Recruiting College Students - Nepal Trip Jan '09

  United States

Term: Winter 
Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: from 1st January

Description: WCE is now recruiting 15 college students to visit Nepal for the first 3 weeks in January 2009. Student teams will staff Internet camps for youth from the schools that have received computers from WCE and help with some basic computer upgrading and trouble-shooting in the local schools.

The team has been invited to help on a project developed by COPPADES, our lead Partner organisation in Nepal. COPPADES is led by Dikendra Kandel who has had substantial experience with university students visiting Nepal.

For this team, students will be selected with skills in technology, communication, and environment (to help our eWaste Initiative while they are in Nepal).

The volunteers will stay together for the first few days of orientation in Kathmandu and then split into 4 teams to each travel with a COPPADES staff person to different villages to work for 12 days. While there, the small teams will stay together in guest houses.

The orientation in Kathmandu will include some lectures on issues about Nepal as well as some instruction on basic Nepali words. We hope that all participants will find ways in their own countries to learn some Nepali words before January. We will also send team members some educational web links to visit to prior to the trip.

Team members are encouraged to bring replacments parts with them for Pentium 1s and 2s with them including mother boards and RAM, and power supplies.

Highlights: The volunteers will stay together for the first few days of orientation in Kathmandu and then split into 4 teams to each travel with a COPPADES staff person to different villages to work for 12 days. While there, the small teams will stay together in guest houses.

The orientation in Kathmandu will include some lectures on issues about Nepal as well as some instruction on basic Nepali words. We hope that all participants will find ways in their own countries to learn some Nepali words before January. We will also send team members some educational web links to visit to prior to the trip.

Team members are encouraged to bring replacments parts with them for Pentium 1s and 2s with them including mother boards and RAM, and power supplies.

David Kleiman, our WCE Programme Officer for Nepal is helping COPPADES to plan the trip. One of the WCE volunteers, Christina Weng who will be the trip leader is also working on our plans with Mariya Petkova the WCE eCorps Manager.

Team members will make a tax deductible donation to WCE for $3,900. This includes the costs for your flight and trip expenses except for your visa, innoculations, and required international health and evacuation insurance.

About 1% of the people in Nepal use the Internet and the average annual income is about $1,200 per person.

Over the past 5 years, WCE has previously shipped 1,600 used computers to COPPADES. We are also planning the shipment of a 5th 40-foot container of 400 computer sets in a few months.

Qualifications:
- Basic computer upgrading and PC trouble-shooting skills.
- Skills in technology, communication, and environment (to help our eWaste Initiative while they are in Nepal).

Minimum Education: Bachelors

Cost in US$: $3,900

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: World Computer Exchange is a grassroots organization providing donated computers for reuse in schools and libraries throughout the developing world. By marrying education, computers and Internet technologies, WCE aspires to enhance the quality of education and increase the chances for these communities to overcome poverty and contribute to the economic growth of their countries.

Age Range: 21

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to United States in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 15

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Other
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application

World Computer Exchange's Mission Statement: World Computer Exchange is a global education & environment nonprofit that helps connect youth in 65 developing countries to the skills, opportunities & understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills.

Year Founded: 2000