Projects Abroad Volunteer Programs in Nepal

My experience in Nepal was one of the best of my life. I volunteered at a centre for children with disabilities, wich is a hard but rewarding task, also my own choice there is a lot of other stuff you can do. I was able to do what i was good at and also stepped out of my comfort zone. Projects abroad organized a lot of fun stuff to do with all the volunteers and I got to meet so many amazing people! They also have great info to prepare yourself for the journey. And when things got hard or difficult i could always call Them, and they never failed to respond quickly when i got into Trouble (me and another volunteer got lost on a hike and they send people to save us haha). It is a slightly more expensive organisation but worth every Penny. I felt prepared, safe and cared for. I got to expierence so much. Would not hesitate to travel with Them again.

Before arriving, I was nervous, apprehensive but very excited! As soon as I landed I was greeted by Projects Abroad staff who welcomed me into the country and gave me a short tour around Thamel.
The placement was amazing, we painted several school buildings and even taught the children some basic maths and English (as well as some fun games!)
I went on a High School Special trip to Nepal, so we had a weekend visit organised for us. We visited Pokhara and it was very enjoyable (except the 7 hour bus journey...)
Our Projects Abroad co-ordinators, Chris and Sujan, were both extremely welcoming and made our trip the experience of a lifetime! Projects Abroad organised a full itinerary for the trip, and we were safe and well looked after 24/7.
We stayed in a hotel which was basic, but clean and had a lovely restaurant.
I’d highly recommend PA to anyone looking for a fulfilling and enjoyable way to volunteer abroad.

I did several volunteer programs in Nepal and was fairly disappointed. If you want to actually have an impact on the community, you definitely should not contact Projects Abroad. Projects Abroad is part of the "voluntourism" industry. Instead of actually contributing to the local community, it is offering services (experience abroad, cultural experience, you name it) to its customers. Some projects make sense, such as the conservation project in Ghandruk. Others don't, such as the care oder medicine project. In case you thought you actually get to help out in hospitals or other medical institutions, I will have to disenchant your illusion: the only thing you will be doing, is observing. Yes. you get to observe every detail and even operations but you will be doing for the community.

To concluce, you will have to decide whether you just want to get out of your national/local bubble and experience other cultures in the comfort of Projects Abroad, receive instant-graftication for doing nothing or whether you actually want to get out of your comfort zone and contribute to the local community. In the latter case, I suggest looking for other programs that probably do not cost you anything but own expenses.

This was an amazing experience!! Nepal was such an influential country to visit and opened so many opportunities for me to continue travelling all thanks to Projects Abroad. It was very easy to connect with in country staff members to have my questions answered and help
me with any needs I may have. My first day there, my supervisor showed me around Thamel and where the ATMs, grocery stores, health center and shops are.

My host family was amazing. They always made sure I had enough food and safe drinking water. They showed me the way to my placement and the local stores to get snacks and cash. They were incredibly nice and the house was very clean and not far from the school. The other volunteers are people whom I will never forget. My fellow volunteers made my trip so much fun.

My placement was amazing. The kids were so eager to learn and excited to see me every day. I taught them everything from Math to English to Geography and Dancing!! It was such a beautiful school and the staff was so helpful with communication between the students and I.

Nepal was an amazing experience that I would do all over again if I could!!

Volunteering with Projects Abroad in Nepal was absolutely incredible! It was an amazing experience. When I first got to the airport in Kathmandu, I was picked up by a taxi organized by Projects Abroad and went straight to Prince Hotel in Thamel. I had my orientation there. During my time in Nepal, I did three projects. I did the Teaching Project, Himalayan Conservation Project, and Building Project. Each one gave me new and exited experiences and unforgettable memories. The staff was friendly and welcoming and they were always there if you needed anything. All three projects were organized, and I always felt safe.

Back in June, myself and my friend took a huge step and travelled to Nepal with Projects Abroad. As two 18 year girls we were terrified as neither of us had travelled on our own before but Projects Abroad put us at ease instantly. They were with us from the moment we emailed them inquirying about Nepal to departing back home. We did the Care and Community project in Kathmandu for a month. We taught in one of the local school's, teaching children from 3-12 yr old about Science, Computers, Maths and English. We let them do Art if they got their work done and the Art I came home with are drawings I'll cherish forever.

After a day's work we would go get momo's or meet up with friends from other projects in a different town and explore. We made friends for life over there and some are even coming over to visit us for St Patrick’s Day!

When we got back to our host family, everyone in my house would gather in one of the rooms and talk about our day. Dinner was always delicious. Even a fussy eater will love it. My host was the friendliest woman. She would often talk to us about her day or try to accommodate her schedule around us. Her children loved that they have volunteers frequently and talk to us when they aren't busy with homework or playing on their tin whistle that we brought over.

Project's Abroad contacted us frequently with updates about workshops and asked to meet up in café’s to talk about how we are settling in and if we have any problems or even just to talk. They even made sure our living conditions were appropriate. They couldn’t do enough for us. Even when we arrived home we got an email asking us if we enjoyed our trip. This organisation isn’t a business, it’s a caring environment that want to see both parties benefit and honestly I think we both did. I will forever cherish the memories I made in Nepal and the friends I’ve made for life. If anyone is considering travelling with Project's Abroad, it would be a decision you won't regret!

My time in Nepal was life-changing, and not just because I was in one of the most naturally gorgeous and culturally rich countries in the world (although that, of course, was part of it!). A big part of why my trip was so rewarding was due to the people who made it possible. Projects Abroad staff made sure that every aspect of my journey to and time in Nepal was perfect, even beyond my project. Even before I left I was in contact with PA staff who walked me through my pre-departure preparations, with any answers I needed being just a phone call or email away. This staff accessibility continued throughout my journey, with my volunteer coordinator and other staff at my placement actually becoming good friends. Even after my placement ended, PA staff was there for me whenever I needed it-they even helped me to organize my solo travel (a trip to Chitwan and time in Kathmandu) so that I didn't have to worry about a thing! The community was also fantastic; I made friends on my trip who I will keep in contact with for the rest of my life, and loved getting to know both my fellow volunteers and the locals who call Ghandruk home. I also greatly enjoyed my day-to-day; I felt truly fulfilled by the work I was doing and further had a lot of fun doing it. I can't wait to travel with Projects Abroad again!

Nepal was my first time out of the country, but it was an experience I will never forget. I knew that if I ever needed anything in Nepal, I had 20 different people I could call for help. The Projects Abroad staff was so awesome and helpful. They made sure to place us with a caring and kind family, and with supervisors who wanted to teach us. My time in Nepal is something I value very much, but the knowledge and background that I now have for physiotherapy and foreign countries is so much more.

My favorite part of Nepal was my host family. I stayed with 3 other volunteers and now have 3 new best friends from around the world. My host mom was the absolute sweetest human being I had ever met. She was constantly making sure that we were all comfortable and happy. Her three sons were always there to help and even pick us up from town if we needed a ride. My roommate could not figure out how to get home from her placement, and kept getting lost. My host family was always ready to pick her up when she was lost and even walked to and from work with her for a week. My host mom had a knack for making maps to help us to get work and to town and I will never forget them. The food was impeccable and we experienced true Nepali culture. My host mom will always hold a special place in my heart.

Outside of work and home, I got to get really close with the other volunteers. Going to a foreign country for 5 weeks could be a taxing challenge, but having 30 other people to do it with made it so much easier. Every Friday, the staff at projects abroad organized a group activity. We learned about Nepal culture and food, while getting to see all the volunteers. This allowed us to get to know each other and have friends to hang out with on the weekends. Besides our Friday night activity, the staff also organized outreaches weekly. This meant that typically once a week, we went out to the community and participated in something related to our placement. In physiotherapy, we typically went with the medical volunteers to talk to schools and kids about hygiene, health and activity. Other times, a doctor or physiotherapist would come in and teach us something new. I valued this experience because it was constantly challenging me in my field. Along with the challenge, I got to exchange information and knowledge with people who valued the same stuff as me. The Projects Abroad staff always made sure that our outreaches pertained to our field and were important for the community or us. Overall, my experience in Nepal is something that I will never forget.