Volunteer in Nepal from US$285 — 11 Projects Available

I truly credit IVHQ with one of the most meaningful and unforgettable experiences I’ve had abroad. From the very start of the application process, everything was seamless and filled me with excitement. I chose to volunteer with children with special needs in Kathmandu in the fall of 2025, and IVHQ made the entire journey incredibly smooth and stress-free. My program manager was outstanding—always responsive, supportive, and helpful whenever I had questions. I never felt rushed, had more than enough time to complete all requirements, and appreciated the clear guidance every step of the way. The IVHQ website is extremely well organized and easy to navigate, and the timely reminders about deadlines were incredibly helpful. Once in Nepal, the experience exceeded all my expectations. I absolutely loved my homestay family—the accommodations were comfortable, the family was warm and welcoming, and the homemade Nepali food was delicious. This experience had such a positive impact on me that I am already planning to return to Nepal next year to volunteer again. I am deeply grateful to the entire IVHQ team for their professionalism, care, and dedication. They truly made this experience special, rewarding, and unforgettable.

My IVHQ program manager was so helpful and was always very available for me. I appreciated the constant help so much. The local team was amazing and everything was so seamless and well-organized. They were always available and answered my questions so quickly and in-depth. The hospital in Pokhara was amazing. I loved volunteering there so much and learned a ton for my nursing program. All the medical staff were so welcoming and engaging. I really appreciated how amazing this opportunity was and everything I gained from it. My host family was amazing. So welcoming and kind. They helped me with so many things, and they gave me advice for adjusting to Pokhara. They showed me around to places and told me about things to do. They offered to take me to a volunteer school and a clinic in addition to my volunteer placement and I really enjoyed seeing these places. All-around so wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about the Nepal IVHQ Medical Elective program. So many amazing learning opportunities with the hospital and beautiful places to visit. I gained so much experience volunteering in the ER for my future career as an ER Nurse. Every single person I encountered was so wonderfully welcoming, and I formed relationships that will last. My trek was an incredible journey, and I felt very supported by the people I did it with. From start to finish, this trip was perfectly organized and packed with memories I will cherish forever. I recommend this program to everyone.

It was truly the best trip of my life. I’ve traveled a lot before, but this experience was something completely new and unforgettable. Helping the elephants — even just preparing food for them — filled me with so much joy, because I realized that even the smallest actions can contribute to a much greater purpose. I was surrounded by incredible people who shared the same values. Together we supported each other, laughed, worked side by side, and quickly became like one big family. We’re already dreaming about our next volunteer program together. When the journey came to an end, I couldn’t hold back my tears — those two weeks were simply too beautiful to let go. The whole process was organized at the highest level. I am grateful to IVHQ and local teams in Nepal for the best trip of my life.

This has been the most wonderful volunteer experience I have ever had. From the moment I arrived in Kathmandu, I was touched by the kindness and warmth of the Nepali people. The lady at the front desk of hotel not only walked with me to get a SIM card, but also helped me register account, accompanied me to take the taxi, and stayed until the driver arrived. In Chitwan, the placement and the accommodation were also perfect. On my birthday, the placement coordinator thoughtfully prepared a birthday present for me. While the owner of hotel and his staff also organized a traditional local celebration for me. During my time with the elephants and every person I met, I experienced countless moments that I will cherish for a lifetime. I also gained precious friendships from all over the world. This volunteer experience has given me so much strength and so many beautiful memories, and I know I will return to this gorgeous land to reunite with all the wonderful people I’ve met.

I was very happy IVHQ reached out before, during and after my trip it made me feel very safe as well as cared for! Couldn’t be happier with all of the help resources throughout my booking process and visa application! The Local Team helped me from the get go - I had bags go missing and within a day the support team had them back! Any questions or concerns I had they were quick to answer and made sure throughout my whole trip to check in both through text and in person! This volunteer project made me feel like I was a part of something bigger and something ethical! I was so happy with how all the animals and carers were treated and how happy each individual was! I have gained so much confidence and experience from this trip and am so excited to experience something like that again! I would tell someone to give into the experience don’t have outlandish expectations and remember the different cultural backgrounds!

From pre to post trip IVHQ was professional and on point to make sure the participant is well prepared for an awesome adventure abroad. The local team made contact daily to make sure participant was comfortable and happy with volunteer placement.

The local team was delightful; they answered to all of our queries and made sure that we were enjoying the trip. This programme was very interesting as I felt as if we were mutually learning from each other (we taught the women English, they taught us a bit of Nepali and told us their stories), therefore I believe we have had some sort of impact. Absolutely, go for it! At 16, I was understandably nervous about travelling alone to a new country. However, IVHQ were incredibly supportive; they were always available to answer our questions and made sure the entire experience was fruitful and safe. I’d particularly recommend choosing Nepal as I’ve found that people there are lovely, the scenery is absolutely stunning and most importantly the food is delicious. I volunteered in a women’s education programme, which gave me valuable insight into their lives. The women I worked with were not only inspiring, but also had a fantastic sense of humour!

Volunteering in developing countries gives you an appreciation for how hard the native people work and live. You have to be open minded when volunteering abroad. It is a growing experience to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Immerse yourself in the culture and put aside any judgements. Local Team was available at all times. They were amazing at providing all the support needed and answered all questions.

IVHQ is a very organised, accessible and fantastic program to volunteer with. Communication was clear, expectations were laid out and the entire time on my journey I felt safe and well supported. In particular, I especially appreciated the pre-organised airport pick up - as travelling overseas to an International airport can be overwhelming and confronting at times! The volunteer program was incredible and I loved all the people I met along the way.

Volunteering in women’s empowerment in Nepal through IVHQ has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. The women I had the chance to work with were incredibly kind, eager to learn, and full of heart. Their warmth and determination made my time there unforgettable. It’s an experience I’ll carry with me forever, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to connect with such inspiring women. The IVHQ staff and the local team were both wonderful. They supported me fully at all times, not only with everything related to the project activities, but also with recommendations that helped make my stay in the city much more enjoyable and meaningful. I’m deeply grateful for their care, guidance, and constant support.

IVHQ was absolutely amazing! The service I received right from the start from Scotia was above and beyond my expectations. She was so thorough and always available to answer my questions. The local team in Nepal were great as well. Friendly, informative and fun. They were always there if I needed anything and gave me all the information I needed to make my 2 weeks in Nepal amazing. IVHQ is a great organization doing amazing things so I highly recommend them. I cannot wait to book my next adventure. Thanks for everything, I loved my volunteer placement, people were so nice and working with the Elephants was so very special for me.

The checklist was extremely helpful. I followed it and felt completely prepared for my trip. The local team were absolutely amazing. So helpful and transparent about what to expect in Nepal. They kept in touch throughout the program and went the extra mile to help everyone. This was a break from the norm and a fully immersive experience in Nepal. New friends and a great learning curve. As a solo traveller I arrived knowing no one and left with so many new friends. I feel I am so much more aware and educated about elephant welfare and want to spread this awareness far and wide. I feel I have a much greater understanding of elephants and how they should be treated. If you are hesitant - just do it! You ask yourself, "What if I fall?" and I say, "Oh my darling, but what if you fly?!" - Erin Hanson

Best experience of my life. We were able to be very hands-on and it was very informative. I couldn't ask for a better experience. We were very involved, it was very inclusive, and we not only felt like we were making a difference, we all left eager to do more to help elephants and the Nepal Elephant Care Sanctuary specifically. I gained confidence, friendships, knowledge...and an incredibly valuable life experience. I will assure anyone who might be hesitant that IVHQ will be very responsive to any questions and concerns they might have, and that the experience will provide them with lifelong memories and an enriching cultural experience in which they will be able to connect with local people in a way that you can't in typical travel experiences.

The local team was excellent - everyone was organized and clear about everything that was needed. Being a small part of the elephant sanctuary was incredible. All of the family and staff were wonderful and warm. This was such a precious experience and one I will cherish forever. I miss it all and want to return!

I knew it would be a great adventure and experience but I am so thankful I was able to achieve so much in just two weeks! Meeting lots of locals, living like a local, visiting all the famous sites, hikes, tours on the weekend and after the volunteer days, really immersed in the whole experience. IVHQ provided all the resources, preparation, online support and service to ensure every minute is maximised. Everyone I encountered locally were so kind, generous and informative - I was there to help teach ladies and I think they and Nepal taught me way more. Feel very grateful to have had this adventure, and highly recommend to others! You can volunteer and have a holiday at the same time, it only makes it that more enriching and immersive. Book yours today and make a difference while enjoying yourself.

I think the online resources were very thorough in preparing for my trip, and my IVHQ Program Manager was always easy to communicate with to get questions answered. The local team were always available to answer questions and assist with travel between locations. They even went above and beyond to make sure my last day and departure went okay. It was a lifelong dream fulfilled to work with elephants and it was even better than I imagined it would be. I feel that I was able to make an impact by sharing the conservation message and what I learned with my friends and followers back in the US, and I feel like I made a difference in the local community by being a part of the program and shopping local. Don't hesitate to go! You may experience normal difficulties of traveling and being in a different country, but the experience on the program is well worth any inconveniences.

I felt completely supported and guided throughout my whole IVHQ process. From the detailed website information, other information about people’s experiences with IVHQ on YouTube and social media and from my Program Manager. The local team were incredible support. The home stay and the orientation were both very attentive and safe spaces. Providing all the support I needed, whenever I needed. I never expected to feel so emotional about my experience in Nepal. I feel so proud of the impact I made teaching in the local women’s schools. The connection I made to the women, will be friendships and memories forever. The first day teaching the women basic ABC’S was the most eye opening experience. I feel I will take away a better understanding of others when arriving home. I couldn’t recommend IVHQ enough. I have gained more understanding on a completely different way of life, the capacity of happiness, the feeling of giving to others. I have more trust in myself in travelling, teaching, in my knowledge. THe connection you have with somewhere you volunteer with is incredible. I began to feel like Nepal was a new home, It was so hard to leave.

I think that the local team was great and they supported me a lot throughout my journey. I really feel content that I collaborated with the local community to leave a small but positive impact on this project. I think completing a volunteer program contributes to a person in many ways. The most prominent one is about exploring yourself. By doing a project abroad, one can observe the shift in their behaviours and feelings when they are out of their comfort zone. After a week I started to feel adapted to my environment and tried to focus on positive things around me so that I can get used to this new environment I am in. Moreover, this experience was awesome in terms of exploring new cultures because you are in a new space and you are working with people all around the world. Therefore, you learn a lot about how other people around the globe lives and behaves. Thus, you gain just as much as (or even more than) you give to the environment you are conducting your volunteer work. My only advice would be to enjoy the ride and be open to newness :)

I have never felt so much love and connection to a group of people. Volunteering is an amazing way of broadening one’s mind and concept of life. It pulls us out of what we know and are used to, it challenges us, and in the end it shows us how capable we are, as well as how amazing people are all over the world. It is more learning than I have ever done!

I think IVHQ were very helpful and beneficial to ease any stressors that were present during the anticipation of researching a volunteer trip abroad. We had the nicest host family and they had the cutest daughter I was able to spend time with. I felt truly immersed in Nepalese culture. I also really enjoyed the orientation day when we traveled around Kathmandu all together! I felt more open minded as a person and more interested in Nepalese culture than I had before. I was able to talk about my experience and the people I had met when I got back home which truly felt like a reward for everything I had learned in Nepal. It can be scary at first and a bit of a culture shock to jump into a new place but it’s totally worth it because you will get to experience the lives of people who are completely different from you!

The pre-departure procedures and courses really helped me understand what my experience was going to look like and prepared me well for everything. The local team provided me with lots of support and made me feel very comfortable. The homestay I was paired up with was wonderful and the family fed me lots of really delicious meals. They treated me like family and I loved being there. I loved my placement and the women I got to interact with in Nepal. It was really a very unique experience. There were a lot of things in my life I took for granted and I felt very lucky in the end to be able to help the people around me and also learn to be more grateful. I think it's a really great opportunity to meet new people, see the world and also make a positive impact on the world. I understand it can be a bit scary not knowing what you're getting yourself into but you walk out of it a better person.

Any and every question I had was addressed in a timely fashion by IVHQ. The prep guides were wonderful resources. Bijen was amazing and accommodating. MG and Ranjana offered ease with travel. Shristy was helpful. Such amazing humans! The Womens School just has stamped a lasting love on my heart. Rajya was so welcoming and I felt so loved and welcomed. We had a blast, and I’m looking forward to a return visit sometime! Just being with the women had the biggest impact on me. Sharing thoughts, culture, laughs. They are all so amazing. I am blessed to have been a part of their lives. They are a blessing to mine. Keeping an open mind, heart, and soul will lead you to where you need to be. Be. Blessed. Volunteering abroad helps.

The local team were helpful and approachable. I accepted the invitation of the school principal to experience her sister's authentic Nepali wedding, which was my favorite moment. For someone still hesitant about volunteering abroad: if they really want to make an impact to their life and a community that they have never interacted with, it will be safe to do so and they will always meet the appropriate support as long as they are open to receive it.

IVHQ have been excellent and have provided lots of detailed information to ensure that I was well prepared and well set up for my time in Nepal. The family who I stayed with were very welcoming and friendly. I'm still yet to be able to put the impact this volunteering trip had on me into words - however the time volunteering and living locally gave me the time to appreciate all of the little things in life and the skills that each of us have. I came to learn how important it is to have skills and to be able to share these skills with those who live in the communities in which we call home. Being able to volunteer in an area that needed my professional skills was incredibly rewarding. I was able to share my skills, knowledge and experience with local team members to ensure that they can continue to deliver high quality services going forward. Volunteering requires you to fully immerse yourself within the life and culture of the local community. This will force you outside of your comfort zone and into a state of learning, enjoyment, exploration and fun. You are always welcomed like an old friend people will want to learn from you and help you in return for you learning from them and helping them.

I found the process very informative, easy to follow and was prompted and followed up when needed to keep me on track - it told me everything I needed to know and phone calls were responded to quickly - it was great to chat over the phone with Scotia also. I loved the volunteering and it has left a lasting impact on my desire to teach English as a foreign language. There were many many enjoyable moments including the students getting so involved participating in the role-playing conversations I created that we acted them out and laughed so much in the process. Hosting a birthday cake celebration for the principal and the whole school joined in to sing, having lots of cups of tea delivered to the classroom and a picnic farewell where the students in the class had cooked hot food at home, brought it in, and we all shared it together as our farewell. And my driver nati babu teaching me Nepalese in the taxi to school each day. And on top of that the amazing treks to Everest Base Camp and Annapurna regions organised by the local team. My volunteering trek has opened up a world of opportunity. As an older, solo female I have been inspired to do much more travel with a volunteering component and to give back - so that I can truly immerse myself in and learn what it is like to live in a different country as opposed to visiting it superficially as a tourist. For those still hesitant about volunteering abroad: Just do it. It was so easy and safe for me and inexpensive. I felt at home straight away. Keep your mind open, travel with no expectations and be prepared to immerse yourself. Remain open and you will meet many like-minded people who will become your friends from around the world - I can't see how you would regret it.

My host family and all the women at the centre was my favorite. I was welcomed warmly and with open arms. I have never felt so quickly comfortable abroad and I enjoyed every single second of my time in Nepal. The realisation that I love my job and there are many avenues that I can take with what I do was the biggest impact this volunteer experience had on me. Just do it! You will feel supported from the second you arrive and will have a group of other volunteers starting, so you are not alone!

Scotia my allocated worker, was helpful and responsive with all my queries. I can not praise the local team enough, from the moment I arrived at the Hotel and met them, I felt safe and secure, as an older, solo traveller this was very important to me. They answered all questions honestly and are obviously very experienced in their roles. I contacted them a couple of times and they responded quickly to my requests and questions. The accommodation was better than expected - with wifi and sometimes warm shower. The family I stayed with could not have been more friendly and felt a part of their family unit. The meals were traditional meals and were prepared and delivered with love and care. The people - the people of Nepal are friendly and caring - they are curious and generous. They are keen to learn about our culture and to learn generally. They are very loving towards us. We were dressed in their traditional dress and shared traditional Newari lunch with them. It's not scary to travel alone whatever your age, and you can do anything you put your mind to. Although peoples cultures might be different, people are fundamentally the same the world over. Volunteering through IVHQ gives you the safety and security to do what ever you want to.

I loved the team in Kathmandu. They were friendly, responsive, and helpful. I felt totally secure to explore, knowing they had my back. Lovely host family and I learned soo much from a member of the host family. His English was excellent and he shared all sorts of incredibly informative information about Nepal's history and politics. After class when I would go home with one or the other of the ladies and they would introduce their family to me and we would chat was my favorite moment! It was a humbling experience and put my own country and its problems into perspective.

In general, the local team was supportive. The accommodation positively exceeded my expectations. Hosts were gracious and thoughtful about volunteer needs. The volunteer cook is an awesome cook. She was also conscientious about volunteer's food preferences (i.e. how much, how spicy, vegetarian/non-vegetarian). It's worth the uncertainty and risk because it enriches both your life and the lives of the people you serve.

My homestay was above and beyond what I expected. Very comfortable and clean, lovely hosts and a good variety of tasty food - the meals were better than expected. My favorite moment from the volunteer experience was meeting and learning from the local community, whether that be at my homestay or at the school. Very eye opening! It made me realise that I can thrive outside my comfort zone and still be comfortable in new environments. It’s a great way to really get to know a place and understand a culture. It’s so much more than just a holiday, and very rewarding to immerse yourself within a new environment.

The local team were very lovely and helped answer all my questions. The women at the centre and us volunteers dancing the Hokey Pokey was a great volunteer experience. Everyone was so happy and just enjoying the moment! Also, seeing how inspiring the women at the centre are. They are aged 55+ and they still want to learn English and math to help better themselves. I have loved every moment of it and could not recommend it enough!

Excellent hospitality and very lovely family that were always supportive and introduced me to Nepali culture. The food that was prepared in my homestay was delicious and authentic. The family are amazing cooks and I will miss the dishes prepared for me everyday. The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was being able to make a difference on the ground and feel valued by the staff and other volunteers. It is one of the best things I've done and it was a life changing experience!

I felt so lucky to be placed at the homestay (and women’s centre) I was placed in. The family who hosted me are absolutely amazing - so generous, helpful, and loving, and I truly felt like part of their family. This homestay has been the best part of my time in Nepal because I’ve felt so safe and loved here!! Food at the homestay was always excellent (even if it was a little spicy!) and the family made every effort to introduce us to a range of different types of foods. After only two weeks of sharing my days with the most inspiring, generous, and charismatic group of women, my heart is so alight! I spent my volunteering time teaching between 5-25 wonderful Newari women English, which they were learning at the same time as they were learning Nepali. Everyday these women balance their household and family responsibilities to show up to classes with a smile, a laugh, perseverance, patience, and open arms. I hope I have been able to teach them half as much as they have taught me! My favourite moment was being placed at the homestay and women’s centre that I was placed in. The location is such a beautiful place and so quiet compared to central Kathmandu, so I really felt like a local while I was here. The homestay family have become my Nepali family for life, and the women at the centre were so beautiful and generous - there were a lot of tears on my last day! During my time outside of and after my volunteer placement, I was able to travel around Nepal to places including Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Chandragiri, Chitwan, Lumbini, Pokhara and Annapurna Base Camp. Everywhere I went I felt the same warmth as I had in my placement location, and everywhere I went I felt safe and welcomed. This trip has really helped me regain trust in the world, which has been really important especially after COVID and so much fear and isolation. Nepal has quickly become one of my favourite countries - I’ve always felt so welcome, loved and safe here and I am definitely going to return. This was my first time volunteering but it most certainly won’t be my last! I cannot speak more fondly of my time volunteering in Kirtipur and my time overall in Nepal - I have loved every second here and I will definitely be returning! I have cherished every minute here and have loved the opportunity that I’ve had to meet new people and contribute to their smiles and learning. I truly cannot speak more highly of my time volunteering at the women’s centre and staying at the homestay. These are memories that will stay in my heart forever.

My homestay and the NGO that I volunteered at were the absolute highlights of my stay. They made me feel so comfortable and at 'home' and I don't think I would have had the same experience without them. I didn't have any expectations but they were exceeded. My NGO approach was to immerse us in the culture FIRST and then let us volunteer. It was a minimum 4 weeks and I think this was perfect because we wouldn't have been fully equipped to volunteer if we didn't know the culture. The homestay was the highlight of my trip! My family was so sweet and accommodating. They were flexible with us being westerner but provided us guidance on what is appropriate. The food was amazing!! I really felt like a part of the family from day 1. I didn't have to buy any extra food. Everything was provided and anything we tasted outside of the home that we liked it was given to us the NEXT day! I felt a lot healthier and when I would call someone from home they would often comment on how healthy I looked. I went for perspective after covid and it slapped me in the face. It was exactly what I needed and changed the course of my life.

My favorite moment was getting to know my host family and the local staff. IVHQ provides all the support you need as a first time volunteer scared of going alone! I now feel far more independent and confident.

I had an incredible journey spending two weeks alongside several underprivileged, remarkable women during the Women’s Empowerment Volunteer Project in Nepal. I was fortunate to experience a local homestay within the smallest district of Nepal where I was fully immersed into Nepali culture. It was eye opening to witness the struggles the women face daily, yet their sheer determination to learn was inspirational. The lessons were attended by women aged between 18 to 60 and took place on the roof of a house, as unfortunately they don’t have access to a school. We spent time practicing written and spoken English, learning how to use a calculator, mathematics, understanding cultural barriers and dance sessions where we all danced to the Macarena! The experience served as a reminder for how lucky we are to have air conditioning, washing machines, access to education, domestic abuse support, sanitary products and clean water. It is really humbling to have been able to support the women such a variety of ways. It has really inspired me to figure out how to help them and their community in future. The experience has cemented my belief that education really is the key to alleviate poverty and I can’t wait for my next adventure with IVHQ in the very near future.

Support from Scotia was great, she answered all my questions and helped provide things suitable for my needs. The local team were also amazing! I would have loved to do longer. My recommendation is to just go for it, you won’t regret it, and volunteer for as long as you can. My favorite moments were being with the women on my volunteering project getting to know them and watching them grow. I got to see a different culture and how others live day to day and this had the greatest impact on me.

It was my first time being in another country for longer than 2 weeks so deciding to live in Nepal for 2 months I underwent a lot of research to find a company to help ease the stress. In the end, I came across the company IVHQ and decided to split my time on two projects they offer, Construction & Renovation and Childcare. IVHQ say they are one of the most affordable volunteer programs around and they certainly didn’t lie, after all my research and deciding to go ahead with them I quickly learnt that they are one of the more affordable companies, especially what you get for the money and the massive selection of potential destinations you have to choose from. As this was my first-time volunteering in a country I wanted to make it as easy as possible with regards to logistics and in country support. However, having now experienced volunteering abroad I would next time volunteer by going directly to in-country organisations and organising parts of the trip yourself. Though if like me it’s your first-time volunteering in a country like Nepal I would highly recommend going via IVHQ. Right from the get go IVHQ were fantastic! Every email correspondence I sent was replied to within 48 hours, they really helped with settling my nerves and the preparation I needed before leaving my home country. Despite this I was a little anxious flying into Kathmandu airport as I wasn’t 100% certain there was going to be someone there to collect me but they were! Not only was someone standing there with my name on a sign (my flight was 1 hour delayed too) they also organised accommodation, homestays, a few day’s orienteering at the start to introduce gently into the culture and lifestyle of Nepal (which included meals, drinks we had to pay for) in addition to a couple of language lessons which were brilliant. Once all this was done it was then off to your host-family! Like I said originally, I would not have been able to do all this alone so using IVHQ really did help settle them initial nerves. Using IVHQ also allowed me to meet like-minded people so is a great way to meet new friends in a new country. DON’T FORGET – The first week is the orientation in Kathmandu, so remember that when selecting how many weeks you intend to volunteer, if you select 2 you will only essentially have 1! Throughout my 2-month placement I felt I had enough support whenever I needed it in addition to any extra activities, these include the Safari at Chitwan National Park, Paragliding, Everest base camp trek, Everest flight, white water rafting and many more. Not only do they help with this you can go on these on dates that suit you. Ill quickly touch on my two programs. I have also put in brackets the length of time I suggest when selecting these programs, some people only did 1 or 2 weeks and even they said they wished they stayed longer. Construction and Renovation in Chitwan. (I recommend a minimum of 4 weeks) I was placed in the most beautiful home stay in Padampokhari village in Chitwan, I was to reside here for 1 month and what a month it turned out to be. There was nothing in this location other than the locals and your other volunteer peers, I came here to volunteer so I wasn’t expecting to be placed somewhere where I could go out in the evenings and treat it like ‘home’. I was very happy with the location as I really wanted to be emerged in the culture of Nepal. I fell in love with my village and especially my host-family, they were great. I was lucky enough to be placed here and be the first volunteers to start this new project which is why I felt a lot my satisfaction from my Construction work. On the other hand, others who decided on Pokhara for their location didn’t get as lucky as I to start a brand-new project as they were going onto sites that had already begun. If I was to speak on my experience it was really well run in Chitwan, Sanjiv, my host brother was at the site every morning to ensure we understood what was needed, he helped massively with the translation from the workers. From what I heard from construction volunteers in other locations it wasn’t as well ran as it was in Chitwan, I suppose that’s just luck of the draw at the end of the day. I wish IVHQ would regularly visit each program they have to ensure that everyone is on track and getting the most out of it like I felt I did. Our aim was to build a wall on a section of land they have which will host two gates, one to a section that leads up to a small Hindu temple where they can worship their God. The second section is going to be a small area where they are able to meditate and practice yoga. The hours were from 7-2, however this did differ depending on the weather as sometimes it was too hot to work during middle of the day so we would come back later on in the day when it was cooler. We were also asked to work 6 days a week where some others it was only 5, again it was all dependant on your location and set up. If you only wanted to work 5 though you could, they were really flexible. My construction project was amazing. Couldn’t recommend going to Chitwan enough! I have a video of the project on my Facebook which can also be found on this website. Childcare Project in Pokhara. (I recommend a minimum of 3 weeks) For this project, I was placed right in the centre of Pokhara where it is all very westernised and touristy thus my experience here was a completely different one to Chitwan. I stayed in a beautiful home which was around a 25-minute walk from the famous Phewa Lake. The family were amazing, they were extremely helpful with anything we needed and kept asking if we were good as much as they possibly could. I am glad I got to experience Chitwan first as this for me was a true taste of Nepal where living in Pokhara it felt a lot more like home due to how western it was, Pokhara is the tourist hub of Nepal. The childcare project itself was great though. I worked with children aged from 5-17 who were forced into child labour and cannot afford to go to school as they are required to work thus this program is a way of giving them a little education. The hours are from 10-2 every day except Saturdays. A typical day consisted of playing with the kids for an hour or so followed by us teaching them either basic English, Maths or Geography, we even threw in a couple of music lessons which they loved. The childcare program was hard as the abilities of the children was different which was expected due to the considerable age gap. For anyone wanting to work with children but not be placed in front of a class of 30 this is a great program as it feels more like babysitting with best efforts to teach them what you can. I really did fall in love with the children despite how mentally challenging it was. All I will say is after having work with children I now respect teachers a WHOLE lot more! Would I recommend IVHQ? Yes, all in all it was a great company to volunteer through. They made it easy for me to focus on volunteering as they arranged all the logistics and provided any additional help if I needed it. You get a quality service without the ridiculous price tag and is ideal for people starting off. You do see some negative reviews about IVHQ programs and having spoken to a few of the intake I was amongst I can see why, it is only down to how the program they were placed on in the country was run. I would ask IVHQ to reach out to these programs and send people there to get it back on track. I felt lucky with both my programs and really did feel like I made a difference. IVHQ have made my first volunteering experience abroad a great one and I would now feel comfortable going to a country and organising all this myself without having a company to do this for me. My advice. If you want to really be a part of the Nepali culture ask to be placed in a remote location in a rural homestay. If you wish to volunteer but have your home comforts ask to be placed in Pokhara, close to lakeside, in a more modern homestay. IVHQ have both types available. Fees. With IVHQ you have to pay for: • IVHQ Program Fee • Flights • Visa • Travel insurance • Criminal background check • Vaccinations • Additional trips such as Safari, Everest, Rafting, Paragliding • Spending money (Please note this varies MASSIVELY. In Chitwan I spent barely anything as there was nothing to spend money on. In Pokhara where it is the tourist hub where there are coffee shops, restaurants, merchandise, boat hire, bike hire ect.. I spent a whole lot more, Nepal is cheap though having said that) Last thing to note, if you get travel sick then Nepal may not be the place for you the roads are not the safest and a 5-hour journey can take 12. This has nothing to do with IVHQ so do your research before deciding to go with Nepal as your choice of destination. Places to eat: If you find yourself in Chitwan go to my Moms house, best food in Nepal no questions asked. Speak to IVHQ and ask for Sanjiv’s Mom. You won’t be disappointed. If you find yourself in Pokhara please check out: Rockland Restaurant & Bar This was situated right next to my childcare project. The food and service was 5* yet the prices were not, so cheap. About 7 mins walk from lakeside away from the tourists, it’s a nice place to get away from the busy Lakeside street. If you find yourself in Kathmandu please check out: Secret Garden Cafe Really peaceful garden café which is off the hustle and bustle of Thamel. Great people, great atmosphere, great food and great places – my favourite place to eat out in Nepal. Please check out my Instagram for pictures from Nepal and my blog posts.