Volunteer in Nepal with INFO Nepal

Added: (Wed Aug 18 2004)

Pressbox (Press Release) - INFO is a formally registered Non Governmental Organization and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council. INFO was established with selfless motives by experienced volunteers who have worked in various voluntary organizations, including the United States Peace Corp, UK SPW & GAN. INFO has placed over 200 volunteers from multiple countries in villages throughout Nepal and has developed multiple successful programs concerning environmental and economic development issues. INFO is a non-profit organization and is run by Volunteers. There have not been any donor agencies funding INFO to date, but if someone is interested in donating to us then they are most welcome. Our revenue is used to educate poor students. We provide scholarships to needy children. INFO creates a favorable environment and assistance for those who want to render their services to Nepal. INFO also provides language lessons and cultural information to people who come to Nepal to study, to conduct research and to do voluntary work. INFO aims to increase awareness of the needs for the English language in Nepal and to enhance the Nepali student’s knowledge of English. INFO makes arrangements to place volunteers in schools and communities. We also send trained volunteers to remote areas in order to raise awareness about environmental issues, sanitation, income generating programs and primary health care. INFO provides training for the youth of these areas to create an opportunity for self-employment. We have many rural locations in Nepal where we can place volunteers for anywhere from one month to 5 months. Primarily, volunteers assist local English teachers in teaching conversational English in the local school. Volunteer opportunities also exist in: creating awareness about basic health issues, environmental issues, sanitation issues, building business skills and self-confidence. During this time volunteers will benefit from cross-cultural experiences through the home-stay program. While they are on site, we arrange for them to stay with a family, where a very nominal fee provides food and accommodation and they become a part of the community. This has proven to be a very satisfying experience for all the volunteers who have been involved with our program, as well as for the host family and village members.
TRAINING
Two weeks of training is provided by INFO shortly after the volunteers' arrival in Nepal. It is divided into two phases of one week (for long-term volunteers, training will extend over three weeks).
N.B. The training program is dependant on the length of volunteering period.

· Phase One.The first week will be spent with other volunteers in a hotel in Kathmandu area. During this week volunteers will be provided six hours of training per day. The training will include:· Basic Nepali language classes - 3hrs, morning.· An abridged TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course -1 hrs, afternoon.· Nepali cultural orientation/general cultural exchange - 1hr, evening. ·

Phase Two The second week is an orientation into Nepali village life to prepare volunteers for their village placement.The volunteer group will move to a local village where they will be divided into pairs. While continuing their Nepali language classes, volunteers will live with local families, eating traditional Nepalese food, observing the village culture and getting a general feel for the village lifestyle. During this time volunteers will practice teaching in the school and prepare for their community placement. Upon completion of this training, volunteers will have a break of approximately 7 -10 days if they want. During this time volunteers are encouraged to take advantage of Nepal's natural beauty by going trekking, rafting, visiting wildlife parks etc. When volunteers return from their break they will be sent in pairs to their placement.

Scope of work, to date:
*Recruited, trained, and placed 150 volunteers from various countries around the world*Established 2 Language & Resource Center with 2 Computers.*Established 4 Children Library & Community Learning Center with 2 computers.* Staffed six Health Posts and 14 Environmental Posts throughout Nepal with volunteers* Initiated and staffed Conversational English programs at 56 schools throughout Nepal* Developed and administered eight environmental projects including garbage management, plastic bag replacement with woven jute bags, paper recycling and clean-up programs* Established Cultural Exchange/Homestay program - over 55 Nepali families have participated* Developed and delivered Nepali language and cultural classes to over 154 volunteers* Created Income Generation Programs to fund livestock purchases and through production of reusable, woven jute bags* Developed and delivered health programs including: food preparation and nutrition, general hygiene practices, and first aid* Continuously develop and revise volunteer placement, teaching and program best practice methodologies by requesting and reviewing feedback from all parties

What skills do you need?
The desire to serve people and a good knowledge of the English language are the only required skills, but additional knowledge such as computer and environmental awareness are helpful.
When can you volunteer?
All year around, programs begin on the 1st & 15th of every month.
How many people can volunteer in a group?
1 - 15When and for how long can you volunteer?We offer Standard Programs for volunteers interested in volunteering for two to five months. For a shorter or longer engagement, please contact INFO Nepal via email at info@infonepal.org or mail@infonepal.org so that we can work with you to design a customized program.
When do volunteers need to contact INFO Nepal?
At least two weeks to one month before you would like to volunteer. We recommend at least one month so that you will have time to prepare for your trip (vaccinations, *visa, flight arrangements, equipment purchase, etc.)* Vaccinations series may take up to 30 days to complete.
How much does it cost to volunteer?Standard Program Costs: · 2 weeks Euro 300 ·
1 month Euro 400 ·
1 1/2 months Euro 450 ·
2 months Euro 500 ·
2 1/2 months Euro 550 ·
3 months Euro 600 ·
4 months Euro 700 ·
5 months Euro 800 ·
6 months Euro 900 ·
7 months Euro 1000
Above Cost Includes:· Administrative Charges· Training Charges· Accommodation and meals during training and placement (The day training begins.)· Transportation for volunteers to and from the airport and to and from placement location.· Supervision during placement. · School & Club DonationVolunteers are responsible for paying the following costs:· Nepal Visa Application Fee (60 days)· Nepal Visa Extension Fee (if applicable)· Extra food or personal items· Hotel, travel and food costs during travel/sightseeing week and expenses for early arrival(Volunteers who want to serve less than one month or more than five months should contact us for further details and information regarding costs.)Standard Program(2 and 5 months )Program training starts every 1st and 15th of each month in Kathmandu. Please plan to arrive at least one day before start date.Customized ProgramLong Term/Short Term Volunteering (Under five weeks or over five months)Please contact INFO Nepal at infonp@ntc.net.np or mail@infonepal.org to discuss costs for Customized Programs.Activities taken up related to environment .·Developed and administered eight environmental projects including garbage management, plastic bag recycling and reuse, paper recycling and clean-up programs·Staffed six Health Posts and 14 Environmental Posts throughout Nepal with volunteers. Activities with respect to: a) Science Education b) Environment Education c) Livelihood issues Success Stories In March of 2001, the INFO staff, in conjunction with seven volunteers from Australia, created and performed health and sanitation skits in Chitwan to an audience of over 5,000 Nepalese. One of the skits addressed the importance of brushing ones teeth. As a part of the program, a toothbrush and toothpaste were given a prize to crowd members who could answer dental health questions. Jyoti, a nine year-old girl was the recipient of one of the prizes. After one month, Jyoti’s father was talking with his friends in the village about how his daughter now wanted extra money to buy toothpaste so that she could brush her teeth. He joked, “If INFO wants to do programs in the village, they must provide free toothbrushes and toothpaste. This is costing me a fortune.” This story demonstrates how effective INFO’s programs have been.Visa InformationIndividual visas (valid for sixty days) cost $30 US. Visas may be purchased on arrival at the airport or may be available beforehand from your Embassy. Please note, visa costs fluctuate, so please verify with your local Nepali Embassy.Visa extensions are available for $30 US for each additional month, for up to five months unless you arrive in August. If arriving in August, you can stay for up to ten months (five months per consecutive year).