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Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN)

Why choose Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN)?

Our volunteer work is dedicated to empowering the most marginalised communities in Nepal. Our volunteer and internship service programs include women's empowerment, child care at early childhood development centers, orphanages, teaching English in schools & monasteries, health care service, construction and manual work, child rights and education etc.

Reviews

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Ralph
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching at Buddhist Monastery with VIN

I spent four weeks volunteering teaching English at a Buddhist monastery through VIN. And it was absolutely amazing. The experience was life changing and the support that VIN gave in the induction and throughout my placement was unparalleled. Don't be afraid to email before you come as well because the team are very helpful. The induction was three days long and introduced and by the end I felt thoroughly prepared for my placement. Staying at VIN's hostel was also great, basic but I found I didn't need anything more. VIN are always in need of more support and I would recommend staying as long as you can as you make more of an impact this way. If you haven't done anything like this before like I had, I couldn't stress enough that it is absolutely worth it and incredibly enjoyable. Thank you VIN!

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Matteo
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

2 months in Okhadhunga district, Nepal

I was a volunteer with VIN for 2 months, and it was the most incredible experience for me. The staff at VIN was always there for me when needed, and they listened to my suggestions, which made me feel truly involved in the project. Additionally, the accommodations they recommended in the Okhaldhunga area were very comfortable and safe.

I went there for the DRR program (Disaster Risk Reduction). I used to go from school to school to raise awareness about natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, ...
I highly recommend it!

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lucie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best experience in my life !

I was a volunteer for an internship in Journalism in VIN, I have been in Kathmandu and Nishankhe, a small village in the Everest Area. More than that I was also helping other volunteers ans teaching dance class for the children in the village.
This experience is the best experience I have ever had. I recommend everybody to go there as volunteer, or intern. Nepalese are so amazing, and welcoming, and obviously Nepal is such a beautiful country especially in the mountains area.

Lucie, French.

What was your funniest moment?
When I was teaching dance class in Nishankhe, for the children.
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Maellis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing life project

I was volunteer for a month with VIN and I am so grateful. I did the osteopathy project and all the staff helped us with such enthusiasm! What we have done, the people we have met, everything were amazing there. We used to walk to village and village to help them by osteopathy session and improve their daily life. This country is so beautiful and the people deserve to be helped.You make a difference by choosing VIN. You are not just a volunteer, you are part of the Nepali community. Thanks a lot, I wish you the best.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
As a physiotherapist I wish I could stay longer to see my patients a second time and to evaluate exactly how we help them.
Pros
  • Being useful
  • Be part of the Nepali Life
  • Changing your habits and becoming open-minded
Cons
  • You have to learn to be less comfortable
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Marie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Fulfilling Experience

I volunteered for VIN in 2019-2020, and I have great memories of it. I discovered a team that was both committed and friendly, working on field projects that directly contributed to the well-being of marginalized populations. I was based 10km from Kathmandu, in Tarakeshwore, where I helped develop the Child Development program. I had the opportunity to audit schools sponsored by the organization and to interact with the community (teachers, children, women, and villagers in general). I wish my mission could have been longer! It was a personally and professionally enriching experience, thanks to both the VIN team and the international volunteers I met along the way.

I wish you all the very best !

Thank you, VIN!

Pros
  • Meaningful impact
  • Engaging Team
  • Cultural Experience

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Ann Wilson

Ann Wilson, volunteered with VIN after her honeymoon to Mount Everest Basecamp. She's Danish, but lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Ann is a demand and supply planning supervisor in an multinational company. Upon my return from Nepal she founded Friends of VIN – who now partner with VIN.

nepal children volunteer

Morning: I lived in a village about a 45 min. bus ride outside Kathmandu. A typical day would start around 6am. Aama (mother in Nepali) would start washing the dishes from the night before and start preparing breakfast; daal bhaat (rice and lentil soup).

Preparing breakfast in rural Nepal isn’t as simple as it sounds – it takes about 90 min. to cook the rice, grind the masala, cook the lentils…all done over an open fire.

Afternoon: After breakfast I would walk to school where the students sang the national anthem every day at morning assembly followed by some simple exercise. There were about 35 children in the ECD (early childhood development) class where I taught basic English and math. We would always start with a bit of singing and then divide the group of 3-12 year olds into small and bigger children.

nepal classroom

Evening: After school I would sometimes visit other volunteers, go for walks in the hills or prepare for the following school day, but I would always be home just before dark. That’s when we start preparing dinner – daal bhaat – and around 8-8.30pm we would usually go to bed. It’s limited what you can do when you don’t have any electricity.

Highlights: My very first day was a bit of challenge but I learned so much. I had agreed with the Nepalese teacher that I would just follow her and then we would discuss how to continue, but in the last period she had to go to another class to teach and asked me if I thought I would be OK having the kids on my own…

The minute she exited the class, the kids went CRAZY. I eventually gained the children’s respect and it was much easier after that.