Volunteer Programs in Pokhara, Nepal

Nepal has one of the highest poverty rates in Asia, as most of its people live in villages spread out throughout the Himalayas. The country is slowly urbanizing, but the population still remains primarily rural. Out of the 27 million people who live in Nepal, Pokhara is home to less than 300,000. Nevertheless, poverty levies a significant toll on this urban population, as many Nepalese citizens living in Pokhara lack dependable access to basic resources, such as healthcare and education.

Some of the most popular types of volunteer placements in Pokhara are: at orphanages or community centers working with children, in hospitals or health clinics providing basic health care for locals, and at schools teaching pupils of all ages. You can also find opportunities to volunteer in Pokhara in human rights placements, often focused on campaigning for social justice or raising awareness about specific issues, such as women’s rights and democratic transparency. These community focused projects are located throughout Pokhara, and are typically spearheaded by NGOs and other non-profit organizations based in the city.

Most importantly, most opportunities to volunteer in Pokhara are currently centered on disaster relief, recovery, and reconstruction, as Nepal was hit by a series of tragic earthquakes in 2015. Many families are living in tents or sleeping without any shelter, either because of a lack of housing or a fear of further earthquakes and tremors. Volunteers can help provide immediate relief goods to survivors, as well as contribute to long-term recovery efforts.

In a different realm, prior to the recent earthquakes in Nepal, eco-tourism was also gaining popularity as a form of volunteering in Pokhara. Pokhara is a major launch site for trekking in the Himalayas, so there is a great concern for the protection of the environment and indigenous wildlife. Eco-tourism volunteering in Pokhara typically involves a combination of outdoor adventure activities with regular service work, contributing to the well-being of the environment (such as building footpaths, picking up trash, and working with animals).