Volunteer in Nepal!

  Nepal

• Kathmandu: 
Kathmandu

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Opportunities are available throughout the year

Description: The Global Volunteer Network currently has volunteer opportunities available through our partner organization in the beautiful Kingdom of Nepal. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational and community aid programs. This will give you a chance to make an important contribution to the people of Nepal and while doing so gain an in depth experience of the country and its culture, that will stay with you the rest of your life.

The volunteer opportunities are in areas such as Teaching English, Working in an Orphanage, Environmental Awareness, Health Education, School and Community Maintenance and a Home Stay Programme/Cultural Exchange. Your placement will be tailored according to your individual needs and interests.

Teaching English: The system of teaching is different in Nepal. Volunteers do not need to use the same method. They will be encouraged to use their own teaching methodologies. Volunteers will stay with a Nepali family near the school. Volunteers will teach for about 2 to 3 hours each day for six days a week (Saturday is the day off). They will also be involved in teaching in youth clubs or a women's group for informal education for 1 to 2 hours a day. School children will be 10 to 14 years of age and have basic level of English. Volunteers for this program will also be engaged to let the teachers of the school know about teaching practices and conversational English to enable them to teach English in the future.

Working in an Orphanage: Volunteers will be placed in an orphanage where they will assist the children in their day to day routine. The Prisoner Assistance Mission (PAM) runs the orphanage, which cares for children whose parents are in prison. The children are mostly between the ages of four and fifteen, and have a basic understanding of English. The general role of the volunteer will be to act as an older sibling: to care for, look after and encourage the children. Volunteers will teach the children general life skills, including health and sanitation, as well as arts, crafts and music. They may also help the children with their school work. Please note that only female volunteers are permitted at the orphanage at present, and the placements are limited to three volunteers per month.

Environmental Awareness: Volunteers will teach Environmental Education for about 2 to 3 hours each day for six days a week (Saturday is the day off). Volunteers will also be involved in sharing their ideas, skills and knowledge with local NGO's about Environmental issues. Volunteers will form a group among the students that will work in the environmental area inside and outside of the school. This will include activities such as creating green clubs, making a flower garden, planting trees, garbage management, paper recycling, making smokeless stove, making toilet pit using available local materials etc.

Health Education: Volunteers will teach Health Education to school children in a school for about 1 to 2 hours each day for six days (Saturday is the day off). They will also be involved in working with the youth clubs or a women's group in the community about Health and Sanitation. You will also provide First Aid information in the local villages to the local people. We prefer medical students for this program, however we do accept others with some experience in this area.

School and Community Maintenance Program: Volunteers stay in a village with a Nepali Family and help with School and Community Maintenance. You will be involved in painting, building and repairs. During this period volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in local festivals and get the opportunity to exchange their culture.

Highlights: Home Stay Programme/Cultural Exchange: Volunteers stay in a village with a Nepali Family. During their stay, volunteers will learn the Nepali Language for 2 hours in the morning and in the afternoon. They will visit the local village and will go to the local school during the day. The home stay program is a good opportunity for volunteers to learn about the Nepali culture, lifestyle, language, and people. We can arrange home stay programs in most parts of Nepal. During this period volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in local festivals and get the opportunity to exchange their culture. Homestays can only be arranged for two weeks or one month.
In a typical placement volunteers stay in a family where they get Nepali food twice a day (around 9 o' clock in the morning and 7 o' clock in the evening). Tea is served in the morning and in the afternoon. Volunteers will have the opportunity to get together with other volunteers and share their experience. You will be able to travel to nearby towns to purchase things for daily use and could travel to other areas on longer vacation. Besides your project work, volunteers can utilize their spare time in organizing the youth and women's groups of the community to do some worthwhile activities like building a smokeless stove, toilet by using local materials, making a soak pit, kitchen gardening, making a solar dryer, garbage management or paper recycling.

Qualifications: Specialist medical skills are required for the community health program, but the other programs simply require enthusiasm, interest and an open mind.

Cost in US$: See Website

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 - 60

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

Participants Travel to Nepal Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of <10

Application Process Involves:

• Other

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement: The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is WN/1194442. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded: 2000