Nepal

You can become involved in a variety of community aid projects in Nepal. This program has something for everyone.

You have the opportunity to work directly with children from children’s homes, teach English to adults or children, provide education on healthcare practices, take part in building/maintenance projects, or choose to enjoy a cultural exchange homestay.

While sharing your skills and talents you will gain an in-depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you the rest of your life.

Projects

Children's Homes Do you have a warm heart for children and a desire to impact their lives? Then our Nepal Children’s Homes program is just what you’re looking for. Located within a 90 minute bus ride from the heart of Kathmandu, your main role is to be a ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister’ to the children. The children attend school, so during school hours your time will be filled with tasks such as helping with medical visits, cleaning, paper recycling, gardening, teaching the house mothers how to clean properly, mending clothing, planning activities for after school, and perhaps preparing meals. Once the children return from school, you’ll be busy encouraging them with their homework, organizing games, playing with the children, and just ‘hanging out’ together. You could also help the older children to develop skills that would help them in later life such as paper making, sewing, or maintenance work.

Teaching English Within Nepal, it is becoming much more of a requirement for job placement, educational advancement, and future success to have English skills. If you have a good command of written and spoken English, plenty of initiative, determination, motivation and patience then you can be instrumental in teaching English to those keen to learn. (You don’t need any formal teaching qualifications for this program.) You can teach English at one of the local schools and you'll find that the students have varying degrees of proficiency. This program requires a six week minimum commitment from you.

Community Maintenance This is an opportunity to help in a wide range of practical village-based projects. These projects may be straightforward painting or plastering; or if you have additional skills you may be able to help in more advanced work. Projects are usually decided upon in consultation with local communities, but you can use your initiative to suggest projects of your own. Projects are usually partly funded by the communities and partly by our partner organisation and/or volunteer contributions. It is essential that you are sensitive to the needs and wishes of the local community. You'll work with other volunteers in small groups, usually with minimal supervision. Often you'll also work alongside villagers, learning about traditional methods of building and working. Example projects include; school repair and decoration, toilet building, drinking water projects, road drainage projects, recycling projects, stove building, and construction work on our partner organization’s own children's home. If you are interested, you can also take more of an environmental education focus by informing children about appropriate waste disposal, recycling, composting, and creating vegetable and flower gardens in the children’s homes.

Health Education The main focus of our health education program is the prevention of health complications by way of teaching adults and children about health, personal hygiene, and sanitation. As a volunteer in this program you will be based in a children’s home. You will be busy assisting the health team in leading ‘health fun days’ in schools and children’s homes, maintaining health records and dealing with health complications as they arise (i.e. taking a child to the hospital, administering basic first aid, etc.) Given the nature of this program, medical students or advanced degree holders are preferred. Depending on your experience/qualifications, there are various roles you can undertake, however this is not a medical program and you should not expect to be performing any medical procedures. Please note that the Health Education Program is currently under development and volunteers may not be placed in a children’s home. This program requires volunteers who are flexible and self-motivated.

Home Stay/Cultural Exchange What is a fantastic way to get more out of a trip to Nepal, especially if your time is short? You will be placed with a Nepalese family as soon as you arrive in Nepal, and will live in either a small rural village or within a city. During your home stay you will learn about all aspects of Nepali culture, lifestyle, food, and have the opportunity to attend 2 hours of language lessons in the morning and in the afternoon. As the experience is a cultural exchange, you should try to share with your host family some knowledge of your own home culture and customs as well. Home stay programs can be arranged for two or four weeks only, with the best time to take part being between August and December – this is the time when most large local festivals take place, providing you with a wonderfully exciting experience..

Costs Application Fee – US $97 Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the Nepal program, (or any other volunteer program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you. Program Fee – from US$ 39 a day * • 2 weeks - US $1,597 • 3 weeks - US $1,797 • 4 weeks - US $1,997 • 6 weeks - US $2,097 • 8 weeks - US $2,197 Placements longer than 8 weeks are available, please contact us or apply online for details. * Based on an 8 week placement
What’s included: Accommodation: Home stay, with the first two nights of orientation in a guest house. Meals: All meals are included, except the first two nights of orientation. Airport pickup: Included on arrival date and departure date. Training: In-country orientation and training. Supervision: In-country staff supervision. Support: Pre-departure personal support from your volunteer coordinator, 24/7 in-country support from partner, and 24hr emergency line. What’s not included: Flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations, dinner for the first two nights. We recommend you allow a weekly budget of up to US$ 20 for your other expenses like bottled water, personal items, beverages, and entertainment. Living in a village is relatively inexpensive compared to most western countries.
Program Schedule Start Date: 1st of each month Length: From 2 weeks – 5 months Please note: Teaching Program • Minimum placement for the teaching program is 6 weeks. • Schools are closed March, April, June, July and October. Festivals: September - November • September – November local festivals may disrupt your program. • If you are volunteering for 1 month or less we recommend participating during a different time of the year. • For longer placements this is a great opportunity to experience the local culture.

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