Volunteers' Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I'm planning a vacation trip to China and there's a gap in my schedule. Can I volunteer for Kham Aid from September 14 to October 3?
A. It is rare that one of our field programs is a good fit to both your skills and your vacation schedule. Field volunteers need to be flexible and adapt their needs to the needs of our programs.
Q. Will Kham Aid pay for my airfare to China/Tibet?
A. Very rarely does Kham Aid pay airfare for volunteers. Many of our highly qualified volunteers, people with experience, language ability, and professional skills, still pay for their own airfare to Kham.
Q. Will Kham Aid give me a letter of invitation so I can apply for a Chinese visa or Tibet travel permit?
A. You do not need a Tibet travel permit to work on our projects because they are located in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. For stays shorter than 90 days, a regular Chinese tourist visa is sufficient and no letter is needed. Kham Aid volunteers rarely stay longer than 90 days because visas of this length are hard to get.
Q. I'm going to be in Lhasa and I want to travel to Kham from there. How do I do that?
A. To reach Kangding from Lhasa, the best way is to fly from Lhasa to Chengdu, then take a bus to Kangding (7 hours). If you want to travel overland, you will need to spend 3-4 days driving from Lhasa to reach the Sichuan border. If you're not a Chinese national, then you'll need to arrange a travel permit and car through a travel agency. Once you reach the Sichuan border a travel permit is no longer needed and you have two more days of driving to reach Kangding. These last two days of driving will take you through a number of counties where we have active or completed programs.
Q. I want to combine my volunteering with a side trip to Lhasa. Can I travel by road from Kham to Lhasa easily?
A. Yes, you can, but it is not very easy. See above or this page for more information.
Q. Will I have a chance to go sightseeing during my period of volunteering for Kham Aid?
A. You might, but don't count on it. If you want to do sightseeing, you should instead plan on arriving in Kham early or staying on after the project is over.
Q. My guru's (friend's, brother-in-law's, etc) monastery is called Dipdap Gonpa and it's located in Kham. Can I go and visit it?
A. Kham is huge and some out-of-the-way monasteries, villages, etc take days to reach from urban centers. You need to talk to your guru and find out exactly where in Kham the monastery is located. Most likely, you will need to schedule several days outside your program work to pay a visit to such places.
Q. I'm a freshman in college, I don't speak Chinese or Tibetan, and I don't have any skills. Can I be a volunteer?
A. It is very difficult to place volunteers who are language-limited and have no professional skills. One thing you can do is teach English. This requires at least a three month commitment.
Q. If I can't work for Kham Aid, is there some other organization that can use me?
A. See listings on the following: China Development Brief and The Donation Center