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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!!

How free casino tournaments work and what players should check

The Dutch search phrase “casino toernooi gratis meedoen” usually refers to promotions that let players enter a casino competition without paying a separate registration fee. These events can involve slot rankings, live casino challenges, sportsbook leaderboards, or prize races based on points earned during a defined period. The word “free” needs careful interpretation, since some tournaments still require qualifying play or a minimum deposit.

For readers exploring online gaming information, clarity matters as much as entertainment. A review platform covering NixBet can help explain tournament mechanics, bonus conditions, withdrawal rules, mobile access, and licensing information in one place. It is equally important to remember that NixBet is not available in the Netherlands, so Dutch visitors should treat the information as general reference rather than an invitation to bypass local restrictions.

Feature What to check before entering
Entry requirement Whether registration is free or linked to a deposit or qualifying bet
Ranking method Wager volume, wins, points, or another scoring system
Prize structure Cash, free spins, bonus funds, or physical rewards
Time limit Start and end dates, plus the relevant time zone
Wagering terms Any playthrough rules attached to bonus prizes
Eligibility Available countries, age limits, and account verification
Withdrawal rules Minimum withdrawal, identity checks, and payment limits

What a free casino tournament really means

A no-entry-fee tournament generally removes the separate cost of joining the competition. Players may still need an active account, and some events may count only wagers placed on selected games. A slot tournament, for example, might rank participants according to their highest win multiplier, while another promotion could award points for every qualifying spin.

Prize pools can vary widely. Some competitions offer free spins or small bonus credits, while larger events advertise cash prizes shared among the highest-ranked players. The headline prize should never be the only point of comparison. The number of winners, the scoring formula, and the conditions attached to bonus funds often determine how useful an offer is in practice.

Terms can also distinguish between “free entry” and genuinely cost-free participation. An operator may allow registration without a fee but require a deposit before tournament points count. Others may provide promotional tickets or a limited number of free rounds. Reading the promotion page before playing helps prevent confusion about whether a player is participating for entertainment or committing real funds.

How NixBet’s tournament information can help

The nix bet review site presents NixBet as an online casino and sportsbook with information about slots, live casino games, sports betting, bonuses, mobile applications, payment methods, licensing, and withdrawals. This broader overview is useful because tournaments are rarely separate from the rest of an account’s terms. A competition may be connected to a particular game category, deposit method, or bonus campaign.

Players researching a casino tournament can compare the advertised event with the platform’s general conditions. Questions worth checking include whether tournament points expire, whether canceled bets are excluded, how ties are resolved, and whether a prize must be claimed manually. Sportsbook competitions may use different rules from casino leaderboards, particularly when points depend on settled bets rather than wagers that are still open.

The site is an informational or affiliate-style review resource rather than the casino operator itself. That distinction matters: the review can summarize features and identify questions to investigate, but the operator’s current promotion terms remain the controlling source. Because offers can change, readers should verify the exact event page, eligibility rules, and availability in their jurisdiction before creating or using an account.

Bonuses, payments, and withdrawals deserve equal attention

A tournament prize may be paid as cash, bonus balance, free spins, or another promotional reward. Cash prizes are generally easier to understand, while bonus funds often come with wagering requirements before withdrawal. These requirements may specify the number of times the bonus must be played through, the games that count, and a deadline for completing the process.

Payment information is another practical part of responsible comparison. A platform may support several deposit and withdrawal methods, but availability can depend on the player’s country and verification status. Processing time, minimum withdrawal amounts, identity checks, and possible transaction fees can affect the real value of a prize. A large advertised reward has limited appeal if its conditions are difficult to meet.

Mobile access may make tournament tracking convenient, especially when a leaderboard changes throughout the day. Convenience should not replace careful monitoring. Players can set a spending limit, review their account history, and avoid increasing stakes simply to improve a ranking. Free-entry promotions should remain optional entertainment rather than a reason to chase losses or extend a session.

A responsible connection to community learning

A charitable organization focused on children and young monks has a different purpose from an online gaming review site. Avalokiteśvara Trust supports reading rooms, book drives, and educational, artistic, and musical activities in Himalayan communities. Its work shows how consistent access to books and learning materials can strengthen confidence, creativity, and opportunity over time.

Stories from the Trust also highlight the practical role of local communities. A report on farmers’ literacy work describes how farming families contribute to literacy programs, connecting educational progress with the people who sustain their communities. That perspective is separate from casino promotions, but it offers a useful reminder that money and attention have real-world consequences beyond digital entertainment.

Readers who encounter gambling content alongside charitable information should keep the two activities distinct. Funds intended for books, educational programs, or donations should never be used for wagering. Anyone choosing to play should use a separate entertainment budget, understand the local legal position, and stop if the activity becomes stressful or financially disruptive. A promotion is never a substitute for a donation, volunteer contribution, or community project.

Checking eligibility before taking part

Age and location are the first eligibility checks for any online casino or sportsbook promotion. NixBet is noted as unavailable in the Netherlands, meaning Dutch residents should not attempt to access it through workarounds, misleading registration details, or unauthorized methods. Local gambling rules can differ substantially, and a promotion that appears online may not be legally or technically available to every visitor.

Account verification is also common. Operators may request identity documents, proof of address, or payment confirmation before allowing withdrawals. Entering accurate details from the beginning can reduce delays, although verification should still be handled through secure, official channels. Players should avoid sharing passwords or sending sensitive information to unofficial contacts claiming to arrange tournament prizes.

Before entering any leaderboard, a short checklist can prevent many misunderstandings:

  • Confirm that the promotion is available in the player’s country.
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  • Review the operator’s responsible-gambling tools and support options.

Free tournament entry can be appealing when the rules are transparent and the stakes remain controlled. A practical next step is to read the current promotion terms in full, verify that the service is legally available in the relevant location, and decide on a fixed entertainment limit before participating.