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Nepal - FAQTell me more about NepalWhat is the climate like in Nepal? What kind of volunteer work is available? When will I know specific details about my placement? Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? What immunizations/vaccines will I need? When do I need to arrive in Nepal? What are the living arrangements when volunteering? Are we able to take a break while volunteering? Are there more expenses once I arrive? How safe is it to volunteer in Nepal? Can you tell me more about the political situation in Nepal? How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? Can you tell me more about your partner in Nepal? What is the course content of the training? Can partners, children, siblings, friends accompany me to the program? What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? Do I need travel insurance? Are there any times of the year that I cannot volunteer? How do I pay my fees? ------ Tell me more about Nepal? For many of us Nepal conjures up images of snow-capped mountains. Indeed, eight of the world's 14 eight-thousands lie in Nepal, making it a mountaineer's dream. Bordered by the magnificent Himalayas, Nepal is a land of spectacular scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best walking trails on earth. The country is sandwiched between India to the south and Tibet to the north. Until recently it was the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, Nepal has now moved into a new era of democracy and a secular society. But Nepal has more to offer than just the high Himalayas. 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 we 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. 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 snow capped Himalayan mountain range it rarely actually snows in the Kathmandu Valley. Having said this, during February 2007 snow fell in the Valley for the first time in 62 years! You should be aware that if you are trekking at altitude you may experience very cold temperatures even during the summer months. We suggest you conduct thorough research into temperatures at altitude and the risks involved with trekking at altitude. For climate statistics, please refer to the following link: http://www.worldclimate.com. What kind of volunteer work is available? Volunteering opportunities in the Nepal program are in teaching English, children's homes (orphanages), health, community maintenance and homestays/cultural exchanges. When will I know specific details about my placement? Placements are determined during your training under consultation with the program manager so that requests and specific needs can be met with regards to both the volunteer and the needs of the community. As the situation in the country is constantly changing and placement opportunities also change, it is best to discuss your placement preferences during your training period. Specific information regarding placements in each childrens' home will only be discussed once your training has begun. Please note that this information cannot be given prior to training. Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? Yes, you will need to speak and have a good command of English. You may have English as your second language and that is fine. What immunizations/vaccines will I need? Depending on where in Nepal you will be visiting you may require different vaccinations. Currently placements are only inside Kathmandu Valley. Make sure you consult a travel doctor as they will be able to advise you on what vaccinations you require for your travels. They will also be able to advise which vaccinations are suitable if you are pregnant of have allergies (we do not recommend volunteering during pregnancy). Another good source of information is the CIWEC travel clinic in Nepal: http://www.ciwec-clinic.com Listed below are vaccinations recommended for your Nepal experience. It is important to get on to this as soon as possible as some injections need to be done with a certain amount of time prior to leaving home.
When do I need to arrive in Nepal? Training begins on the first day of each month however, there may be a change to the starting date during the Dashain and Tihar festivals around September/October. As these festivals are determined by the lunar calendar we will advise volunteers wishing to begin around this time of the year regarding training start dates. You are expected to be available to begin training on the first scheduled day. We would suggest you arrive at least one day prior to training settle yourself before training begins. You are expected to be available to begin training on the first scheduled day (note: strictly no exceptions to this rule). Training consists of eight days and is divided into two phases. For volunteers in a program for six weeks or less you will have the option of ending your training on the fifth day, this will be discussed with you when you arrive in Nepal. This is a thorough training program to prepare you for Nepali culture and to teach you enough Nepali language to function in your placement. You will be met at the airport and accommodation can be arranged for you if you arrive earlier than when the training begins. You will have to pay your own expenses for any time you stay in Nepal outside of training and volunteer time. The Nepal program coordinator will contact you regarding additional accommodation. What are the living arrangements when volunteering? Accommodation during training and whilst on placement is covered by the program fees. Days one and two of training will be in a local guesthouse which is located in Thamel. All of the rooms have 'western style' toilets and hot water showers. A telephone is available in reception, a safe is available to keep valuables secure and meals are available from the dining room. Depending on availability, during training you will either have a single room or you may have to share a room with a same-sex volunteer. For phase two of training the volunteer group will move to a local village to provide volunteers with an orientation into Nepali village life. Volunteers are placed individually into local host families, unless they specifically request to be placed with another volunteer. During your placement you will live with local host families near to where you will work. If on the Children's Home Program there may be the opportunity to live within the children's home, but this cannot be guaranteed and will depend on which placements are available. Generally, during training and placement you will have access to electricity and running water. Morning tea and lunch are provided during the first phase of training. During phase two of training and your placement two main meals per day, a snack and tea are provided. When living with a host family you will also be provided with filtered or boiled drinking water. Are we able to take a break while volunteering? You are encouraged to take breaks during your volunteer stay, however be aware that our partner organisation has strict rules which must be adhered to in order to ensure sustainability and continuity to the programs. Volunteers wishing to take a break during placement will be required to complete and submit an application form to make a formal request for a break. Volunteers must submit this form at least two (2) weeks prior to the start date of their requested break period. This will ensure enough time to organise for another volunteer to cover your placement, if necessary, while you are away. Volunteers also have the option of not paying their host family for their room while they are on a break. If the host family is not paid during the break, volunteers will be able to extend their length of placement by the amount of time they take off (ie if the volunteer takes 3 weeks off and elects to not pay the host family, they can extend their placement by 3 weeks at no additional cost). If the host family will not be paid, then the volunteer will need to remove all their belongings from the home. If you are a short term volunteer (6 weeks or less), given the above information, it is advisable that you schedule any trips you intend to take whilst in Nepal either prior to training (on the 1st of the month) or at the end of your placement. Long term volunteers (6 weeks or more) should plan to be in placement for at least two weeks before scheduling in a break. It is expected that volunteers take into consideration the situation within their placements when deciding on dates for taking a break (ie there may not be another volunteer available to cover your placement whilst on an extended break or children may need extra help with exam homework, etc). Our priority is continuity of all programs and care of the children. Are there more expenses once I arrive? Volunteers will need to purchase a visa at the airport as well as have funds for snacks and other personal expenses. If on a tight budget volunteers can limit their entertainment spending and live simply but comfortably on US$100 per month (on top of the money paid for their in-country fee). How safe is it to volunteer in Nepal? Volunteer safety is our primary concern and is the main reason that all programs outside of the Kathmandu Valley have been suspended. Please rest assured that if our partner in Nepal, at any time though it unsafe for volunteers to be in Nepal they would close down their operation until such time as it was deemed safe for volunteers to return. The situation in Nepal does change on a daily basis and we can put you in touch with current volunteers once you have been accepted into the program. As with any country we recommend that you do not travel alone late at night. We strongly recommend that you avoid political gatherings, demonstrations and protests. We highly recommend that you register with your Embassy or Consulate prior to travelling. This can be done online or in person. You will be given a volunteer identity card and emergency contact numbers during training, it will be a good idea to carry these with you at all times. Program staff will be available via mobile phone 24 hours a day for genuine emergencies. Can you tell me more about the political situation in Nepal? The political situation in Nepal is a topic of frequent conversation amongst volunteers, as well as the majority of Nepal's residents, whether Nepali citizens or not. On 21 April 2006, following weeks of nationwide violent street demonstrations by the political parties and the Maoists, the King handed over power to the political parties. The Parliament convened on 28 August 2006 and a new Prime Minister, G P Koirala was sworn in to office on 30 April 2006. The 18th of May 2006 was the historic day when the House of Representatives declared the people as sovereign and the sole source of state authority forever. History has been changed. Nepal is no longer a Hindu Kingdom but a secular state, with the fate of the monarchy in the hands of the people. The Cabinet appointed the army chief and the Royal Nepalese Army is now the Nepal Army. The Government of Nepal and the Maoists signed a peace agreement on 21 November 2006, thereby officially ending 11 years of conflict in the country. Both sides have agreed to a UN monitored permanent ceasefire. The situation in Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal has improved. However, it is too early to say how the peace agreement will affect the security situation in the country. Mostly peaceful demonstrations continue to occur, but you should be aware that some demonstrations have suddenly turned violent. You are therefore strongly advised to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings and remain vigilant at all times. We recommend that you research the situation further. Up to date information is available at 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 10 and 25 volunteers at the training. There will usually be volunteers who started with the program in previous months still on placement when you arrive. What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? If you have resources that you think may be appropriate discuss this with our partner via email to see if you should bring them. Most likely anything you have will be of help as there will be limited resources. Can you tell me more about your partner in Nepal? Our partner is a non-profit, non-government organisation (NGO). They are registered with the District Administration Office of Lalitpur (Registration Number: 151.061.062) and the Social Welfare Council (Affiliation Number: 17478). They have been operating since March 2003. They work with Nepali communities to ensure the overall welfare of Nepali children through an international volunteer programme. The primary issues they address through volunteering include English literacy, community maintenance, health education and disease prevention, sanitation issues and the overall welfare of displaced, destitute and orphaned children. Their mission statement is: To work within communities to empower them and to make them self sufficient for their brighter future. What is the course content of the training? Depending on how long you are volunteering for the training can run from 5 to 8 days in length. It is broken into two phases with the phase one being based in Thamel and the second phase based in a local village. You will at all times in the training be with other volunteers in the same position as yourself. Training topics include:
Training ends at approximately 3:00pm during phase one, leaving you with free time in which you may wish to explore your surroundings, go shopping or meet up with current volunteers. Please note that training days can be exhausting, especially if you only arrive the day before it starts. Can partners, children, siblings, friends accompany me to the program?Volunteers are welcome to join a program with their partners, children, siblings and friends. To do so will entail all persons formally joining the program. Those who wish to be located in the same placement will need to be flexible about which program they do. As placements vary from month to month it cannot be guaranteed you will be placed in the program of your choice if you want to be placed with another person in particular. Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? You can purchase your visa (US$25 for the first 15 days, US$40 for a 30 day visa and US$100 for a 90 day visa) at Tribhuvan International Airport when you arrive in Nepal, if you have not already purchased in from a Nepalese Embassy in your own country. Tourist visa extensions are US$30 for 15 days. You can stay for a total maximum of 150 days per calendar year in Nepal. Do I need travel insurance? As with any overseas travelling, insurance is recommended. The Global Volunteer Network has arranged a comprehensive travel insurance package specially designed for volunteering. It includes excellent medical and accident coverage as well as a 'loss of deposits' cover which covers fees paid to GVN, airlines etc (up to US$8,000). If you would like to learn more just follow this link: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/insurance/. What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision. Depending on experience/qualifications, there are various roles health volunteers can undertake, however this is not a medical program and you should not expect to be performing any medical procedures. All those wishing to join the Health program will be required to submit their full resume in order to assess your suitability for the role, this will need to be submitted along with your application to the Health program. Good computer skills are also desired to assist with updating electronic records and assistance with researching various ailments/diseases that require treatment in often needed. Volunteers with little community health experience can also be placed in the Health program, this will need to be discussed with the Health Program Coordinator prior to acceptance into the Health program. If you feel you lack the necessary skills to qualify for the Health program but still wish to gain experience working in the health sector, we advise you to apply for the Children's Homes program as an alternative. Children's home volunteers will be expected to carry out minor health treatments on the children and accompany them to medical appointments on the advice of the Health Team. Are there any times of the year that I cannot volunteer? You can volunteer at any time of the year in Nepal. The Teaching English Program can be disrupted at various times throughout the year as schools close due to festivals, exams, holidays and strikes. We ask that volunteers in the Teaching English Program have a second choice of program for these times or consider combining two programs. For instance you may be based in a local children's home but also teach at a nearby school when classes are running. You may also like to consider teaching in an informal setting within the Children's Home Program, many children need additional assistance with school work. There are many festivals throughout the year which can interrupt all programs however, festivals are also a wonderful opportunity to see a special part of the Nepali culture. How do I pay my fees? Your application fee secures your place on the program (remember this is fully refundable if you decide not to take part in the program). Your program fee is payable to Global Volunteer Network 8 weeks prior to the 1st of the month you wish to volunteer. Please note that all charges incurred by the payment of the program fee are at the volunteer's expense, e.g. if a bank transfer incurs a bank fee at the point of origin, that is at the expense of the volunteer. Eighty percent (80%) of your program fee is refundable until one calendar month before the 1st of the month you are due to begin your program. ------ Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please submit your question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours). Click here to apply for the Nepal program. |
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