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!!

A Practical Match Bonus List Of Casinos For Australian Players

Casino promotions can look simple at first glance, yet the value of a bonus depends on its conditions. A deposit match may increase a starting balance, while a free chip or free spins offer can provide a smaller trial of selected games. The useful comparison is rarely the headline percentage alone.

For Australian players, a match bonus list of casinos should include practical details such as the minimum deposit, maximum bonus, wagering requirement, expiry period, eligible games, and withdrawal rules. These conditions determine how much flexibility a promotion really provides.

Uptown Pokies is presented as an online casino for Australian customers, with more than 300 games across slots, table games, and other casino categories. Its advertised promotions include no-deposit codes, a AU$10 free chip, welcome offers, free spins, and VIP rewards, although availability and terms may change.

Promotional content should be read as information rather than a guarantee of winnings. Players should check local eligibility, confirm that gambling is legal for them, set a spending limit, and treat any bonus as entertainment credit rather than income.

Bonus type How it usually works What to check
Deposit match Adds a percentage of a qualifying deposit to bonus funds Match percentage, maximum amount, wagering rules
No-deposit code Provides a small credit without an initial deposit Code validity, identity checks, withdrawal conditions
Free chip Gives a fixed promotional amount for selected games Game restrictions, expiry, maximum cashout
Free spins Awards spins on specified slot titles Number of spins, payout limits, wagering requirements
VIP reward Offers loyalty benefits based on activity Qualification levels, points expiry, personal limits

How casino match bonuses are structured

A deposit match typically adds bonus funds according to a percentage. For example, a 100% match may double an eligible deposit up to a stated cap. A 50% offer may sound less generous, but it can be more practical if the maximum bonus is high and the wagering terms are less restrictive.

Bonus balances are usually subject to playthrough or wagering requirements. A casino may require the combined deposit and bonus, or the bonus alone, to be wagered several times before a withdrawal request is accepted. The exact calculation should be reviewed in the promotion’s terms before a deposit is made.

The maximum bonus is equally important. A high percentage with a low cap may produce less value than a modest match with a larger limit. Players should also check whether wagers on every game contribute equally, since some slots may count fully while table games contribute partially or not at all.

Where Uptown Pokies fits the comparison

Uptown Pokies promotes several types of casino incentives rather than relying on one welcome offer. Its advertised package includes a no-deposit bonus code, a AU$10 free chip, welcome bonuses, free spins, and a VIP programme. This range gives prospective users several promotion formats to compare, though each may have separate eligibility and redemption conditions.

Players researching current offers may find details through uptown pokies codes, including information about code use and promotional steps. A code should be entered exactly as instructed, and the account holder should confirm that the offer has been credited before playing with it.

The platform is also described as offering mobile access, multiple payment methods, and more than 300 casino games. These features may be convenient, but they do not change the underlying bonus rules. A mobile-friendly interface cannot make restricted funds withdrawable, and a large game catalogue does not mean every title qualifies for a particular promotion.

Reading the fine print before playing

A clear bonus review should identify the minimum deposit and the maximum promotional amount. It should also state whether the offer is available to new customers only, whether a code is required, and whether one promotion can be combined with another. These points often determine whether an advertised welcome package applies to a specific account.

The expiry window deserves close attention. A bonus may need to be claimed within a short period and wagered within a separate number of days. If the deadline passes, the promotional balance and any associated winnings may be removed under the stated rules.

Withdrawal conditions can include identity verification, a maximum cashout from a free chip, and restrictions on withdrawing before wagering is completed. Payment processing times, available methods, minimum withdrawal amounts, and possible fees should be reviewed separately from the bonus advertisement.

Comparing payment, mobile, and account features

A casino promotion is easier to assess when the account experience is considered alongside the headline reward. Uptown Pokies information refers to mobile play and various payment methods, which may suit users who want to access games from a phone or tablet. Device compatibility, connection security, and whether all account functions work on mobile are useful practical checks.

Players should confirm the accepted deposit and withdrawal options before claiming a bonus. A method available for deposits may not be supported for withdrawals, and some payment providers can involve different processing times. Account verification may also be required before funds can be released.

Licensing information should be easy to find and should identify the relevant operator or regulatory framework. Users should verify that the details shown on the casino website match the current legal and regulatory position for their location. A promotional page alone is not enough evidence of suitability.

Responsible use of casino promotions

Bonuses can encourage longer sessions because the player must meet conditions before funds become withdrawable. Setting a fixed budget and time limit before opening a game helps keep promotional play separate from essential spending. Losses should never be chased by increasing deposits.

The same care used to protect educational resources and community wellbeing applies to digital entertainment. Organizations such as Avalokiteśvara Trust focus on literacy, creativity, and learning opportunities for children and young monks, illustrating why money reserved for family, education, or charitable purposes should not be used for gambling.

A player who feels unable to control gambling activity should stop, use available account restrictions, and seek support from a qualified local service. Deposit limits, cooling-off periods, self-exclusion tools, and reality checks can provide useful barriers when offered by the operator.

Practical checks for choosing an offer

A short review checklist can make promotional comparisons more balanced:

  • Confirm that the offer is available to Australian players and meets the relevant age requirement.
  • Record the deposit minimum, bonus cap, wagering multiplier, eligible games, and expiry date.
  • Check whether a no-deposit code or free chip has a maximum withdrawal limit.
  • Verify accepted payment methods, identity requirements, processing times, and any fees.
  • Set a firm entertainment budget and stop when that limit or the planned session time is reached.

The strongest-looking promotion is not always the most useful one. A modest free spins package may be easier to understand than a large deposit match with complex restrictions, while a no-deposit offer may provide a low-cost way to inspect the platform before deciding whether it suits a player’s needs.

Uptown Pokies’ advertised AU$10 free chip, welcome incentives, free spins, VIP rewards, and broad game selection can be compared using the same criteria as any other online casino offer. The practical approach is to read the current terms, verify legality and licensing, protect personal finances, and treat every bonus as conditional entertainment credit rather than guaranteed value.