Volunteer Abroad in Nepal

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Grass-roots volunteering in Nepal

Hannah with traditional Hindu priest in Nepal during her 8 week orphanage programme in Pokhara.

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Nepal: The Perfect Location for Volunteers with Passion

International volunteers often choose a destination for both the need and their desire to experience the place. Nepal is a National Geographic photo waiting to be taken in every direction you look. Nepal is an obvious destination for international volunteering. The combination of economic underdevelopment in the country, plus amazing geographic diversity, screams for eco-projects. The amazing wildlife of the Terrai region — from elephants and tigers to rare rhinos — makes Nepal a great place for wildlife work. The massive poverty among the Nepalese brings countless opportunities for social development work.

Volunteering in Nepal feeds the senses and the soul.

Volunteering in Nepal feeds the senses and the soul. Photo by Troy Peden

Beauty and Need. It’s not an exaggeration to call Nepal a feast for the senses. The contrast of brightly colored saris, in marketplaces full of colorful and aromatic spices, with the bluest sky slashed by the most dramatic peaks in the world, all contribute to the sensory overload. The smell of incense burning everywhere, the Buddhist chants, the monkeys surrounding the stupas, funeral pyres on the river — all are unfamiliar and exotic to the senses.

But as exquisite as the country may be, it is balanced by extreme hardship. Nepal is one of the few countries in the world where the men outlive the women. This is in part due to hard work, and partly due to the constant cooking over wood fires in poorly ventilated homes. Other respiratory problems plague the people of Nepal. The country has 10 percent of the world’s hydropower potential, which is unharnessed. Motorcycle cabs spew black clouds in Kathmandu. Open sewage and garbage litter the streets. Men, women, children, and the elderly work long, hard hours in quarries breaking rock into gravel and inhaling the stone dust all day long. 

Nepal is recovering from decades of Maoist insurgents, and the remnants of those conflicts still persist, in the form of orphans and devastated villages. Some villages still pressure girls to stay home from school, and the government social welfare system is a net full of holes. Children in need are often left to for-profit orphanages and work programs. Young women and girls are often lured or kidnapped into prostitution in neighboring India. Village schools are incredibly overcrowded, with more than one child sitting on a chair. This is a beautiful country filled with need.

Modern-Day Nepal. The rare tiger and rhino live on the fringes of existence in the tropical Terrai region. A huge number of backpackers from all over the world invades the trekking circuit, bringing with them their culture (and sometimes their garbage). The Nepalese royal family has recently been removed from power, replaced by a often fragile government. The caste system is still faintly visible through surnames, customs, and socio-economic stratification. These are a few of the contemporary challenges Nepal faces.

Still, Nepal is beautiful and the Nepalese are smiling. The music is rich with long ballads played on ancient instruments, like the sarangi and the tabla. Modern Bollywood blares from shops and homes. The dance ranges from ancient dances to modern Indian choreography. Intricately painted tankhas created painstakingly by Buddhist monks demonstrate the remarkable patience the religion has instilled in the people. While Nepal is officially a Hindu country, much of the population is Buddhist or both. Nepal is an incredibly tolerant place where two major world religions coexist peacefully within a single home or individual.

Contradictions of beauty and poverty make volunteering in Nepal a bigger-than-usual service experience. Here are some of the actual projects that exist and are constantly in need of help.

Health Care Clinics. One of the most popular types of service projects, health care volunteering in Nepal typically comes in two varieties. The first option is working in an existing health clinic, which might either be in a larger city or in a small village. There is a constant need for health care workers — from professional doctors and nurses, to medical or nursing students, to undergraduates who work in triage, pharmacy distribution, or health education and outreach.

The second type of health care volunteer is in a medical relief clinic or camp. These are temporary and typically set up by a local NGO or an international volunteer provider. Usually the medical camp would announce their visit in advance, bring in a coalition of health care workers, and treat the public for all their health needs. Medical camps see everything from the most mild complaints to major life-threatening illnesses, and are both exhilarating and exhausting. Volunteers typically have two extreme complaints about the mobile clinic:  either too many minor ailments, or a major health issue the camp is not equipped to handle. Volunteers find themselves in scenarios that may never be seen back home. Medical volunteering in Nepal is eye-opening, empowering, heart-wrenching, and a major career and life learning opportunity. 

Environmental Programs. Eco-projects may be less popular than health-care volunteering, but the need is just as great. There are a variety of potential volunteer placements in Nepal for people interested in wildlife and environmental projects. The infrastructure is not always prepared to support these projects, but many providers have been successful finding local NGOs with shared missions. Interesting programs such as elephant breeding in Chitwan and tree planting in Pokhara are a couple examples.

Child Welfare Projects. This work most typically comes in the variety of orphanage or child care work. Before you commit to a project, investigate the program provider and be sure they have vetted the placement project. Many orphanages are not “orphanages” in the western sense, as the children may have living parents but are abandoned, runaways, street children, or outcasts. Many of these are private businesses and should be avoided. You should be prepared to undergo a background check to work with children anywhere in the world. Roll up your sleeves — while you may feel that reading books and playing soccer with kids is all you have to offer, the center will likely need your dishwashing and laundry skills as well. Some projects have been internationally recognized, such as Maiti Nepal, whose founder, Anuradha Koirala, received the CNN Hero of the Year in 2010. This center is a home for children and women who are victims of human trafficking, and volunteers must be women. 

Education and Teaching Programs. This placement is also quite popular and offered by most reputable volunteer organizations in Nepal. Volunteers may work as teaching assistants in a rural village school (often becoming the teacher). Be prepared for the most basic of circumstances: there will be few teaching materials, classes are often hot and cold, and many children spend the day hungry and lacking focus. The small victories can be incredibly rewarding, however, and anyone who thinks they want to be a teacher should give volunteer teaching in Nepal a go. 

Nepal is a must destination for long-term volunteering abroad, or a great short-term stop on your gap year for a smaller volunteer gig. It will be the volunteer experience that will change the way you look at everything!

Author - Troy Peden volunteered in Nepal, including providing triage in medical clinics in rural villages. He also spent some time in Kathmandu establishing the first international college of Nepal. “Nepal is one of my favorite places in the world. The beauty of the place and the people can barely be captured in photos.”

Volunteer in Nepal with International Volunteer HQ today! IVHQ is the most affordable volunteer organization in the world, sending over 5500 volunteers abroad each year. IVHQ Nepal is located in Kathmandu and has placements in Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara, including Medical Elective opportunities, Orphanage work, programs at Remote health posts and Teaching English placements. Nepal is often ...

Volunteering Solutions Volunteer programs in Nepal are located in and around the capital city of Kathmandu. We provide volunteer work in Nepal at grassroots level, helping local community organizations achieve their goals in Nepal. Our volunteers help local schools by Teaching English, working with doctors & nurses in community health centers & hospitals.

You are about to discover a new culture, accomplish something unforgettable, and explore the best Nepal has to offer! We are excited to get your placement under way where you will: * You have the opportunity to work with children, teach English to adults or children and provide education on healthcare practices. You could also take part in building/ maintenance projects or choose to enjoy a...

Do great work in a country that will leave a lasting impression on you. Kathmandu is a sprawling city with elements of the western world, but steeped in tradition. There are endless things to do and see. ELI works hard to ensure that volunteers also get a chance to explore beautiful Nepal! Participants usually plan weekend trips to float on the lake in Pokhara and ride the elephants in Chitwan.

PMGY is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation with a focus on keeping volunteering the way it should be: accessible, affordable and sustainable. We support grass-roots volunteer projects in Chitwan, Kathmandu and Pokhara. Our structured programmes ensure you are fully supported before and during your volunteering experience and that you work on projects that really mak...

Love Volunteers has teamed up with a local partner NGO to recruit volunteers for crucial projects in Nepal. As one of the poorest countries in Asia, Nepal is crying out for volunteers intent on making an impact on their fellow humans' living conditions amid a distinctly different culture. Past volunteers have been bowled over by how friendly and welcoming the Nepalese people are.

We offer affordable volunteer and intern abroad programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The programs are customized for you according to your needs (with flexible work schedule and start date). Affordable program fees start from only USD 180 (accommodation & meals included). Our programs are designed to help local communities while at the same time providing valuable learning and cultural ...

Nepal is a small yet culturally rich country with a long history; it is an amazing Himalayan country with spectacular wildlife and scenery. Nepal is famous for being home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest. With its melting pot of Hindu, Buddhist and traditional culture and customs, Nepal has long been a destination of choice for those seeking adventure and ex...

Global Citizens Network (GCN) sends small teams of participants to rural communities around the world where they are immersed in the daily life of the community. Trips to Nepal last three weeks, and each team is led by a trained GCN team leader. The team works on projects initiated by people in the local community, for the benefit of the community. Past projects include building maintenance, t...

Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) is a non-religious, non-political, non-governmental, non-for-profit organization (NGO) which was founded by a diverse group drawn from development workers, educationalists, social activists and other professionals. VIN focuses on community-based projects involving local volunteers backed up by international volunteers.

Chhahari Group Nepal is volunteer organization established in 2001 and registered with social welfare council of Nepal . It is a non–governmental and extremely non-profitable organization established with the objective of changing and promoting the status of the country. The members of this group are committed towards our goal. The members of this group have collected enough experiences in volu...

VFP offers over 3000 affordable voluntary service projects in 100+ countries, including around 45 each year in Nepal. These international voluntary service projects are an opportunity to participate in meaningful community service while living and interacting in an intercultural environment. Volunteer projects vary greatly since they arise wherever there is a need in a given community. Most ...

Twin Work & Volunteer

Twin Work & Volunteer

Even if Nepal is considered as one of the most beautiful countries in the planet, it is still a developing country where more than 40% of the total population lives below the most basic poverty line. Thousands of children are deprived of educational opportunities in Nepal because of many social issues and the lack of schooling opportunities.

Friends for Asia offers a variety of projects that will suit any person who is willing to use their abilities to make a significant contribution to the lives of people of Nepal. Volunteering in Nepal offers an experience like no other. Our volunteers live with Nepali families and make a real and lasting difference to the lives of the country’s most disadvantaged people.

Immerse yourself in an astoundingly rich cultural heritage and dramatically diverse environments, as we journey through Nepal and Tibet. This 9 week program offers: Nepali language and culture immersion while home-staying in a rural village and volunteering on a community development project; Trekking in the shadow of Mt Everest through Sagamartha National Park enjoying traditional Sherpa hospi...

Medical Trek Nepal Volunteer Adventure

Volunteer Medical Trek Nepal

Volunteer in Nepal – Join us for Medical Trek Nepal. If you are a medical professional or medical student, we need your help. In Nepal, healthcare can be nonexistent for those living in rural villages. In Nepal, people often go years suffering from illnesses or discomforts that are easily cured with basic medical care. The problem is, they have no way to get to hospitals or clinics in the l...

The Himalayas... Since time immemorial, these colossal peaks with their vast web of rugged, isolated valleys and distinct ethnic groups have drawn only the most intrepid travelers from distant lands. Through rural and urban homestays, ten days in a Buddhist monastery, trekking, service learning, and independent study, students have the opportunity to explore this remarkable region and its peopl...

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