Dear Friend,
We would like to invite experienced young practitioners to help create a supportive environment for participants of Themed Week: Mini Wake Up. This volunteer program is itself a week of practice focusing on mindful service, offering a valuable opportunity to practice mindfulness of the body, feelings, mental formations, and perception.
Nowadays, to be able to bring a big group of young people together, to cultivate peace and happiness is a very precious service that we can offer to ourselves & society. We would like to invite you to join and support us.
Arrival : Tuesday, March 31,2026 check in at 15h00 to 19h30
Departure : Thursday, April 9, 2026 check out at 15.00. (There will be last service in the morning at 09.30)
Venue :
Upper Hamlet, Plum Village France (map)
- Smoking cigarettes or electronic cigarette, consuming alcohol or recreational drugs are prohibited in the monastery
- No sexual activities during the stay in monastery
Accommodation :
- Camping at the monastery with your own camping gear, as the monastery does not provide camping equipment.
- Caravan/camping car with your own vehicle.
- Very Limited 8-10 bed Dormitory
Note : Early April can be cold or damp, so if you choose camping in the tent or camping car please make sure you have experience camping in that kind of weather.
Gender :
In this volunteer program, all gender identities are welcomed (see below)
Area of support:
Washing Pots & Sanitary Facility:
- 2 groups (2 coordinators)
- Helping to coordinate 2 groups of participants to wash the pots after every meal and cleaning dining hall
- It’s a rotation : One day, washing pots and the other day, helping to clean the sanitary facility.
- You can participate in almost all activities
Sanitizing & Sanitary Facility:
- 2 groups (2 coordinators)
- Help coordinate 2 groups of participants to sanitize the plates, bowls and utensils after every meal.
- It’s a rotation : One day, sanitizing service and The other day, helping to clean the sanitary
- You can participate in almost all activities
Helping in the kitchen and tea table.
- 3 groups of 2 people (6 people)
- You are not cooking, but supporting the monastic cooks, chopping vegetables, cleaning pots and kitchen.
- It’s a rotation, one day helping in the kitchen, one day resting, one day taking care of the tea house.
- You will miss the activities during your service in the kitchen
Contribution:
- Camping: starting 135€
- 8-10 bed Dormitory: starting 250€
- Cancellation will be 25€ for administration.
If you feel that you meet the description below, we kindly invite you to apply to become a volunteer.
- Your age is 18-38 years old.
- You participated in a plum village retreat within these last 5 years , at least once, at any Center in the Plum Village in France, Lower Hamlet, New Hamlet, Upper Hamlet or Healing Spring Monastery.
- You must be physically, mentally & emotionally stable to support these themed weeks of practice (yourself, participants and monastery) because the monastic community will fully focus on the programme.
- You do not feel overwhelmed by many people around you.
- You enjoy the practice of Plum Village tradition such as walking meditation, breathing, and participating in activities.
- You must be able to communicate in English.
- Ability to listen deeply to others and be open to the ideas of others
- Being mindful and keeping calm even in difficult situations
- Capable for teamwork
- Capable of guiding a group in the service
- Responsible, diligent, and thorough in your service
- Creative, flexible and energetic
- If you need a visa to enter France, you need to self organize your application. We may provide you with attestation of retreat participation after you have a reservation.
Process to apply to be volunteer
- Fill up the application form and complete the necessary paperwork.
- Our team will inform you by email whether you are accepted or not.
- Book accommodation & payment
- Ready to pack and arrange your traveling after payment.
Thank you very much for your generosity & support. We know you are there, we are very happy.
Apply for volunteers
Due to open here on Jan 20, 2026 at 9pm (21h00) Paris Time
More information about coming to practice with us