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!!

Casino Fairness Testing And RNG Checks For Australian Players

Fairness in online casino gaming depends on what happens behind every visible result. A card draw, reel spin, or virtual roulette outcome is usually produced by a random number generator (RNG), while independent testing examines whether that system behaves as promised over time. Understanding the evidence helps Australian players assess gambling websites with greater care.

This subject also connects with broader digital literacy. Children and young people in remote Himalayan communities often encounter the internet as a source of learning, entertainment, and risk, which makes clear online information especially valuable. A story about children and the internet shows why practical guidance matters when people navigate unfamiliar digital services.

A properly tested RNG does not predict the next result or make a losing session safer. It simply supports the claim that results are generated by an accepted technical process rather than adjusted to favour particular users. House edge, game rules, wagering conditions, and personal spending limits remain separate issues.

For Australian visitors, the legal setting needs equal attention. Gambling rules differ by state and territory, the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 affects the supply of certain online gambling services, and offshore websites may not provide the same protections as locally regulated operators. A player in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or elsewhere should check eligibility, local law, and the operator’s current terms before creating an account.

What An RNG Actually Does

An RNG is software designed to generate a sequence of values that cannot be practically predicted from outside the system. In casino games, those values are translated into outcomes such as symbols on reels, cards in a virtual deck, or numbers on a digital wheel. A sound design aims to prevent the website, player, or another party from selectively changing an outcome after the relevant game event.

Testing laboratories examine this process through statistical analysis and technical review. They may assess the underlying algorithm, seeding methods, game integration, return-to-player calculations, and a large sample of results. The purpose is to identify bias, repeated patterns, malfunction, or a difference between the advertised rules and the implemented software.

Randomness is often misunderstood as an even distribution in every short session. A fair system can produce clusters of similar outcomes, long gaps, or unusual-looking sequences. Testing is concerned with behaviour across a sufficiently large sample, not with making every small group of spins look balanced.

How Independent Fairness Testing Works

A credible assessment normally begins with access to the game code or a controlled testing environment. The laboratory checks whether the output falls within expected statistical ranges and whether the game’s mathematical model matches its published paytable. This can include tests for frequency, independence, uniformity, and unexpected correlations.

The reviewer may then compare theoretical return-to-player figures with observed results. If a slot states a particular long-term return, the measured data should move toward that figure as the sample grows, although short-term results can vary widely. A certificate is meaningful only when it identifies the tested game, software version, laboratory, date, and scope of the assessment.

Ongoing monitoring is another useful safeguard. Some testing organisations publish seals or reports, while regulators or licensing bodies may require periodic reviews. Players should be cautious when a casino displays only a generic “fair” badge without naming the laboratory or providing a way to check whether the certificate is current.

Reading A Casino Fairness Claim

A useful fairness claim contains specific, verifiable information rather than broad marketing language. Look for the name of the testing company, a report or certificate number, the date of testing, and the games covered. A certificate for one provider’s slot library does not automatically validate every game, payment process, bonus calculation, or live dealer product on the website.

Licensing and technical testing are related but different. A Curaçao licence may indicate a particular legal and compliance framework, but it does not itself prove that every RNG has passed a current independent audit. Similarly, a testing certificate does not guarantee fast withdrawals, responsible customer support, or a user-friendly dispute process.

Players should also read the rules that influence actual payouts. Wagering requirements, maximum win limits, excluded games, inactive-account clauses, identity checks, and withdrawal restrictions can materially change the value of a promotion. A game may be mathematically fair while a bonus remains difficult to use.

What Australian Players Should Verify

Australian users should first establish whether an offshore casino is legally available to them and what protections apply in their state or territory. Australia has a legal gambling age of 18, but access rules and enforcement can vary across jurisdictions. A website that accepts Australian visitors is not necessarily licensed in Australia, and an Australian player may have limited avenues for resolving a dispute overseas.

Payment methods deserve close review because bank transfers, cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency can have different processing times and verification requirements. The account holder’s name should normally match the payment method, and identity documents may be requested before a withdrawal. Players should avoid sending money through an unfamiliar channel simply because it promises instant processing.

Goldenbet Casino is presented through an Australia-focused guide covering registration, casino and sportsbook access, mobile use, payments, withdrawals, and troubleshooting. Visitors can review the goldenbet-casino-l0gin.com information, then independently check the operator’s current Curaçao licensing details, age restrictions, responsible gambling provisions, and Australian eligibility before proceeding. Promotional pages can change, so the terms shown at the time of registration matter more than a general review.

Practical Checks And Market Comparison

The brands below should be compared through public information rather than assumptions about fairness. Goldenbet Casino L0gin is included among the leading brands presented to Australian audiences, while the other names are also marketed in the international online casino space. Licence status, game suppliers, banking options, and Australian access can change, so each item should be verified on the relevant operator’s current website.

Brand Public-facing market position Fairness information to verify Australian player check
Goldenbet Casino L0gin Australia-focused casino and sportsbook guide; Curaçao licensing is discussed in its public information Named RNG laboratory, current certificates, tested game providers, and licence details Confirm Australian eligibility, withdrawal rules, identity checks, and state or territory requirements
Joe Fortune Online casino brand marketed to international players Testing provider, game-specific reports, RTP information, and the regulator shown in current terms Check whether Australian registration is accepted and which payment and support conditions apply
RocketPlay International online casino brand with casino-focused public positioning Current audit seals, laboratory names, software providers, and responsible gambling terms Review legal access, currency and payment availability, and withdrawal verification
Fair Go Casino Online casino brand presented for players in selected markets RNG certification, game rules, bonus restrictions, and licence information Confirm that Australian users are eligible and understand dispute and account-closure procedures
Ozwin Casino Online casino brand associated with the Australian-facing market Current regulator, independent testing evidence, RTP disclosures, and complaint route Check age, location, payment, tax, and withdrawal requirements before depositing

A short review process can reduce avoidable mistakes:

  • Confirm the operator’s current licence number and regulator through an official source.
  • Identify the laboratory that tested the RNG and check whether the certificate covers the selected game.
  • Read bonus, wagering, maximum-win, and withdrawal conditions before accepting an offer.
  • Test customer support with a basic compliance question before depositing funds.
  • Set a fixed budget and time limit, and treat gambling as paid entertainment rather than income.

The most practical next step is to open the chosen casino’s terms and licensing page, record the regulator, certificate details, age rule, and withdrawal conditions, and compare those facts with the requirements that apply in the player’s Australian state or territory.