Maximise your impact, save money: Volunteer Directly with a Local Organisation

  Nepal

• Other Cities in Nepal: 
Rural Areas
• Kathmandu: 
Kathmandu
• Pokhara: 
Pokhara

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Ongoing

Description: We offer a broad variety of volunteer placements. Whether you are a qualified teacher, doctor or builder, or do not have any specific experience, we are confident in finding a placement that suits you and gives maximum benefit to the community you work in. Choose from:

    * Volunteering in Schools
    * Teacher Training/Subject Teaching
    * Teaching in Monasteries
    * Volunteering in Orphanages
    * Volunteer Health placements
    * Manual work placements
    * Setting up and running Women's groups
    * Volunteering at a Centre for the disabled
    * Volunteering in a Deaf School

Specialist Skills: If you have a budding interest or specialist skill that is not listed above then please do not hesitate to contact us directly to see if there are further opportunities. In the past we have helped place marketeers, business consultants, grant writers and web designers to help various causes in Nepal.

Multiple placements in one trip: At the request of volunteers we can also try and combine multiple placements into one trip. You may want to volunteer in a monastery and also in a health clinic, or have an experience in both rural and urban Nepal. With enough warning in advance this is easily achieved for longer placements. Just make it clear when you apply.

Highlights:
1. Nepal itself: One of the most beautiful, culturally rich and welcoming countries in the world. It is home to Mount Everest, the birthplace of Buddha and has a diverse geography ranging from icy peaks to deep jungle
2. Local: A Nepali company ensuring money goes straight to the projects
3. Extremely affordable: from just 50 dollars/week
4. Flexible placements: combine multiple placement in one trip
5. Experienced: we are one of the most established organisations having placed hundreds of volunteers every year since 2004
6. Support: 24hr support all the time you are in Nepal from VSN staff
7. Choice: we offer placements throughout Nepal from the mountains to the terai
8. Trusted: recommended by Lonely Planet and many happy volunteers
9. Well managed: VSN is run by experienced ex-international aid workers

Qualifications: If you are enthusiastic, initiative taking and motivated to help needy people, especially school children, youth and women, you are perfect and exactly what we are looking for. However, if you have specific qualifications then we always try and put them to good use. In the past we have placed lawyers, grant writers and marketing experts to help in the local community.

Health: For pre-medic placements you must have a keen interest or be planning to study medicine in some capacity. For medical student placements you must be currently studying/have studied medicine. For our professional placements you must be practicing in the medical profession.

Cost in US$: from 50 dollars a week

The lower overheads then means more of your money goes to:
    * Operating Health clinics
    * Supporting schools
    * Supporting orphanages
    * Building much needed facilities
    * Scholarships for low income students
    * Saving for upcoming VSN programs

This cost does not include the following: visas 30 dollars a month), vaccinations, travel insurance, sundries such as personal items, extra beverages and entertainment (approx. 10 dollars/week) and airport tax (23 dollars)

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: There is no typical volunteer at Volunteer Society Nepal! We have placed young families, people in their 70s, graduates, school leavers, groups and individuals. However, what unites them is a positive attitude and desire to help. We find the people who choose VSN want to work in the Nepali community directly and do not want their money to go on international placement agencies. You join one large family during your time in Nepal with us.

Age Range: 17-76

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Nepal Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2 to 20

Application Process Involves:

• Resume
• Written Application

Volunteer Society Nepal's Mission Statement: We are a fully NEPALI RUN COMPANY based in Kathmandu that has placed hundreds of international volunteers over the last 5 years. Volunteer Society Nepal was founded on a belief that we could do more for Nepal and more for volunteers than what was being provided by large multi-national placement agencies. Being based out of Nepal we are able to drastically lower our overheads and therefore charge lower fees, give just as good a service as a multi-national agency and get more money going to the right projects in Nepal. The Lonely Planet guide also agrees, recommending us in their previous edition on Nepal.

Year Founded: 2004