Volunteering is one of the most rewarding and heartfelt things that you can do; not only for yourself, but also for the people you are helping along the way. Participating in a volunteer program in Nepal gives you a wonderful and unique opportunity to live and interact with a local family, gaining firsthand insight into the culture and customs of this Himalayan kingdom. Not only that, but you get to play a significant role in aiding small communities gain an edge in education. It's often the case in poor rural areas that education is under funded. By volunteering in a school, you are offering your teaching experience and your English-speaking ability to help educate children as well as teachers. Along your journey, you will form many lifelong friendships and have memories that you will be able to share with your grandchildren.

By donating your time and experience, you are giving more than money or words can express; the joy in the children's faces will communicate more thanks to you than a thousand words could ever express.

The program

Week 1
When you arrive in Kathmandu, we will put you up in a hotel with a bed and breakfast. Your first week will be spent taking basic Nepali and cultural education classes to prepare you for your home stay. You will also be taken sightseeing around the valley.

Weeks 2-5
Placement time -- We will take you to the area of your placement and introduce you to the family you will be staying with and to the school and its teachers. You will be given a teaching schedule.

Week 6
Bid farewell to the school and your host family and return to Kathmandu where you will spend 5 days -- 2 days rafting and 3 days in Chitwan -- relaxing and sharing your experiences with other volunteers.

What to expect

• The placements will be in remote areas. You will have your own room, but the toilet will be an outside squatter toilet; toilet paper may not be supplied, so you should bring your own or purchase it at the local store.
• You will be living with a traditional family and you should respect their culture by dressing appropriately at all times. Do not drink or smoke, unless it is offered. Houses are communal places, so don’t expect your room to be a private zone; other family members will be coming in and out a lot.
• It’s not common for rural houses to have shower or bath facilities. There will be places to wash in a river or at the local water pump. It's helpful if you bring along a sarong for bathing. Don’t worry, the lady of the house will show you how it's done. Also, there will be no laundry services; you will be shown where and how to wash your clothes.
• The schools or villages may require you to walk some distance to reach them, so you should be physically fit.
• The food will be simple, but you will not go hungry. Be prepared to eat rice and plenty of it. It's not common for most families to eat meat regularly, so the food is mostly vegetarian. It’s all fresh and healthy. Water for drinking can be bought in local villages, and if not, we will make sure you have a good supply. In some cases, the water can be drinkable, or you can use purification tablets to treat it.
• In most cases you will be able to contact us anytime by phone, but don’t expect to find internet services. We will check up on you regularly anyway.

The facilities may be basic and limited, but you should look upon this as an experience of a lifetime, an opportunity to live with and experience how other people live and have lived for generations. Not only are you offering your services as a teacher to the students, but you will have a learning experience yourself.

What's included?

• During your placement, you will live with a host family; all your meals will be included
• In Kathmandu you will stay in a hotel with bed and breakfast
• Basic language course and cultural education about Nepal
• Sightseeing around Kathmandu
• All road transfers
• Two days rafting
• Two nights/three days in Chitwan National Park
• Airport transfers

What to bring?

• Teaching aids and books are always useful
• Pens, pencils and paper
• Toiletries
• Clothes

As the weather in Nepal can be quite hot, you should wear light, loose cotton clothing so you will be comfortable.

Ladies should wear clothes that cover their shoulders and knees. In Nepal and especially in rural schools, it’s inappropriate to wear revealing clothing and low-fitting jeans; exposing belly buttons and cleavage is definitely inappropriate. In schools, most Nepalese women wear either a Kurta or a Sari. A Kurta is a loose, comfortable, light-fitting pant and dress-like top. It's very easy and inexpensive to have them made in Nepal.

Men should wear shirts and slacks, and no shorts above the knees.

• First-aid kit
• Copies of important documents: passport, insurance policy, birth certificate, etc.
• Personal items: eg. walkman, iPod, diary
• Sturdy day pack and back pack
• Sturdy footwear (one pair of boots/shoes) and light sandals or thongs
• Camera

Requirements

We recommend that you have basic teaching skills or are a student teacher, but it's not necessary.
You must have a valid visa for your length of stay in Nepal. We can assist you with extensions.

Please feel free to write us an e-mail message, if you have any questions about the above information.

Nepal Govt. Regd. No. 64/066/067, SWC Affiliation No.28092, PAN No. 303812656.