainment budget before opening the game.
  • Choose a fixed stake that remains affordable if every planned spin loses.
  • Set a modest number of rounds rather than leaving autoplay open.
  • Use available loss, deposit, or session-time limits.
  • Keep gambling separate from essential household, education, or charitable funds.
  • Stop when the planned budget or time limit has been reached.

It is also sensible to check whether the platform displays balance changes clearly and provides accessible tools for pausing or closing an account. If gambling starts to feel difficult to control, local support services and regulated self-exclusion programs can offer confidential assistance.

Building A More Informed Digital Culture

Explaining autoplay accurately is part of a wider effort to improve digital and financial literacy. People make better decisions when technical features are described plainly, including their benefits, limits, and possible effects on attention.

This principle connects with the work of Avalokiteśvara Trust. Through reading rooms, books, music, art, and educational activities, the organization helps children and young monks access resources that encourage curiosity and independent thinking. Its projects in Ladakh and other Himalayan communities show how learning opportunities can strengthen confidence and participation.

A clear explanation should therefore avoid presenting autoplay as a winning strategy. It is a convenience feature for managing repeated spins, while the chance-based nature of the game remains unchanged. The most reliable approach is to view online pokies as paid entertainment with a fixed cost, rather than as a dependable source of income.

A Simple Way To Review The Feature

Before using autoplay, a player can review four details: the stake per spin, the number of rounds, the available stop conditions, and the total amount that could be wagered. This short check turns an automatic sequence into a deliberate choice rather than an open-ended activity.

After the session starts, the balance and elapsed time should remain visible. If the player feels distracted, frustrated, or tempted to increase the stake to recover losses, stopping the game is the clearest response. Autoplay is optional, and no sequence needs to continue merely because it has begun.

The practical next step is to open the game’s help or settings panel, write down the maximum affordable session budget, and activate autoplay only if the displayed controls keep the planned number of spins within that limit.