You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer; there is no upper age limit. Volunteers should be in good health however.
Yes, it is important that you speak English, even if English is not your first language. When you arrive in Nepal you will be provided with an intensive language course on basic Nepali phrases that you may need while volunteering here.
No, you can volunteer with Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) from any part of the world.
We have 46 different projects and our major focus is community development projects. We also work with the partner associations such as Monasteries/Nunneries, Children Homes, Fort nightly magazines, Deaf schools etc.
Community Based Placements:
The main community based projects are Women’s Empowerment (including Women’s Education; Income Generation; Savings and Credits; and Health, Sanitation and the Environment); Children’s Development (including Early Childhood Development; Flexible Schooling for conflict victims and support for Orphanages); Youth Development (including a youth club and language development class); Teacher Development (including workshops, seminars and exchange visits and teaching English) and the Health Program.
There are also opportunities for Construction and Manual work in the Community, and for Agro forestry projects.
Monastery and Nunnery Placements:
VIN works with many monasteries and nunneries in the Kathmandu valley, to place volunteers to teach English, life skills and creative activities.
Office Based Placements:
VIN also welcomes volunteers with the following expertise to help assist in the VIN office: Grant Writing; Fundraising; Website Design and Administration skills.
There are also opportunities for Home Stay Programs; Cultural Exchanges, and Volunteer and Trekking programs.
Your placement will be tailored according to your individual needs and interests.
The minimum volunteering duration is 2 weeks to a maximum of 5 months per calendar year. We also have work camp projects targeted towards short term volunteers (10-14 days). (The maximum placement in any one calendar year is restricted by visa requirements (please refer to the Visa Requirement question)). However, please note that international volunteers who arrive in August can work up to 10 consecutive months, split across two calendar years i.e. August to May).
The longer you are able to volunteer for, the greater the impact you can make
It is not essential for volunteers to have formal qualifications, but we do ask that all volunteers have a genuine desire to help people, and a commitment to seeing work through to completion. A positive and flexible attitude will also help you to get the most out of your volunteer work.
If you are applying to teach English or train teachers, a strong command of the English language is a necessity. Similarly, if you are interested in volunteering at the Health Post, prior medical experience is needed. For some specific programs such as teaching computer skills, environmental awareness programme etc you should possess the skills and knowledge necessary to work within these programs.
The following attributes are essential for volunteer work, regardless of the program:
Independence
Patience
Good problem-solving skills
Sense of humour / ability to laugh at yourself
Tolerance
Willingness to share
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Open-mindedness
Enthusiasm to learn about new cultures
With regards to volunteer work in general, it is useful to come with an open mind, and be realistic in your expectations of volunteering, as it is impossible for the projects and work here to be as structured as what people are used to in the west. It helps to be flexible and adaptable in how you work, and understand some of the constraints in terms of language, resources etc.
How much volunteers contribute and the exact work they undertake can largely depend on where they feel their skills can best be utilised, and on how proactive they themselves are.
We do not have specific requirements for volunteering. However, we do try and match the skill and expertise of the volunteer with the project. We do have an age requirement though; individuals need to be at least 18 years old to volunteer.
You can include your work colleagues or teachers at school or college.
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