Volunteer in Childcare in Nepal

Childcare was a wonderful time. I spent my two weeks there i walked in the street in the morning and afternoon with nothing happening. The time I arrived in KingderGarden School, everyone was warm to me with Namaste. All the staff are so nice and friendl.

I think that all volunteering work is impactful no matter how big or small it is, ultimately you are helping towards a bigger goal. I think I had the same values as the school and enjoyed that they accommodated for the poorer less privileged and had less holidays so parents could work more and I will definitely be visiting again next year. I also think the experience had such a huge positive impact on me aswell as I’m quite anxious and it allowed me to be forced into a completely new environment with new people, and I’ve made friends for life. I feel like I’ve gained so much more confidence and a deeper perspective into life. Anyone who is hesitant about joining, I would say that everyone volunteering is in the same position so it’s super easy to make friends and a nice environment. Also the program is so great at answering all your questions and being as accommodating as they can. As well as that I would say it was the best experience of my life, greatest start to being 18 and, no amount of nerves should hinder you from following your passion.

I’ve been able to meet like-minded people, immerse myself in the culture by living with a local family, and engage in the community by making a difference where needed. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been able to experience this as it has genuinely given me a new perspective. I would 100% recommend it. My advice would be that if you have the capacity to help others, why wouldn’t you? And that you’ll never regret making a difference in other peoples lives. Volunteering experience aside, IVHQ is a great organisation to go through as they are helpful and organised.

Whenever I had questions, my IVHQ Program Manager responded quickly, and the way she responded was assuring. When I was in Nepal, I always had the support from my host family when I had questions about the Nepali culture or insights on certain situations. I felt assured and safe at all times. One door opened and another opportunity presented itself - it happened many times in unexpected ways. The center I volunteered was so eager to absorb every ounce of knowledge and skills I demonstrated and offered. At the same time I was eager to soak up in the Nepali culture and learn who they are. The two-way of learning from each other naturally allowed relationships to blossom authentically and organically. I believe that my success in volunteering experience was having a mentality of “it is what I make of it” and partially being older with decades of life experience. Instead of criticizing and complaining, I accepted and embraced it all.

The team is always trying their best to answer all our questions and make the process easier for volunteers. I will be volunteering with IVHQ again :) The local team are nice people always willing to help in everything we needed. They are all lovely people. No complains! It is priceless to see how happy people are just to receive us. It was a blessing for me to receive their hospitality and willingness to accept what I had to give, as well as to share their life’s and time with me. I will always be grateful for this experience. My advice to other volunteers is that volunteering is a great experience, but we must be able to understand boundaries, have respect, be able to adapt to cultural differences, and try our best. So have an open mind and heart makes all difference. Be willing to serve and give without expecting anything back, makes the experience fulfilling and unforgettable. Being open, kind, eager to help, and ready to listen can make a big impact in ourselves, others, and their communities.

I would not hesitate to join with IVHQ. From the moment I booked and was contacted by my IVHQ Program Manager to the moment I left Nepal they were with me all the way. Easy to contact and always checking in. I felt so safe as a solo female traveller. Personally I had an amazing placement - heartbreaking stories about the children so I had my moments - but I loved it and will come back here. My host family were the best - I feel so lucky to have stayed with them. Overall - go with an open mind, forget your way of living at home and embrace the culture and experience - it is so worth it. If you are travelling solo - go with IVHQ - you will never feel alone (unless you want to).

I think that IVHQ made me feel very comfortable with the whole process. The local team are all very kind and helpful, whenever I called or texted they would always respond quickly. This trip did impact me a lot and I hope to do something like this again in the future. IVHQ does a wonderful job in making your volunteering experience impactful, yet safe and comfortable.

From the team that picked me up from the airport and took me to sightsee in and around Thamel, to the homestay owners, everybody made sure that I never felt uncomfortable and that I had the most pleasant experience ever. The meals were so delicious! They were even better than the ones I eat at home, if I might add : ) I could never choose one such favorite moment because I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment I spent in Nepal! When I was working with the little kids and heard about how the Montessori school was founded from the owner, I realised how privileged I'd been all along and I also learnt not to complain about the little things in life. This was my first time travelling abroad, all alone! If I can do it at a rather young age, you can too. Don't be scared because it's a life-changing experience, especially with IVHQ where you get to immerse yourself into a new culture entirely while still being safe.

Scotia was super helpful leading up to the trip with answering all my questions. The accommodation was a lot nicer than what I had anticipated. The food was lovely, the family really went above and beyond for us all. Just do it, you have nothing to lose and so many incredible memories and experiences to gain. Genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever done, keen to book another one!!

The guidance was very helpful and all my questions were thoroughly answered by IVHQ. The local support team checked in with us throughout the time volunteering. I volunteered at a child care centre in Pokhara. The teachers were so kind and welcoming. I felt like I made connections with many of the kids. We learned lots about the Nepalese culture from volunteering. I felt an impact made on my life and hopefully I made a small impact on others lives through the connections that were made during this process. I stayed in the homestay with Krishna and his family and honestly it was amazing. They were so lovely and welcoming and made us feel safe and at home. The food was great, we were provided with filtered drinking water, a clean room, a door lock and a bathroom. We had many fun experiences with our host family. We danced, did henna, went shopping, looked through old books and were even invited to a wedding. The meals were delicious and you could tell effort was put into them. We would have dal bhat, curry’s and chutneys for lunch and dinner each day. For breakfast we were given toast, oats and eggs that were available to us at all times if we were hungry. There are too many favorite moments to list! I loved playing and having fun with the kids each day. I really enjoyed attending a wedding we were invited to, exploring the area with other volunteers and I also loved our dance nights with the host family. This was my first experience leaving my family and going off on my own as I am 16 years old so learnt how to be more independent and grew as a person. I felt so peaceful and happy during the volunteering and at the home stay. Staying with the host family and working at a preschool is a completely different experience than just staying in a hotel, it allows you to really experience and learn a different culture and a new way of life. I would definitely recommend volunteering with this organization, is ethical, a good price and shows good support. If you go into the experience with the right frame of mind you will likely find there is little to complain about. My friend and I really loved the whole experience. We are both 16 year old girls who volunteered in a Pokhara child care centre and this was the first time we went off on our own and it didn’t feel stressful at all. This is a great way to immerse yourself in a different culture and learn about the world.

I had a short volunteer duration so every moment was my favourite! From meeting and spending time with my host family & homestay volunteer mates, to taking care and doing class work with the children, and even just hanging out with the other volunteers who are in the same area (Pokhara) after work/ on weekend. My time in Pokhara had definitely taken me out of my comfort zone to do something new with people l’m not familiar with. When faced with limited resources/ thrown into new situations, I learnt to exercise critical thinking skills. You know deep down you really want to so just do it! There are many aspects to volunteering abroad that makes the experience so memorable - it’s not just the work you do, but the people you meet along the way and discovering what you’re capable of doing!

The IVHQ team has always been reactive and has been able to answer all my questions before departure and during the trip. The local team was always responsive, very nice and accommodating people. The home where we stayed for 3 weeks was very good. The family was very welcoming and kind. We were always well fed and our room was very comfortable. We had a great time with them! The quality of the meals were very good, always in good quantity. My favorite moment was to spend time with 2 children from my host family to visit the time of an afternoon the city of Pokhara.

Scotia, my program manager, was very swift with her replies to my enquiries. The program guide was very insightful as well. It provided sufficient information that was needed before the trip. I am very grateful with the support and efficiency the local team provided. Living with a local family really exceeded my travelling experience in Nepal. I was welcomed so warmly by the host family. Throughout my stay, I was not only accompanied by fellow volunteers but also got to spend time with the host family. Living at the homestay gave me a sense of security. Having my meals covered by the family was such as blessing. Living with the locals really gave me the best experience I could ever ask for. Meeting people from all over the world and being able to hear their stories and experiences had the biggest impact on me. Having conversations with friendly strangers made me see again that the world is beautiful, and we are never walking journeys alone. Fear is very common especially if you are a sole female volunteer. I took that step of faith and courage to see the world with my own eyes, experience adventures for myself and I have never regretted taking that step. I pray that for you (whoever it may be) as well, that as you take this step for yourself, you'll get beautiful experiences as a gift to you.

It was my first time to do volunteer work abroad. A friend of mine once went to Africa through IVHQ and highly recommended it to me. IVHQ provided an horizon-opening and affordable opportunity for us to help others, meet others and explore the world. I chose to do childcare in Pokhara, Nepal because I've heard that the 2015 earthquake did a lot of damage to this beautiful country. I have to say, this experience is really great. I had a great time with the kids in the labor school. They are all so lovely and eager to learn new things. Though their English is not very good, we all tried our best to understand each other. The homestay family is also very nice. We danced a lot in the evening because, well, it's Nepal. The other volunteers are cool as well. I met many friends there and every day after our volunteer work, we would have a walk around Phewa Lake and enjoy food and the view. It was amazing! All in all, I am very satisfied with this trip and if I wouldn't hesitate to do it again in a different location if I had time in the future.

Volunteering with IVHQ in Nepal was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Every part of the experience (the highs and the lows) made it so worthwhile. Not only do I get to help a genuine cause, I also met amazing people. We got to stay with a beautiful and welcoming host family, who invited us to family and cultural events, which opened my eyes to the realities of Nepalese life. The in country team was just fantastic and I was really please at the personal importance they placed on the project. You hear horror stories of volunteers who get ripped off, or who find themselves doing menial jobs that don't actually contribute to the community... this was not the case with my placement in Pohkara Nepal. You definitely can't expect everything to go to plan but this is part of what makes it such a real and genuine experience. I cannot recommend volunteering in Nepal enough, everything about the country just blows my mind. I would not have changed a thing and have already booked my next trip with IVHQ!

My experience with IVHQ for my trip to Nepal for childcare was nothing but positive. Being my first trip out of the USA, I had no clue what to expect. Before my journey began, IVHQ made me feel prepared and confident for my upcoming trip. The coordinators in Nepal made me feel right at home and I always felt like I had plenty of resources to help guide me in country. The program itself was an experience that I will never forget. The children I worked with and the women that care for them daily left a huge mark on my heart. IVHQ made my first volunteer abroad trip an easy, safe, and rewarding experience!

My time in Nepal was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about their culture and seeing it all for myself, there were so many things to do in our free time from paragliding to trekking. I had never travelled so far away on my own before, but I felt very safe and supported at all times. Above all working at my placement in Childcare was the most rewarding, I was made to feel very welcome and I had the opportunity to teach English and play games with the children. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone!

My experience working as a volunteer for IVHQ was a truly great one - one that I will never forget. It proved to be just as fun, authentic and rewarding as promised, and then some. The organisation with regard to both the IVHQ team and their partner team, Vertical Ascent in Nepal, was brilliant. I feel the whole process was extremely thorough, and I had little to no trouble during the preparation process as it was all explained and covered in the online guide. The website itself is rich with resources and links to make sure you are prepared, wherever you go, and for whatever sector you are volunteering in. Upon application I was contacted by a member of staff and felt it easy to exchange and ask questions which was extremely helpful. The communication was also very quick. My experience in-country as a volunteer was more than I could have asked for. The links were amazing. I always felt safe and appreciated. The orientation was so thoughtful and really broke me in to the city. I acclimatised quicker because of the care the local staff put into the orientation, and I feel this is something IVHQ press in all of their programmes. There was a great sense of camaraderie and a really good way to kick-start the volunteering. The volunteering itself was carefully considered; I felt listened to and was able to make a difference during my placement. IVHQ have great connections and seem to be expanding these connections, something I actually experienced when I was out volunteering, as I was able to extend my placement and be flexible, working at various places. On the whole, my experience working with IVHQ was extremely worth it. I would love to volunteer with the organisation again in the future.

Volunteering is something I have been doing regularly. However this was my first time travelling abroad to volunteer and I have to say IVHQ has been an extremely helpful and trusted organisation.The local coordinators were very friendly and put in all their efforts to ensure we had a great experience. I chose the childcare project in Pokhara, Nepal for two weeks. This program enabled me to meet and also grow close to new people which included volunteers from across the world, our homestay family, the local coordinators and the kids at the school. Even though my program was only for two weeks it was difficult not to get attached to the kids. My placement was at a Montessori school in Pokhara. I was amazed at the level of curiosity showed by kids aged 2-6 years old. The teachers and kids were also extremely welcoming and treated us as part of the school. Travelling alone for the first time made me nervous initially but my homestay family were the most caring and supportive people and during my stay, never did I miss home. My favourite part of the volunteering was teaching the kids rhymes and songs because they would enthusiastically sing and dance along. I walked in to help and teach the kids and walked out learning much more from them! I’m extremely glad I chose to volunteer in Nepal. It’s breathtaking views and beautiful people will certainly bring me back. It was an extremely memorable and life changing experience.

I did my first volunteering in Nepal (Pokhara) through IVHQ, I can say that was one of the best experiences in my life. The staff was amazing very helpful and worried about giving you the best, also the company have volunteers of very different countries, so I had the opportunity to share this amazing experience with more people. Also the people in the childcare place were really kind and were guiding us to really enjoy the program and make the difference with the kids! Thank you IVHQ!