Volunteer in Nepal Children Welfare Association “ NCWA”

Nepal Children Welfare Association, government registered organization, associate with the Feet Ministries of Nepal, currently has volunteer opportunities available in the beautiful Kingdom of Nepal. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational and community aid programs. This will give you a chance to make an important contribution to the people of Nepal and while doing so gain an in depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you the rest of your life.

The Program
The volunteer opportunities are in the following areas:
• teaching English
• working in an orphanage
• Working in a Feet Ministries of Nepal

Teaching English
The system of teaching is different in Nepal. Volunteers do not need to use the same method; but there will be times when you need to follow the school curriculum - for example - to prepare the students for exams. They will be encouraged to use their own teaching methodologies. Volunteers will stay with a Nepali family near the children home or school. Volunteers will teach for anywhere between 2 to 6 hours each day for six days a week (Saturday is the day off). This will vary from school to school. You can be involved in teaching in youth clubs or a women's group for informal education for 1 to 2 hours a day. The age range of the students will vary, but generally fall between 10 to 14 years of age and have basic level of English. Volunteers for this program are encouraged to work with local teachers to develop new teaching practices and help with their personal conversational English to enable them to teach English in the future.

Working in an Orphanage
Volunteers will be placed in an orphanage where they will assist the children in their day to day routine (Volunteers still live with a host family or where available in the actual orphanage). The children are mostly between the ages of four and fifteen, and have a basic understanding of English. The general role of the volunteer will be to act as an older sibling: to care for, look after and encourage the children. Volunteers will teach the children general life skills, including health and sanitation, as well as arts, crafts and music.

Program Schedule
The volunteer program starts on the 1st of each month. You can volunteer from 2 weeks to 5 months. The school of the children will be open all the months; about two weeks in October will be closed because of the Hindus greatest festival. Please note that September-November there are other more local festivals. For those volunteering for a longer period of time, the festival does provide a great opportunity to interact with the local culture.

Program Cost
The cost of the program are as follows:
Application Fee: US $50.00. The application fee covers administration, marketing, program information, communication and direct support of our NCWA in Nepal.
Nepal Program Fee:
• Cost for 2 weeks will be US $150.00
• Cost for 1 month will be US $300.00
• Cost for 6 weeks will be US $450.00
Same way for rest of the time how long volunteer would like to ……………

The program fee covers administrative charge, accommodation and meals (3 meals – Breakfast, lunch and dinner + tea. Snacks, water, electricity, local phone call, internet and email etc). This fee is paid through NCWA.

The other costs you will need to meet are:
Your flights, Visa (a 60 day tourist visa is only $30US, the extensions are $30US per 30 days with three renewals possible), shots, travel insurance, police check, and corresponding airport departure taxes. Also you will need a weekly budget for all your other expenses like bottled water, personal items, beverages, transportation and entertainment.

Nepal - FAQ

Tell me more about Nepal?
For many of us the Himalayan Kingdom conjures up images of snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills. Indeed, eight of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders lie in Nepal, making it a mountaineer’s dream.

But Nepal has more to offer than just the high Himalaya. Small as the country may be, the land is diverse geographically as well as ethnically. You will find rich cultures and vibrant traditions, exquisite temples and monuments as well as fast flowing rivers and tropical jungles teeming with wildlife, making your trip an unforgettable one. It is a country where people of different races and religions live in relative harmony. For more information I suggest you purchase the Lonely Planet's guide to Nepal.

What is the climate like in Nepal?
Nepal's climate is typically monsoonal with a wet and dry season. The dry season runs from October through to May with the monsoon season lasting the rest of the year. May and the start of June is the hottest time of the year and the temperature in Kathmandu often reaches as high as 30C and in some placements the mercury can rise upwards of 45C. During the winter temperatures can still be as high as 20C but beware of near freezing conditions once night falls. Even though Nepal is well known for the Himalayan mountain range it never actually snows in the Kathmandu valley.

What kind of volunteer work is available?
The volunteer opportunities are in teaching English, health and environmental education, home stay/cultural exchange and working in an orphanage.

Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer?
Yes it would be helpful if you speak English. You may have English as your second language and that is also fine. When arriving in Nepal, you will start to learn some basic Nepali and while you are staying with the children, children and staffs also help you to teach some of the phrases and words.

What immunizations/vaccines will I need?
Diphtheria and tetanus Polio Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid Yellow fever Rabies
apanese B suggested if spending time in the Terai area during monsoon
Tuberculosis Malaria (needs to be closely discussed with doctor)

Some of these can be taken in oral form so please discuss with your doctor to see what is best for you. Some people can be affected quite differently to others by medication.

What are the living arrangements when volunteering arrived?
You are provided with accommodation which is covered by the program fee. Volunteer have to stay at the orphanage home, but if you would like to stay outside of the children home, you are responsible to pay your outside accommodation or in the hotel and you can come to do the volunteering at the NCWA.
3 meals a day are provided for you while training and volunteering as well as two snacks .The amount charged for board and lodging covers only very basic meals. This includes daal bhat (rice, curry and lentil soup) twice a day (lunch and dinner) Note that the food tends to be quite spicy and there is no western alternative. Nepali breakfast can also be provided but most western visitors do not usually want curry three times a day! White sliced bread is usually available for breakfast. If you are like Marmite, cheese spread, Ryvita etc then bring supplies from your country or plan a shopping trip in Kathmandu.
There is a ban on alcohol at NCWA and we also ask that you do not smoke.
How about Communications ?
You can receive mail at NCWA but allow at least 3 weeks for letters to arrive.
Mailing Add.
(Your name)…………………………
C/O Nepal Children Welfare Association,
GP BOX 8975, EPC 770,
Kathmandu, Nepal.

E-mail is also possible: There are many internet cafés in the bazaar.
The phone no. for NCWA is: 00 977 1553 0567).

Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering?
Yes. You can choose to take a 7 - 10 day break between training and being placed in a volunteer position. You are free to do as you please during this time. There are often other volunteers that want to do trekking or just see the local sights. You will however need to have reserve money for this time according to what you plan to do. You can survive on as little as $15 (U.S) a day in Nepal. You can also spend much more if you want a bit of luxury before volunteering begins.

Are there more expenses once I arrive?
The training and programme costs cover accommodation and most meals. If you arrive early or intend on staying on in Nepal for longer than you are volunteering then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off. Other costs include buying bottled water, paying for your visa to enter Nepal, departure tax and any shopping you will do personally.

How safe is it to volunteer in Nepal?
We work very hard to ensure you are placed in safe environments while volunteering. In Nepal you may have heard about the Maoists rebels. Their aim is change the way Nepal is run as a country. The situation does change on a daily basis and we can put you in touch with current volunteers once you have been accepted.

Can you tell me more about the political situation in Nepal?
You may be aware of the Maoist movement which is a local group of people that wish to take over the Government have communist rule within Nepal. The movement is strong in the western part of Nepal however you can see Maoist soldiers in many parts of Nepal.
The volunteer program has run for several years now, at times there are travel warnings in place. Volunteers that have still traveled to Nepal during a travel warning have never had to leave the program early due to any danger. Volunteers are always placed safely.
When traveling independently, as some volunteers like to trek we do recommend that you talk to local people about areas where it may not be advisable to go due to Maoist activity.
We recommend that you research this further and can get up to date information on Nepalnews.com

How many volunteers are there on site at the same time?
This depends on how many people volunteer at any one time. Usually there are between 5 and 15 volunteers at the training. Generally you are placed with several other people in the local village unless you choose to be isolated.

Can you tell me more about your NCWA in Nepal?
Our NCWA “Nepal Children Welfare Association” is government registered organization (Reg.11656/503) and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council. It is a non-profit organization run by experienced social workers and volunteers who have worked with various social and volunteer organizations. They provide training and assistance to foreign volunteers who wish to volunteer in Nepal.
Their aim is to increase awareness of the importance of the English Language in Nepal, and to improve levels of written and spoken English among Nepali students. They arrange the placement of English teachers in rural schools and communities. They also send trained volunteers to remote areas, with an aim to promote community awareness regarding environmental issues and sanitation.

What is the course content of the training?
Depending on how long you are volunteering for the training can run from just a few days or up to ten days in length. It is broken into two stages with the first part being based in Kathmandu and the second stage based in a local village. You will at all times in the training be with other volunteers in the same position as yourself. The content of the training is largely learning the language of Nepal, but there is also cultural orientation and how to teach English components to the program. In the second part of the course when you are in a village you will be having practical input to prepare you for volunteering in a similar situation.

Can family accompany me to the program?
You may take family members with you on the program if you are taking part in the Home stay program. Older children who are more independent will be considered on a case by case basis if you are thinking of taking part in an alternative program. Partners will also need to apply if they wish to take part in the program.

Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement?
You will purchase your Visa (US$30 for the two months and extensions are US$30 for 30 day extensions) at Kathmandu airport when you arrive. You can stay for a maximum of five months per year in Nepal.

Are there any times of the year that I cannot volunteer?
Yes, you can volunteer at any time of the year. June and July are school holidays so placements are limited to areas where schools are open or where teaching can be done in learning centres. There are many festivals throughout the year which can interrupt your program, but which are also a good way of interacting with the culture.uary.

How do I pay my program fee?
Your program fee is paid through us. You will be provided with the information to organize payment once your application fee has been received.

About Nepal

Full country name: Kingdom of Nepal
Area: 140,800 sq km
Population: 24 million
Capital city: Kathmandu (pop 535,000)
People: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Language: Nepali (also called Gurkhali)
Religion: 90% Hindu, 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% other
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Present Prime Minister: Sher Bahadur Dewpa
King: Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev

GDP: US$27.4 billion
GDP per head: US$1100
Annual growth: 6%
Inflation: 2.1%
Major industries: Tourism, carpet, textile, small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, water buffalo meat
Major trading partners: India, US, Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan

Application Process
All, applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will refund your application fee if you decide not to go.

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, our volunteer partner will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as: country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

Finally have a great time and enjoy the experience!

If you have any questions please e-mail me- kpariyar@wlink.com.np

Looking forward to seeing you,

Krishna B Pariyar
President
Nepal ChildrenWelfare Association
G.P.Box 8975,EPC770, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel:977-1-5530567

Application form…

Nepal Children Welfare Association

APPLICATION FORM

• Surname ………………………… Title……….. Forenames ……………….
• Address ,………………………………………………….
• Telephone number …………………………..Fax………………….
• E-mail ………………………………………..

• Date of birth /…/…/…. ..Nationality ……………Sex…………..

Passport number ……………

How did you hear about NCWA?

Are you a committed Christian? (This is not a requirement, but you should be aware that NCWA is under the Christian Organization)

Highest Qualification, other relevant qualifications and skills, work and travel experience and any health problems you may have??

How long would you like to volunteer for?

When would you to travel for Nepal?

Which volunteer project are you interested in?

References: - Give the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of two
referees (one professional and one church/personal)

Signed ………………………………………… Date ………../……………/………..