Environment and Conservation Programme

  Nepal

Rural Areas

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Please contact us using the link at the top/bottom of the page for the specific dates.

Description: Our intern and volunteer Abroad Nepal programs give you the unique opportunity to have an international internship or work experience in the area of health, education, or social services. Based on years of success with students volunteering abroad and receiving academic credit, the Interntership Abroad program provides a supportive and academic framework to the volunteer experience to carefully align it with your learning objectives.

VIN internship and volunteer programs are an extraordinary way to make you more professionally competitive and highly marketable. This exclusive experience simply can't be duplicated by other international programs in Nepal with our affordable program costs. Gain the real experience for a lifetime. Be part of "Empowering marginalized communities".

Highlights: The Nepal Himalaya represents the highest terrestrial ecosystem on earth. Its share of the world's terrestrial area is just over 0.1%, but it can claim over 2.2% of the global wealth of flowering plants, 4.2% of mammals, 8.5% of birds, 1.4% of reptiles and amphibians, and 2.2% of fresh water fish species, which is a proof for richness in biodiversity.

In current days, environment is degrading rapidly in Nepal. Environmental degradation is in many ways due to poor management of the environment and the lack of incentives for increasing the value of environmental resources. It is surprising to note that the nature and natural lives has been the most neglected subject in Nepal. The saddening fact lies on the massive deforestation activities in Nepal, which results in just 29% share in total land area of the country.

Environment Education and Conservation Programme aims at promoting sustainable rural livelihoods through improved understanding about use of, and access to local resources with particular emphasis on sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, while minimizing damage to the natural resource base on which those livelihoods crucially depend on. The main aim of this programme is to ensure that the communities are aware of the resources available to them, and make them able to manage these resources in a sustainable way.

Qualifications: To work as an intern or a volunteer with Volunteers Initiative Nepal, you must be flexible enough. You must send your expected outputs and check with the programs whether it's a better fit for you. Remember: you are planning to work in a developing country and you may find many things very different which otherwise you may not have experienced in your life!

Cost in US$: Please contact us using the link at the top/bottom for more details.

- Transportation: Pick up from the airport;
- Pre-service (e.g. Nepali language and culture, health talk, program orientation, e.g. teacher training -TEFL tips);
- One day sight seeing around Kathmandu, world heritage sites, (e.g. Patan Darbur Square, Pashupatinath, Baudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath Stuple);
- Accommodation and Food during program induction in a budget hotel (VIN has set menu);
- Accommodation and food during placement with a host family / hostel (Nepali standard 2 to 3 meals a day);
- Administrative charge;
- Stationeries during program induction;
- Transportation to the project site;
- 24 hours emergency support;
- Regular follow up support / visit (1-2 week interval) by VIN's staffs;
- Support for local staff and volunteers;
- Support for ongoing VIN's established projects in the community;
- Online / off line program advertisement
- free wireless internet at our office

* The program fee excludes the following:

- Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee - (check with your embassy or Nepal Immigration for the latest fee structure);
- Visa (tourist) fee in USD:
15 days:- 25
30 days:-40
90 days: 100
Per additional day:- 2;

- Stationeries during volunteering period if you wish to use much;
- Return / transfer to airport, airport taxes of 1,700 NPR (to be paid at the airport upon departure);
- Transportation during weekends travel;
- Entrance fees to the cultural Heritage - USD 22 max for main cultural sights;
- Personal travel and sightseeing (trekking, jungle safari etc);
- Laundry, internet access, telephone, drinks or other costs accrued during training and placement;
- Gifts to project staffs and host family, if you wish to buy any;
- Should you wish to spend more time in Kathmandu pre and post placement period, please remember to budget accordingly!
- Travel and medical insurances, immunization, health expenses;
- You will also need a weekly budget of up to USD 20 to cater for all your other expenses like bottled water.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 +

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Nepal Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Volunteers Initiative Nepal's Mission Statement: Our mission is to empower marginalized communities, with a focus on women and children, through enhanced education programmes and whole community training to achieve democracy and raise economic productivity.

Year Founded: 2005