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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

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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.

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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!!

A Practical Guide To A $500 Casino Deposit Bonus In Australia

A large deposit promotion can look attractive when it is presented as extra cash, free spins, cashback, or access to a VIP programme. For an Australian player, however, the headline amount is only one part of the decision. Wagering requirements, game restrictions, payment fees, identity checks, withdrawal limits, and local legal considerations can change the real value of an offer.

This guide examines how to assess a $500 deposit bonus and where Run4Win fits among recognised names marketed to Australian audiences. The aim is to provide clear, responsible information in the same spirit as organisations that value access to reliable resources: claims should be checked, terms should be readable, and entertainment spending should remain within a fixed personal limit. Readers interested in education and community projects can also learn about the Avalokiteśvara Trust and its work with children and young monks in the Himalayas.

What A $500 Deposit Promotion Usually Means

A “$500 casino bonus” does not generally mean that an operator gives every player $500 in withdrawable cash. It may refer to a matched deposit bonus, where the casino adds a percentage of an eligible deposit up to a stated maximum. A 100% match up to $500, for example, may require a player to deposit $500 before the full promotional amount is credited.

The important details are found in the bonus terms. These can include a minimum deposit, a maximum qualifying amount, a wagering multiplier, a time limit, excluded games, maximum bet rules, and a cap on winnings generated from bonus funds. Some promotions divide the reward into several instalments, while others combine bonus funds with free spins on selected online slots.

Australian players should also check whether the promotion is available in AUD, whether the payment method qualifies, and whether the site accepts customers from their state or territory. A familiar local payment option does not prove that a casino is licensed in Australia. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, online casino services supplied to Australians are subject to significant restrictions, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority can seek blocking of illegal offshore services.

How Run4Win’s Offer Should Be Assessed

Run4Win is presented to Australian players through information about casino games, welcome deals, free spins, payment options, tournaments, cashback, and VIP rewards. Its promotional approach is primarily deposit-based rather than centred on a permanent no-deposit offer. That distinction matters: a player should not assume that a sign-up page or review implies free cash with no payment or play conditions.

The sensible way to assess a Run4Win offer is to identify the exact promotion available at the time of registration. Confirm whether a $500 maximum applies, how much must be deposited to receive it, and whether the bonus is released immediately or in stages. Then inspect the wagering calculation. If a bonus and deposit must each be wagered several times, the turnover required can be substantially higher than the initial deposit.

Players considering a current offer can apply run4win no deposit bonus right away, while treating the linked information as promotional guidance rather than a substitute for the operator’s own terms. Before creating an account, verify age, identity, country eligibility, withdrawal rules, responsible gambling tools, and the legal position that applies to Australian residents.

Comparing Australian-Facing Casino Brands

The brands below are commonly encountered in Australian casino discussions or comparison searches. Promotions, payment methods, game libraries, licences, and country eligibility can change, so the safest comparison uses features that can be checked directly on each brand’s current terms page. A review site may describe an offer, but only the operator’s live conditions determine what can actually be claimed.

Brand Australian-facing details to check Promotion focus commonly reviewed Key verification point
Run4winnodeposit AUD availability and Australian player eligibility should be confirmed before registration Deposit welcome offers, free spins, cashback, VIP rewards, and tournaments Check current bonus code, wagering rules, withdrawal terms, and legal status
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Ozwin Casino Check the operator’s current Australian eligibility, currency options, and banking information Deposit offers and other promotional rewards may be advertised periodically Confirm licensing information, processing times, and bonus restrictions

No comparison can remove the need for personal checks. Search results may show an old offer after its expiry, and affiliate pages may simplify conditions for readability. Players in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and regional communities should pay particular attention to time-zone deadlines, bank processing times, and whether customer support operates during Australian hours.

Payments, Withdrawals, And Player Protection

A promotion has limited value if withdrawing winnings becomes difficult. Before depositing, examine the available banking methods and whether the same method must be used for deposits and withdrawals. Australian customers may see cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, or other options, but availability can depend on the operator, the player’s bank, and compliance checks. Currency conversion can also reduce the value of a transaction when an account is not genuinely settled in AUD.

Know-your-customer checks are routine in regulated gambling environments and may require proof of identity, address, and payment ownership. A withdrawal may be paused until documents are approved, particularly when the account name does not match the payment account. Terms can also impose minimum withdrawal amounts, transaction fees, daily limits, or restrictions on withdrawing an active bonus balance.

Responsible gambling protections should be treated as part of the product, not an afterthought. Set a spending limit before opening a casino account, avoid using credit to chase losses, and never increase a stake to unlock a promotion. Australian residents can use Gambling Help Online for confidential information and support, while state-based services may provide additional counselling and self-exclusion resources.

A Clear Checklist Before Claiming A Bonus

The strongest offer is not necessarily the one with the largest headline figure. A smaller promotion with transparent terms, a reasonable expiry period, suitable games, and dependable withdrawals may be more practical than a $500 maximum that requires difficult turnover.

Use the following checks before making any deposit:

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  • Check whether the deposit must be made in AUD and whether the chosen payment method qualifies.
  • Calculate the required turnover in dollars before deciding whether the offer fits the entertainment budget.
  • Verify identity requirements, withdrawal processing details, fees, and customer support channels.
  • Set deposit, loss, and session limits before playing, and leave the promotion if it encourages spending beyond those limits.

Promotions should never be confused with guaranteed returns. Casino games use chance, and a bonus can increase the amount of play required without changing the underlying odds. Reading conditions carefully is a small but important form of consumer protection, particularly when an offer is advertised across different websites and social media channels.

A responsible next step is to open the current Run4Win terms page without depositing, record the minimum deposit, wagering multiplier, expiry date, eligible games, and withdrawal conditions, and proceed only if every figure fits a pre-set AUD entertainment budget.