You have the opportunity to work with children, teach children and community members, work on a community building/maintenance project, help educate and empower women, or simply choose to enjoy a cultural exchange home stay.
Best Volunteering Programs in Nepal
About Nepal
For many of us Nepal conjures up images of immense snow-capped mountains. Indeed, eight of the world’s eight-thousanders lie in Nepal, making it a mountaineers dream. Bordered by the majestic Himalayas, Nepal is a land of spectacular scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best walking trails on earth.
The country is sandwiched between India to the south and Tibet to the north. Until recently it was the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, Nepal has now moved into a new era of democracy and a secular society.
Nepal has more to offer though, than just the high Himalayas. Small as the country may be, the land is diverse geographically as well as ethnically. You will find rich cultures and vibrant traditions, exquisite temples and monuments as well as fast flowing rivers and tropical jungles teeming with wildlife, making your trip an unforgettable one. It is a country where people of different races and religions live in relative harmony.
Development in Nepal
Nepal is a developing country emerging from a decade-long conflict and is considered one of the poorest countries in the world. Very few westerners, apart from explorers and climbers, ever visited Nepal until the 1970s. Although there are parts of the capital and the larger cities that appear modern, most of Nepal is a very traditional society that depends on subsistence farming, although tourism provides significant income in some areas.
Development in the country is difficult largely due to an unstable government; however mountainous terrain and the growing population are also contributing factors. Almost half the population lives in poverty with nearly three quarters being illiterate. The life expectancy is approximately 63 years of age. This is due mainly to the limited health services available in the country.
How You Can Help
Volunteers provide greatly needed assistance to disadvantaged socio-economic groups within Nepali communities, focusing primarily on displaced, destitute, and orphaned children.
As a volunteer in Nepal you can provide love, affection, education and support to orphaned children. You will help to improve their living facilities allowing them to be self sufficient and providing a safe and secure environment in which they can flourish. You and also provide education, inter-cultural exchange and understanding in Nepalese communities.
Projects
Womens Education and Empowerment
This program is an opportunity to assist local community schools with free classes for women who have not had the chance to partake in education. Volunteers will help in teaching English, numeracy, and sharing any skills they may have. By volunteering in this program, you have the chance to support these women as they strive to better their skills – either for personal achievement and help their children with their homework, or to help with job opportunities and set up small scale income generating activities.
Childrens 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. Our partner organization works with a range of homes in and out of the Kathmandu Valley and depending on the ages of the children at the home you are placed, your main role could be that of ‘big brother’, ‘big sister’ or youth mentor.
When 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. For the older children you should look to create workshops and projects to help them develop skills that will help them in later life, such as computer skills, how to write a job application letter, how to write a resume, career talks etc.
While the children are at school, there are a range of other activities that you can be involved in – these will be introduced to you during the training process in Nepal.
Teaching English
Within Nepal, it is becoming much more of a requirement for job placement, educational advancement, and future success to have English skills and a good, overall education. 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 to those keen to learn. (You don’t need any formal teaching qualifications for this program.)
You could be teaching community members, kids in children’s homes and/or in a classroom. Teaching / Education volunteers must commit to a minimum 6 week programme, although the longer you are able to give the greater the impact you will have and the more your students will benefit. For placements outside of the Kathmandu Valley, priority will be given to those with the longest placement commitment.
Community Work
This is an opportunity to help in a wide range of practical village-based projects. The projects volunteers work on are usually for unskilled labour, unless volunteers come with specific skill sets. It can be a whole load of humping, dumping and digging! All work is completed ‘Nepali style’ – which means by hand! – with basic Nepali tools.
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.
Please note that this work has minimal supervision, and we encourage all volunteers to help out on these projects. 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.
Home Stay/Cultural Exchange
Our cultural exchange programme is for those who don’t want to be tied to anyone programme, but want to experience Nepal in a deeper and more meaningful way than just coming for a holiday. It will be up to you to get whatever it is you want from your exchange. Each and every person who signs up for this programme does so for very different reasons, and that is why we let you explore in the way that best suits you.
As a cultural exchange volunteer you will live with a Nepali family, living as they do to the beat of Nepali time. You will have the opportunity to explore and get to know the community you are living with, engage with them in their day to day lives, help out in the house and fields, celebrate their festivals and get a first hand understanding of life here in Nepal.
Given that this is a cultural exchange, you will also be expected to share a little of your culture and customs, enabling both sides to see how different lives can be lived in a non judgmental way and that each should be cherished for what they give, as they are just two different lifestyles in a world of differences, no one better than the other. You will also be able should you wish, to get involved in our other programmes, as long as your presence doesn’t impact on incumbent volunteers.
Home stay programs can be arranged for two or four weeks only, with the most culturally rich time for this programme is during the months of September – November when Nepal’s two greatest festivals are celebrated, Dashain and Tihar.
FAQ
How safe is it to volunteer in Nepal?
Volunteer safety is our primary concern. Please rest assured that if our partner in Nepal, at any time thought it unsafe for volunteers to be in Nepal they would close down their operation until such time as it was deemed safe for volunteers to return. The situation in Nepal does change on a daily basis and we can put you in touch with current volunteers once you have been accepted into the program.
As with any country we recommend that you do not travel alone late at night. We strongly recommend that you avoid political gatherings, demonstrations, and protests. We highly recommend that you register with your Embassy or Consulate prior to travelling. This can be done online or in person. Program staff will be available via mobile phone 24 hours a day for genuine emergencies.
What is the climate like in Nepal?
Nepal’s climate is typically monsoonal with a wet and dry season. The dry season runs from October through to May with the monsoon season lasting the rest of the year. April through to the start of June is the hottest time of the year and the temperature in Kathmandu often reaches into the high 30s (Celcius). During the winter temperatures can still be as high as 20C in the sun, but beware of near freezing conditions once night falls. Even though Nepal is well known for the snow capped Himalayan mountain range it rarely actually snows in the Kathmandu Valley. Having said this, during February 2007 snow fell in the Valley for the first time in 62 years! You should be aware that if you are trekking at altitude you may experience very cold temperatures even during the summer months. We suggest you conduct thorough research into temperatures at altitude and the risks involved with trekking at altitude.
Language requirements
You will need to speak and have a good command of English. English may be your second language and that is fine.
What are the living arrangements when volunteering?
Accommodation during training and whilst on placement is covered by your program fee. Days one and two of training will be in a local guesthouse which is located in Thamel. All of the rooms have ‘western style’ toilets and hot water showers. A telephone is available in reception, a safe is available to keep valuables secure, and meals are available from the dining room. Depending on availability, during training you will either have a single room or you may have to share a room with a same-sex volunteer.
For phase two of training the volunteer group will move to a local village to provide volunteers with an orientation into Nepali village life. Volunteers are placed individually into local host families, unless they specifically request to be placed with another volunteer.
During your placement you will live with local host families near to where you will work.
Generally, during training and placement you will have access to electricity and running water. Morning tea and lunch are provided during the first phase of training. During phase two of training and your placement two main meals per day, a snack and tea are provided. When living with a host family you will also be provided with filtered or boiled drinking water.
Visa
You can purchase your visa (US$25 for the first 15 days, US$40 for a 30 day visa and US$100 for a 90 day visa) at Tribhuvan International Airport when you arrive in Nepal, if you have not already purchased it from a Nepalese Embassy in your own country. Tourist visa extensions are US$30 for 15 days. You can stay for a total maximum of 150 days per calendar year in Nepal.
What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Depending on where in Nepal you will be visiting you may require different vaccinations. Currently placements are only inside Kathmandu Valley. Make sure you consult a travel doctor as they will be able to advise you on what vaccinations you require for your travels. They will also be able to advise which vaccinations are suitable if you are pregnant of have allergies (we do not recommend volunteering during pregnancy).
Listed below are vaccinations recommended for your Nepal experience. It is important to get on to this as soon as possible as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home.
• Yellow Fever (is legally required if you have travelled from a yellow fever endemic area)
• Diphtheria and tetanus
• Polio
• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Rabies (this immunization is very expensive and is not necessary when medical attention is readily available)
• Japanese B Encephalitis (only suggested if spending time in the Terai area during monsoon. No placements are available in this area)
• Tuberculosis
• Meningococcal Meningitis (you may have received this during childhood, check with your school/doctor)
• Malaria (only suggested if spending time in the Terai area during monsoon. No placements are available in this area)
Do I need a police clearance document to volunteer in this program?
Yes, all volunteers in this program will be required to provide a police clearance document. This is because volunteers will be working closely with children and other vulnerable individuals. To obtain a police clearance you will need to contact your local police station to find out what their procedure is. Normally, you will be asked to complete an application form authorizing the check to be done, pay a fee and a few weeks later the check will arrive in the mail. A copy of your police clearance will need to be sent before your placement begins and you will need to take the original with you when you volunteer.
Sightseeing
Visitors to Nepal will be amazed by the variety of sights and activities available – there’s something for everyone. Visit Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, a palace in the traditional heart of the old town, or the Swayambhunath stupa`Monkey Temple,’ try to catch a glimpse of a rhino or tiger in Chitwan National Park or take the opportunity to trek some of the most beautiful mountain ranges on earth. Hiking the Annapurna Circuit offers striking scenery while the Everest Base Camp trek offers a fantastic personal challenge.
Don’t leave without…
Get your hiking boots ready and start training so you can get a glimpse of the worlds highest peaks on a Mt Everest Base camp trek. This is a physically demanding trek due to the high altitude and hills but is totally worth it. Jump on a tour/guided trek and go for it. Just remember slow and steady wins the race!
Feedback & Reviews
“Everyone there was really lovely and I’m glad I had the opportunity and hope one day I can go back and stay for longer. I cant thank you, the staff in Nepal, enough for giving me that great opportunity. It’s really helped me as a person and change my outlook on life, commitments and responsibility.” – Rym
“I’m settling in well here in Nepal and have met lots of nice, interesting people. The training was fine and took place both in Kathmandu and in a local village. I’ve been in Chitwan for 1 week now and this morning was the first time I had taught at the Resource Centre there. Absolutely no problems though with my position here, health etc. and I’m looking forward to the rest of my stay in Nepal.” – Liam
“Thank you, also, for such a wonderful experience. I’ve had a fantastic time and I don’t think I would have been able to get such a fantastic insight into real Nepali life without taking part in the volunteer work. Staying with a family meant that I lived and breathed Nepali life and working in the local school was so rewarding and the children were brill! So, thank you!” – Sarah
“I spent two weeks in Nepal and came back 2/3 weeks ago – I had a great time thank you, I was extremely sorry to leave!” – Catherine
“I just arrived in Kathmandu yesterday evening after a rather stressful week in India so at the moment I am just relaxing a little. I went and met Emma today. She is absolutely lovely and am so grateful that she is taking care of things for me here.” – Jacqui