Volunteer in NEPAL

  OFFICIAL LANGUAGE:  Nepali

  POPULATION: 29.9 million

  GDP per CAPITA (PPP US$): Nepal $1,300   Canada $41,100

  % of Population BELOW POVERTY LINE: 31%

WHY VOLUNTEER IN NEPAL?

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with one-third of its population living below the poverty line. It is a landlocked country with rugged geography, few natural resources, and poor infrastructure.  Over 80% of the population is rural based. For most rural families, access to land is extremely limited and many depend on plots that are too small to meet subsistence requirements. As a result, landless lower castes are often forced by their circumstances to borrow sums of money from rich land owers just to meet their basic needs. Eventually, they end up pledging their physical labour as interest towards repayment of the loan. Often, generations of a family get trapped in this cycle of load repayment - working as labourers without pay for their landlords. Some Tharu families (an ethnic group indigenous to the foothills of the Himalayas) are often so poor that they maybe not even have said debt; a parent may hand over a daughter for as little as $50 a year into a life of labour in order to feed the rest of the their family. This vicious cycle of bonded labour does not allow them a life of dignity.

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

Volunteers will work Host Partner, Creating Possibilities, to build school buildings in the village of Chainpur in the Dang district of Nepal. Over 100 girls who have been bought out of bonded labour attend this school and are supported by Creating Possibilities. Some of the projects include building classrooms, a library, meeting hall, toilets, science lab, and a computer lab. No special skills are required.

Please note: this project takes place in a very rural community in Nepal and is suited best to experienced or adventurous volunteers. The accommodations are extremely basic with intermittent electricity and hot water.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Upon completion of the Volunteer Experience, we recommend volunteers spend time in and around Pokhara, enjoying the breathtaking scenery or taking a trek through the mountains, affectionately referred to as the 'Apple Pie Circuit'. While in Kathmandu be sure to spend time visiting the famous Buddhist temples of Swayambhunath and Bodnath Stupa.  Swayambhunath is said to be 2,000-years-old. Painted on the four-sides of the spire bases are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. Don't miss Patan Durbar Square situated in the heart of the city; the square is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines.

WHEN CAN I GO?

Note: The Volunteer Experiences Schedule will be updated every two weeks.
Schedule is subject to change depending on flight arrangements and suitability for host communities.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

SHORT TERM TRIPS: A two week trip to Nepal costs $1,929. This includes the cost of in-country food, in-country transportation, accommodation, program costs and a substantial direct donation to the project. This does not included airfare; however, the entire cost paid through DWC is 100% tax deductible, including flights.

STUDENT TRIPS: Four week student trips to Nepal vary in price between $2,000 - $2,400 (not including airfare) depending on the number of participants. You can fundraise for your trip and DWC will issue charitable receipts to your donors.

Trips may be cancelled if not enough people are registered so please sign-up early to avoid disappointment. A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot on the trip; the remaining balance is due 60 days prior to your trip.

We invite people who cannot give the gift of time to donate to Nepal projects and programs through Developing World Connections.