Volunteer in Nepal

The Program

The volunteer opportunities are in the following areas:

* teaching English

* working in an orphanage

* community health and environmental program

* school and community maintenance

* home stay/cultural exchange

Teaching English

In this program volunteers are placed in local schools to teach conversational English and reading classes to Nepali children. It is the goal of our partner organisation to ensure that the children of Nepal are able to advance their practical written and verbal English language skills. In Nepal, English is becoming more and more of a required skill for job placement, educational advancement and future success. Schools in Nepal often lack in funding and resources. Class size can range from 10 to 80 students. School runs from Sunday to Friday with Saturday off, students are between 4 and 16 years of age. To teach English at a Nepali school you don't need to have formal teaching qualifications. You will need a good command of written and spoken English, plenty of enthusiasm and a lot of patience. Please note that festivals and exams disrupt the teaching schedule at the following times: March/April, October/November. We suggest that you have a second choice of program during these times.

Teaching Environmental Awareness

If you have a passion for the environment it is possible to teach environmental awareness in local schools, within the community, or in the many orphanages our volunteers serve. In the past volunteers have formed student groups to work on environmental projects based on their personal expertise and the needs of the village community. Example projects include: creating "green" clubs, planting a flower garden, planting trees, garbage management, recycling programs, making a smokeless stove, building a toilet pit, etc. It is also possible to share your ideas, skills and knowledge with local NGO's about environmental issues, and provide assistance to youth clubs or women's groups in the community. Environmental Awareness activities and programmes can also be undertaken in the orphanages we currently serve. In this setting projects could include; informing children about the hazards of inappropriate garbage disposal, building a compost bin and teaching the children how to maintain it, creating paper recycling stations to teach the children a valuable skill that could ultimately be used in their future.

Orphanage

In this program volunteers will be placed in an orphanage located within a one and a half hour bus ride from the heart of Kathmandu. Some placements allow the volunteer to live within the orphanage, however, volunteers can also choose to be placed with a host family. As well as being very rewarding, these placements can be physically and emotionally demanding. Your role as an Orphanage Volunteer is to be a big brother or sister to the children. What you will be doing will vary in each orphanage. You may be required to help in other ways besides simply working with the children - for example helping with medical visits, cleaning, paper recycling, gardening, teaching the house mothers how to properly clean, doing repairs, mending clothing, planning activities for after they return from school and perhaps preparing meals. Once the children return from school, your role will be to assist and encourage them with their homework as well as play with them. Teaching English may be a big focus as you will not be able to teach common subjects such as Maths or Science with the language barrier. You could help the children in other areas - basic hygiene for example, like regular teeth brushing and hand washing. Games, songs and other activities will be extremely popular with the children. Some of the older children may be encouraged to develop skills that may help them in later life such as paper making, sewing or maintenance work. These may be future skills that could help them to become self-sufficient as adults. Health Education Depending on their medical qualifications volunteers with a background in healthcare will work closely with orphanages in the Kathmandu Valley. The need is extensive for childrens' health care. Projects could include; health checks, the creation of medical records, health and sanitation education; administering inoculations against childhood diseases and treating basic ailments in the orphanage. Volunteers with health education and first aid training can also provide real benefits to local communities. You can teach youth clubs and/or women's groups in the community about Health and Sanitation. You can also deliver first aid knowledge to the local villages and assist in developing and delivering First Aid and General Health Programs. Please note that for the health program we prefer medical students or advanced degree holders, however, volunteers with basic experience in this area can also be placed.

School and Community Maintenance Program

This is an opportunity to help in a wide range of practical village-based projects. These projects could be as basic as painting or plastering, however, those with additional skills 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. It is vital to be sensitive to the needs and wishes of the local community. Projects are usually partly funded by the communities and partly by our partner organisation and/or volunteer contributions. 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 organisation's own Children's home.

Home Stay/Cultural Exchange

This program is a fantastic way to get more out of a trip to Nepal if your time is short. In this program you will be placed with a Nepali family in a small rural village or within a city for the duration of your stay. You'll learn about all aspects of Nepali culture, lifestyle, language, food and people - an unforgettable experience. You should remember that this is a cultural exchange so you should try and offer some knowledge of your own home culture and customs to your host family. During your home-stay you will attend 2 hours of language lessons in the morning and in the afternoon. You can spend the day visiting the local village and school and exploring the local area. You will also have the opportunity to help out at the local school. Home-stay programs can only be arranged for two weeks or one month and are best from August to December, which is the time when most large local festivals take place resulting in an overall more exciting experience. Please note that if you choose a home-stay/cultural exchange you will be placed with your host family as soon as you arrive in Nepal.