VOLUNTEER SOCIETY NEPAL Summer volunteer program offers a unique opportunity for interested individuals, couples, groups to make a contribution to Nepali society, while simultaneously experiencing the rich culture, natural splendour, and daily life of Nepal, one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Once you join the Volunteer Society Nepal Programs, you return home with everlasting memories. The mission and objective of the Volunteer Society Nepal Program is to encourage and invite International/ National societies to contribute to the orphaned children, rural community development, education development, and health and environmental activities of the Nepali people. Volunteers will experience life in Nepal firsthand, working alongside Nepali people to help support communities in rural Nepal. In this way you will be making a meaningful contribution to a disadvantaged segment of the world community, while participating in an exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the local people who will ultimately be responsible for sustainable development.
Volunteer Society Nepal warmly welcomes you to make your summer 2009 everlasting memories by experiencing the real Nepal, through participation in a Volunteer Society Nepal program
http://www.vsnnepal.org to make meaningful contribution. Your efforts to support Nepal and its people will be remembered everlastingly and highly appreciated.
Summer Breaks/ Summer Holidays In Nepal
If you have a thirst for adventure, to explore places you've only dreamt of, learning through hands-on experience and making friends for life, and then join us...we offer unique experiential travel and volunteer programs in Nepal. Nepal is a land of some of the most awe-inspiring scenery, cultural treasures, and trekking trails on Earth. Inventive Volunteer Project Nepal's Summer Breaks Program in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal does not simply offer glimpses of this breathtaking country, but participants are also able to experience the beauty of Nepal - filled with the sights, sounds, and spirits of a very culturally-rich past. A country with scenic splendor, Nepal surprises you at your every turn with a spreading series of lush landscapes, affluent cultures, and smiling faces.
This summer program gives you the chance to experience Nepal's incredible cultural, social and environmental diversity. We immerse ourselves in Nepali, volunteer and home stay with local families.
Nepal Summer Program Highlights
One week of immersion Nepali Language - all levels catered for
Home stay with local families in rural setting in Kathmandu to enhance your language acquisition
Volunteer with orphans and disadvantaged children , Or construction Volunteer Program or Teacching Program for two weeks
Trekking Explore of Everest Base Camp Trek or Annapurna Trek for two weeks
Very personalized small group experience (compare with other programs of up to 15 students)
Fantastic program leader supported by great local guides
Hiking in the outlying areas of Kathmandu.
Orientation, Language and Cultural Immersion in Kathmandu (5 days)
In Kathmandu, worshipping the idols of gods and goddesses is a routine part of daily life. Spend your first week in Katmandu - a vibrant city with temples and shrines and the Living Goddess. Join this exciting orientation and learn about the culture, religions, and challenges of this tiny kingdom. Participate in Nepali language and cultural classes, all-the-while experiencing the dazzling tourist bazaars in Thamel. Also: stay in a rural village (Lamatar) and explore village life for 3 days, hike in the rural village, visit temples, monasteries, and the numerous sites of cultural importance in the heart of the city.
Home Stay and Community Service Project (15 days)
During these two weeks, participants will work in an orphanage project ( Kathmandu or Pokhara,) – where you will primarily assist to boost the knowledge, skill and competence of disadvantaged and destitute orphans of the country. By serving the orphans in orphanages, you will be offering them a different perspective on life that they can carry into adulthood. Volunteers will teach basic, conversational English to the children and organize fun activities in order to encourage their participation as well as easily comprehend things. Extend a helping hand in the sanitation and food distribution efforts of the orphanage. In your free time, hike in the beautiful areas surrounding Kathmandu Valley and experience the peace and tranquility of amazing Nepal.
You will be staying with a local host family. Your accommodation and food will be provided by a host family. Nepali people are extremely hospitable, warm and welcoming and volunteers are well treated wherever they go.
Activities: Work in an orphanage, teach English in local schools, explore Kathmandu and experience the sights, sounds, and spirit of this beautiful country.
Himalayan trekking experience.
The final 2 weeks offer the chance to satiate your thirst for exploration and discovery on a Himalayan trekking experience. You may do either Everest Base Camp Trek (14 Days) or Annapurna Trek (14 Days)
Skills/Qualifications Needed
There is no need of specific qualification for this project.
Location Descriptions
The construction projects are located in four different places in rural and urban areas:
Kathmandu:
Kathmandu is a vibrant capital city of Nepal with places of great tourist attractions like Thamel, Patan, Swaymbhu, etc. Kathmandu has a wide range of restaurants, internet cafés, clubs, shopping centers, and banks. The volunteers also have numerous opportunities to explore the sites under cultural heritage during free time. Our volunteers can simply hike in near by villages, ride bikes in Kathmandu, walk around the tourist city of Thamel , the options are unlimited.
Chitawan
Some health projects are located in Chitwan as well. Chitwan is about 3 hours drive away from Kathmandu (185kms). Chitwan is also a very popular tourist destination in Nepal after Kathmandu and Pokhara. Lots of tourists visit Chitwan and the jungle lodges and resorts to witness Royal Bengal Tiger and the Great One Horned Rhino. Like Kathmandu , Chitwan also has many restaurants, banks, internet cafes', shops and many other to-do things of great interest like biking, hiking, etc.
Pokhara
Situated at the lap of the panoramic Annapurna Himal, Pokhara is 198 kilometres west from Kathmandu. Pokhara is a rare combination of the long arrays of snowclad peaks, crystal clear lakes, turbulent rivers with deep gorges and picturesque villages inhabited by simple and friendly ethnic people. There are plenty of places of tourist interest in and around Pokhara city, some of which are Phewa Tal, Begnas Tal, Rupa Tal, Devi's Fall, Mahendra Cave, Bindabasini Temple, Bhadrakali Temple, Barahi Temple, Annapurna Regional Museum, Buddhist Monestry, Tibetan Village, Sarangkot, Kahun Danda and Phoksing Danda. Pokhara is blessed with beauty seldom seen in one place in the Himalayas.
Solukhumbu, Salleri
Salleri is the headquarters of Solukhumbu District. Solukhumbu salleri has all the attributes:- beautiful landscape; numerous villages that are home to the Sherpa people; a very lively bazaar held at the weekends; a Tibetan refugee camp; and many splendid Buddhist monestaries. Salleri is a small Himalayan town in the Eastern Develpment Region of Nepal. It is about 2,240m above the sea level in Solukhumbu District of Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. The region where the World’s highest mountain, Mount Everest stands. Salleri is the district headquarter of Solukhumbu District, one of the major tourist district of Nepal and the district that has more airstrips (airfield/airport) than any other single district in Nepal.
The quickest way to get to this Himalayn town of Salleri is to take a flight to Phaplu and then a short trek. Salleri has one hospital with 15 beds. You can experience the closer view of Mount Everest (8,848 m), Lothse (8,501 m), Ama Dablam (6,556 m) while you are in and round Salleri.
Dolakha, Charikot
Charikot, which is in the eastern upper part of the Dolkha township, has enchanting mountain views of Gaurishankar. Here there is a famous roofless temple named Dolkha Bhimsen. Travel to Jiri along its highway is a popular way to start treks into the Sagarmatha (Everest) area. Since the road is frequently used, especially in the tourist season, it was developed with good intention and is famous for its environment friendly approach adopted during its design, construction and maintenance. Jirels are one of the countless unique ethnic groups of Nepal, and they are found living in Jiri and the surrounding area.
Charikot is around 130 kilometers away from Kathmandu. You can get to Charikot, if you can take the Araniko Highway until you reach the 78km mark and then you will break away from the highway. The road will climb about 1800 meters out of the Sun Koshi Valley reaching an elevation of 2540 meters. There are regular bus services available, many starting from the Kathmandu Valley.
Room/Food/Supervision
Inventive Volunteer Pojects Nepal makes appropriate provision for food, room and supervision for its volunteers from the very beginning of their arrival to the country. During the first week of language training program, Inventive Volunteer Pojects Nepal manages you a clean and pleasant hostel having food facility where cooks prepare a variety of Nepali food (Dal, Bhat, Curry, Bread, Pickle, Tea etc). For your convenience, they will make continental and international food as well. During volunteers’ respective volunteering programs, their accommodation will be provided by a host family. However, volunteers joining in orphanage program will stay with the children in a hostel. Everest Foundation Nepal arranges a separate room along with a communal bath for volunteers in both the host families and hostel accommodations. Besides, Nepali people are extremely hospitable, warm and welcoming and volunteers are well treated wherever they go. Our staffs visit the volunteers at their placement in every two weeks. We assess the situation of the volunteers, working progress, and also receive feedback during this visit.
Training and Orientation:
During this time, you will participate in a 3-day volunteer orientation designed to ensure a smooth transition into Nepali culture life and a productive contribution to the local community. The orientation will provide you with extensive information about your new work situation, as well as tips on handling intercultural issues. After completion your training and orientation you will be taken to your placement.
Introduction about placement/ volunteer responsibility
Nepali cultural orientation / does and dos not in Nepal
Basic Nepali language classes
Personal safety/health /communication system
Sightseeing/ travel and tours information
Dates and Duration
This program start on
1st and 16 th of May, June, July and August 2009
This is a five week program
Support
Upon your arrival, you will be picked up at the airport in Kathmandu and taken to either a hotel or a host family, where you will have your orientation appropriate to length of volunteering and needed.
Throughout your stay in Nepal you will have the support and guidance of the project leaders and team. They will provide you with competent field support and assistance and help you with any questions or support you may need during your stay.
The team will be there for you to contact each day and a meeting will also be scheduled for you early on in your placement to give you an extra opportunity to network and socialise with the other volunteers and students in Nepal.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number
Eligibility and Skills Required
Minimum age 18 yrs
You do not need any formal relevant training or experience to participate, but whatever experience you do have will be taken into account when arranging your day-to-day activities.
Volunteers need to be independent, enthusiastic and adaptable, hard-working with an open-minded attitude.
All applicants should have: a desire to help the people of Nepal, flexibility, self-motivation, openness to a new culture and a willingness to learn.
How to Apply
Please click here to find the application form, fill it up then send us at
ivolunteeringnepal@gmail.com
Price
We offer one of the most affordable program fees in this competitive and expensive time. Compared to many international and local agencies, our fees our substantially lower. But we are committed to providing excellent, quality volunteer programs that efficiently use the amount we receive. Currently the program fee is figured as follows (in USD). There is no hidden cost associated with our program and no international agencies fees.
For a five week summer break program cost USD1060
The program fee covers
Meal and accommodation (Nepali standard) with host family during placement.
Transportation (pick up and drop off to/from airport and placement)
Intensive training and orientation appropriate to the length of your stay .
Stationeries during training and volunteering.
Supervision
Sight seeing in Kathmandu
Sightseeing in Kathmandu (Including guide and entrance fees)
Trekking cost either Everest Base Camp Trek (14 Days) or Annapurna Trek (14 Days) (An experience Guide (trained by Ministry of tourism), porters (generally 1 porter for 2 pax), their Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipments. Surface Transfer to destination from Kathmandu.)
Tourist service charge, Vat.
Office Service charge.
(Note : For Trekking, you may choose any of abovementioned Trekking routes)
The fee does not cover
Insurance (medical, travel, personal belongings)
Flight (International and domestic) or land transportation from your country to Nepal.
Personal expenses (ie. gift items, beverage, water bottle)
Visa renewal and obtainin.
Other expenses in incidental cases
Time
Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT.
Climate
Nepal has two monsoons per year. The dry season runs from October to May and the wet from June to September. Summer is May to September with temperatures reaching 30 degrees. Even in the winter months from October to April, the bright sunny days can reach 20 degrees but plummets at night.
