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City/State: Various Locations in Nepal |
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Country: NEPAL
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| INFO Nepal - Global Volunteers for Nepal |
Paknajol
Bag
NEPAL
19531
Phone: 977 1 4700210
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Program description: |
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Homestays and cultural exchange programmes can be arranged in most areas of Nepal with our 55 Hostfamilies. Participants will be placed with a Nepali family in a small rural village for the duration of their stay. This provides the volunteers with an excellent opportunity to learn about all aspects of Nepali culture, lifestyle, language, food and people. Volunteers should remember that this is a cultural exchange and that an effort to offer some knowledge of their own home culture and customs to the family with whom they stay is appreciated. During their stay, volunteers will attend 2 hours of language lessons in the morning and in the afternoon. They will also have the opportunity to visit and help out at the local school. Homestay programmes are best organised from August to December which is the time when most large local festivals take place. This makes for an overall more exciting experience for the volunteer. Nepali culture is distinctively friendly and open and participants are made to feel as though they are part of the family.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Age range: 18 to 80
Travel to site: Varies
Is opportunity more independant or group orientated: Independant
Living arrangements on the program: Varies, Group living, Home stays (living with local families), Independent Living
How long does the program last?: Various Durations
What are the dates of this program: any time
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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I look back on my time here in Nepal as my seven months away from America is coming to a close on it's final days, and can't believe how quickly the time went. My choice to come to Nepal and spend some time volunteering was so much more of an experience than I ever thought it would be. I came here to teach English, and with that came so much more.
Living with a remote Nepali family at first is a bit scary because you are being force into a totally different culture, as anyone would go through a bit of a shock. These feelings quickly melt as your host family looses the 'host' title, and just becomes your family. To them, you are their son or daughter, brother or sister, and taken into the family like you have lived with them forever. Between my family and the locals in my village, I felt totally accepted and comfortable with everyone there, as I formed tight connections with many people. My hesitance about things faded, and I found myself fully participating in all and anything I could do to help. From cooking dinner for my family, cutting grass in the field and carrying the big basket back on my head, dancing Nepali style with 60 villagers during festivals, attending popular music competitions, milking our cows, going to local village football games, jungle walks, and everything casual in between such as talking and laughing with new people. I brought more out of my village life experience than I ever thought I would, and in the end, the hardest part was leaving despite any excitement about traveling on. My Nepali family is now my lifelong family, and all the friends I made between the locals, other INFO volunteers, and other traveling friends make my connections fully international.
Teaching English and volunteering while traveling really sets you apart from the regular traveling tourist, and makes your time so much more valued and treasured. Actually doing something special and making a difference with my time is something I will never forget. I had my four different classes to teach in a day, each which held their own characteristics and memories. I had my two different beginner level classes, split on ability and English language development, all set between seven and eleven years old. Further I had my advanced class of fourteen to sixteen year olds who already had rather good speaking English, but needed more refinement of grammar and detailed things. Then to conclude the day, at night I would teach private lessons to my older brother and his friends who were determined with their English. The experience of teaching was something totally new to me, and very rewarding as I quickly learned the successful ways and techniques of getting information understood. I will cherish my time helping in the village, as I plan on keeping the friendships I made forever.
To anyone thinking about volunteering, or incorporating it into traveling plans, I highly suggest it and can't express enough the wonderful things it holds. I would like to thank my organization, INFO Nepal, for being a very supportive and helping volunteer program that really made my time in Nepal more special than I ever thought it would be. Thanks again!
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Cost or price of this program: |
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250 Euros +
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Qualifications required: |
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INFO Nepal does not ask for any formal qualifications from our volunteers. All we ask is that you have a genuine desire to help people and are committed to seeing the programme through. A positive and flexible attitude will also help you to get the most out of your stay in Nepal.
If you are applying to teach English, a strong command of the English language is a necessity. Similarly, if you are interested in volunteering at a health post, some prior medical experience and first aid skills would be useful. If you are applying to teach computers at the Resource Center, to the environmental awareness programme, or income generation programme, you should possess the skills and knowledge necessary to work within these programmes.
The following attributes are vital for survival, regardless of the programme!
Independence
Patience
Good problem-solving skills
Sense of humor/ability to laugh at yourself
Tolerance
Willingness to share
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Open-mindedness
Enthusiasm to learn about new cultures
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Salary/pay/benefits description: |
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Our volunteers constantly comment on the incredible opportunity INFO Nepal provides - to live inside the Nepali culture - the joys,challenges and above all, love and friendship given so freely to them by their Nepali Families,Villagers,Students and Patients develops friendships for a lifetime.
Our training and induction program provides both intensive Nepali Language and Cultural Awwareness studies which give every volunteer the essentials before moving on to their village placements.
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Application process Involves: |
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email us
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