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Who can volunteer? Absolutely anyone with an open heart and mind can volunteer with BEST Volunteer Nepal. We do not require you to have completed any formal training. Many of our volunteers are studying teaching, medicine, international studies or similar topics at a university level; however, it is not essential for our volunteers. For our English teaching placements we do require volunteers to have a satisfactory level of spoken and written English. For our health placements it is best if you have some formal medical, health or nursing training.
What does the program fee pay for? Besides all of your food, accommodation, language training and activities the program fee is needed to run our organisation. It pays for our office space, computers, Internet, school supplies, donations, orphanage homes and administration costs. The program fee also goes towards long-term environmental, health and education projects that our organisation runs.
Can I choose my program and placement area? While we are quite flexible with program and placement choice, we generally place volunteers according to placement needs and depending on volunteer’s skills. Please let us know if you have any specific placement or program preferences.
Will there be other volunteers around during my orientation and placement? Most of the time there will be other volunteers to spend your time and swap ideas with while you do your language training and sight-seeing in Kathmandu. If you would like to volunteer at a placement with another volunteer you meet in Nepal or with friends or family from home we can also accommodate this.
Do I need to speak Nepali? No, you don’t need to speak Nepali to volunteer with BVO. We will provide you with basic language training on your arrival to Nepal. It is advisable that you take notes during your language classes and continue your language studies while on your placement.
What can I bring that would be useful to the organisation or in my volunteer placement? Any kind of English language books are very helpful for you if you are participating in one of our English teaching placements. Any kind of picture books, coloured pencils, pens, paper or art and craft supplies are also useful. We appreciate any donations such as books, clothing, blankets or school supplies. We encourage you to either do some fundraising before you travel to Nepal or ask for donations of these sorts of things from work, university or family members. Often, if you check with you airline in advance, they may not charge you anything to check in boxes or suitcases of donations. It is advisable that you check with your specific carrier first for details.
What are the living conditions in my placement? Living conditions can vary a great deal according to where you are placed in Nepal. You will generally be placed in a host family. These homes may belong to teachers or have students at the school where you are volunteering. Most families will be well respected and educated members of the local community and often will be able to communicate with you in English. If you are volunteering in one of our Orphanage Home/Monastery placements you may stay in the Orphanage/Monastery itself with the children and staff. You will probably have your own room and eat meals with the children.
Any other things I may need to bring with me? Some useful items you may need while on placement and participating in activities are:
Many of these items can be purchased cheaply in Kathmandu; however, it is advisable that you bring mosquito repellent and water purification supplies from home because they tend to be more effective.
When can I start my volunteer placement? Our programs start on the 1st and the 15th of every month and we advise volunteers to arrive in Nepal at least a day before to allow them some time to adjust to the culture shock and time difference. However, we are very flexible so let us know if you would prefer to start your program at a different time and we will try to accommodate this.
Will I be picked up at the airport in Kathmandu? Yes. There will be a friendly BVO representative to pick you up at the airport, take you to your hotel and help you to settle in. You will also be taken back to the airport at the completion of your program.
How much extra money will I need? As all of your food and accommodation is covered by your program fees you do not need a lot of extra money. Most volunteers can survive on USD $10 a day in Kathmandu and much less in your placement village. You will need to pay for any bottled water, alcohol, extra food or souvenir shopping. You will need to pay for you visa (either from your home country by contacting the Nepali consulate or in the airport in Kathmandu). The Nepali tourist visa costs USD $30 for your first 60 days in Nepal and USD $30 for every consecutive 30 days you wish to stay in Nepal. The Nepali tourist visa allows visitors to stay for a maximum of five months in each calendar year. You can renew you visa at immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Be sure to renew it on time or you will be charged USD $1 for each day you are late which adds up to almost double what you would normally pay if you leave it for the whole months. There is also an airport tax you must pay at the airport on your departure from Nepal. This changes but is approximately USD $15-$25.
Will I have access to the Internet and telephone in my placement? In Kathmandu there are many cyber cafes where you can access the internet and make international or local phone calls. In your host family you may not have a phone but there will probably be somewhere in your village or in a nearby town where you can make international phone calls and use the internet. We will contact you by phone regularly while you are on your placement and can contact your family and friends for you if you need. We also encourage you to give our contact details to people at home and we are happy to pass on any messages to you in your placement.
Will I have time to explore in Kathmandu? Besides participating in language and cultural training we will be taking you on guided tours to a number of UNESCO world heritage sites around the Kathmandu Valley. You will have free time in the afternoons and evenings to explore the city on your own and do any souvenir shopping. There are also plenty of bars and clubs in Thamel, tourist district of Kathmandu.
What happens if I want to leave my placement before it ends? It is no problem if you wish to leave your placement before it finishes. We arrange for you to do your placement somewhere else, however, we cannot refund your program fee as the bulk of it goes towards your language training and accommodation in Kathmandu at the beginning of your placement. If there are serious circumstances we may refund 25 % of the program fees if you have paid for longer than a one month placement.
Are there ATMs and places to exchange money in Nepal? There are a number of ATMs and Western Union money exchange offices in Kathmandu where you can withdraw money in the local currency (Nepali rupee) or exchange other currencies for a small fee. It is advisable that you exchange or withdraw money while you are in Kathmandu because you will not find many ATMs near your village placement. While there are some establishments that accept VISA and MASTERCARD, there are not many and you will find you will need cash for most purchases made in Nepal. Try to break notes in Kathmandu because village shops may not have change to break larger denominations of Nepali rupee.
What vaccinations will I need to travel to Nepal? We strongly recommend that you visit your GP before travelling to Nepal. You will most likely need to have vaccinations against typhoid and tetanus if you haven’t already. You may choose to vaccinate yourself against rabies and Japanese encephalitis, however, these are very rare and many volunteers choose not to because of the expense. In some parts of the country (Chitwan/Terai) you should take some form of malaria medication. Your GP will be able to tell you what is best for you.
What sort of food will I be eating in Nepal? 80 % of the population of Nepal eat the same meal twice a day. This meal is known as dal bhat and consists of rice, lentils and a vegetable curry. This is what you will generally eat in your host family once in the morning and again in the evening. Nepali people do not eat a lot of meat and as a rule, don’t eat beef as the cow is considered holy. In Kathmandu you will find more people eating meat (buffalo, chicken, and goat) as this is a wealthier area. It is generally not common to eat meat in most Nepali village households. Western food is readily available in restaurants in Kathmandu, but be careful where you are dining as you can sometimes get ill from eating at smaller, local establishments. Avoid salads unless the menu specifies that they have been washed in purified water. Even then, if you have a sensitive stomach, you would do best to avoid them altogether. Also, you can not drink water from the tap in Kathmandu or in your village placement. Drink bottled, filtered, boiled or purified water only or you will get sick.
When is the best time to travel to Nepal? Many people travel to Nepal to trek in the Himalayas. The best time for trekking is between September and November and March and May. We run volunteer programs all year round. There is a small period of time during the wet season (July – beginning August) when it may be difficult to trek; otherwise, you can take part in most of our activities at any time of the year. The wet season is when the country is at its warmest and when its landscapes at their greenest, so is also a beautiful time to explore the diverse natural environments of the country. Nepal celebrates many festivals throughout the year, so any time you visit will be an exciting time. The winter months are from December to March so make sure to bring warm clothing (layers work well) during these times. The rest of the time is warm and temperate, so bring light cotton clothing. (Chitwan, in the South of the country, is situated in the terai/flat grass lands, therefore gets very hot and wet between June and August – pack clothes for this area accordingly). All of these types of clothing can be purchased in Nepal for a small portion of what you would pay at home. You will need some warmer clothing and at least one waterproof jacket if you plan to trek. This can also be purchased in Kathmandu. Note – Females should be aware that they are expected to dress quite conservatively while in Nepal (skirt/trousers below the knee and covered chest and shoulder areas), particularly in their village placements where people are not accustomed to Western style clothing.
Is it safe to travel in Nepal? Although there has been political unrest and civil war in parts of Nepal over the last decade and a half, in recent years, the political situation has been contained, particularly after the UN brought representatives into Maoist camps. Nepal is a poor country but it does not experience a lot of serious crimes. Petty crimes, mostly non-violent may take place in Kathmandu, but generally not in your village placement.
For any more information please contact us by email: By Mobile Phone: +977 – 9841 – 420060 |
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