Description

Volunteer with the PoD Nepal team and help to improve the quality of life and opportunities for disadvantaged children in the beautiful Himalayan mountain city of Pokhara.

PoD Nepal staff and volunteers support several locally run schools and organisations. You can contribute by volunteering on a range of teaching and child care placements in Pokhara and Bhalam village:

* local primary schools, middle school and village schools
* an orphanage
* a street children's centre

PoD Nepal works with three child care centres in Pokhara. Ward 6 is a day care centre for low to middle income families. The centre allows local families to work while their children are at the day care centre in a safe and secure environment. The Asha Foundation (Asha translates to "Hope") is home to around 15 orphaned and disadvantaged children between 2 and 15 years old. The orphanage uses its limited resources to provide the children with accommodation, food, education and support. The Street Children's Centre rescues children from a life on the street. They provide safe accommodation and basic food for the children. The centre works with other orphanages and small organisations in the area to seek educational sponsorship for the children. The ultimate goal of the centre is to reintroduce the children to their families and rehabilitate the entire family unit or, in cases where this is not possible, to find a permanent home for them in a suitable children's home.

PoD Nepal works with three schools in Pokhara and two schools in the village of Bhalam. Volunteers who teach at the schools in Bhalam will be able to experience traditional Nepal in a beautiful rural setting while volunteers in Pokhara will be based in the exciting and bustling yet laid back city. All schools would provide the volunteer with a rewarding experience and the pupils would benefit greatly from teaching volunteers.

Highlights

* Choose on arrival between a variety of projects
* Live in a family-run guest house where you will receive a true Nepali welcome
* Based in the beautiful Himalayan city of Pokhara

Volunteering in Nepal will open your eyes to a new culture and a very different life to that back home. Many volunteers describe their time working with children in Pokhara as 'life changing'. This is your chance to work with some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world.

You can help make a positive difference to the children's lives. You can show them that people do care and you can bring a little more love and fun into their lives.

You can also help them towards a position where they can get work by developing their confidence and skills in communicating in English. Pokhara is a city that relies on the tourist trade, so if a local person has a better grasp of English, they will be in a stronger position to work in tourism and bring benefit to the community. Knowledge of English also opens up the internet, empowers people to learn for themselves and creates new areas of potential.

Qualifications

You do not need any specific qualifications or experience to volunteer on this project.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

3 weeks: GBP 795, extra weeks: GBP 75 per week

Cost Includes:

• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

* A comprehensive information booklet and pre-departure support
* Travel advice and assistance
* Being met on arrival at Kathmandu airport and 1 night in a Kathmandu hotel
* Bus transfer to Pokhara
* Accommodation in Pokhara
* Cultural introduction to Pokhara
* Ongoing support, help and advice from our PoD Nepal team

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide, American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi and South African Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 1-3 volunteers

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Written Application

Personal Overseas Development (PoD)'s Mission Statement

PoD is a leading non-profit organization arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world. Established in 2001, our aim is to support ongoing projects with our partners in Belize, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam by providing passionate and committed volunteers. We work with long term projects that we know personally and where there is genuine benefit to local communities. A placement with PoD will not only develop volunteer's skills and confidence, get them out of their comfort zone and exploring incredible parts of the world but also the ability make a genuine difference. We currently offer gap year, career break, working holiday, volunteer projects and school expeditions from 1 week to 6 months with year round departures. We offer a personal and professional service drawing on years of experience from staff in the UK and overseas. Volunteers are needed to help work with disadvantaged children, communities, animals and conservation projects including: caring for elephants and wild animals; joining an Amazon jungle conservation project; scuba diving and marine conservation; community building projects; volunteering at orphanages and care homes; teaching English and running summer English camps. PoD believes in providing challenging, safe and fun experiences for individuals and groups to enjoy. We are passionate about giving volunteers of all ages the opportunity to use their energy, enthusiasm and personality where it counts.

Year Founded

2001